[Sca-cooks] Re: Fruit trees

[Christiane]

> Huette commented:

Some bird problems, but not apparently as bad as yours.  Our biggest problem is 
squirrels.
They find the ripest, biggest, most luscious fruit, eat half of the fruit, throw
it down and then
go for another.  I am debating about adopting an outdoor cat, even though I am allergic
to
them.  But at leat they don't deliberately eat fruit.  I wonder what kind of cat
would go
after squirrels?  As far as I am concerned, squirrels are just rats in fluffy clothing
with
better PR.  
================================================

We had this problem, too, but the solution my dad came up with (shooting them with  .22) probably is not an option for you.

I don't think an outdoor cat needs to be taught to go after squirrels. Growing up, one of my friends had a cat that left "love offerings" squirrels on the back steps all the time. At least one squirrel each day. If it weren't for screens in the windows, my cats would also be on the hunt.

Hawks and owls can deal quite well with a suburban or urban environment. I live in a crowded borough, and I've seen redtails, wat might have been a kestrel (it was small and fast yet took out a pigeon), and have heard owls (one of who was hooting so loudly at 3 a.m. it woke me up). Peregrines have been known to nest on office towers. Talk with your state or local wildlife officials, find out what might already be in your area, and see how you can attract these birds into nesting in your area. I very much doubt you want to go through getting a falconry apprenticeship and the federal and state permits needed to keep birds of prey ...

Gianotta