Do squirrels eat tomatoes? In this article, we’ll not only answer this question but also share tips on how to tell if a squirrel is raiding your tomato crops and how you can prevent that from happening.
Let’s get started!
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Do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Squirrels have a diet loaded with nuts, fruits, seeds, and veggies — including tomatoes! Squirrels especially like to munch on the ripest, mostly brightly colored tomatoes. They seem to target the juiciest tomatoes that are just about to be picked.
How to Tell that Squirrels are Attacking Your Tomatoes
If you’ve found eaten tomatoes tossed around your garden and want to make sure a squirrel is responsible for the damage, there are certain clues you can look for to confirm your suspicions.
For example, squirrels leave behind chewed tomatoes with medium to large bite holes on only one side of the fruit. Although a squirrel may eat an entire tomato, it usually goes for the sinister behavior of just taking a couple of bites of a bunch of tomatoes and ruining them all for you.
Another sign of squirrel damage is if it’s done during the day because that’s when these animals are active. This means that if the damage takes place overnight, the culprit is probably another mammal.
Additionally, you can tell it’s a squirrel that ate your tomatoes if you notice small holes in your garden’s ground or containers close by. This indicates the digging actions of a squirrel.
Besides tomatoes, squirrels may nibble on other plants such as flowers (particularly daisies).
If you notice that both the fruit and leaves of your tomato plant are damaged, then you’re likely dealing with an insect issue.
Why do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Besides liking how they taste, is there a reason why squirrels eat tomatoes?
We know that these critters generally enjoy ripe tomatoes, but if they’re thirsty they’ll attack green ones, as well. If this is the case, you can fix the problem by providing a source of water away from your plants.
This will deter squirrels from eating your tomatoes just due to thirst. Alternatively, you can set up a birdbath and do both animals a favor.
How to Keep Squirrels Away from Your Tomato Plants
If you’re sure that squirrels are ruining your tomatoes, you don’t have to put up with the situation. The following tips and methods can help protect your garden from unwanted squirrel attacks so you can finally enjoy your tomatoes in peace.
1. Get Rid of Squirrel Attractants in Your Garden
You may not realize it, but you could be the one inviting squirrels into your garden unknowingly. So, start by removing all the things that may be causing squirrels to stop by your yard. Here’s what you can do:
- Don’t leave garbage bags out in the open. Squirrels may go through them to rummage for food leftovers and stumble upon your tomato plants in the process. Instead, use trash bins with lockable lids to keep squirrels and raccoons from getting their paws on them.
- Remove bird feeders. Not only do bird feeders attract squirrels, but having birds close while you’re growing vegetables may result in bird attacks on your plants.
- Get rid of foods falling from your trees. For example, if your bushes and trees are dropping nuts, seeds, fruits, or berries, you should clear up your yard to avoid squirrels paying you visits to eat the fallen goods.
2. Shield Your Tomato Plants
- Drawstring design: These plant protection nets are designed with a drawstring design, which is simply placed over the plant and the rope is tightened to securely protect the plant
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If there’s a high population of squirrels in your area, then shielding your tomato plants can be quite effective in stopping unwanted attacks.
There are a few ways you can make your tomatoes less accessible such as cages, bird netting, or covers. Although these might not work 100% against squirrels, they can prevent damage from other animals, as well.
3. Plant Mint Nearby
- Easy to grow
- Aromatic leaves
- Garden use: Herb garden & containers
- Culinary use: Teas & other beverages, salads, garnish, jelly, desserts
- Plant in full sun to partial shade for the best yields
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A lot of pests and critters hate the scent of mint, including squirrels. If you plant some mint near your garden, this can help repel squirrels from your tomatoes.
4. Get a Dog
It’s an instinct for most dogs to chase away small animals, so bringing in a dog can scare away squirrels and keep them from getting into your garden.
If the weather’s fine and there are no predators to worry about, you can have your dog stay outside during the day to guard your crops.
5. Apply Apple Cider Vinegar
- BRAGG APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: The Bragg ACV Vinegar is made from organically grown apples, and offers various health benefits. To easily incorporate ACV into your diet, you can take a daily 2 oz shot, pour it over your salad, drink in a morning elixir with water and lemon, or add it to your hot tea.
- ORGANIC INGREDIENTS: The Bragg ACV is raw, unfiltered, and crafted from organically grown apples. It is USDA certified organic, Non-GMO Verified, and Kosher certified.
- MOTHER OF VINEGAR: The ‘Mother’ consists of strands of proteins and enzymes that give the product its murky appearance. The ‘Mother’ is used for its natural cleansing qualities.
- The Bragg Difference: A diet rich in organic fruits and veggies is essential to vibrant health. Our ingredients always come from the land, not a lab. It’s our vital difference.
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Apple cider vinegar is another natural repellent that can effectively keep squirrels away from your garden. Not to mention, it won’t cost you much.
All you need to do is get some apple cider vinegar, soak rags in it, and place these rags around your tomato plants.
6. Use Predator Decoys
- INCREDIBLY REALISTIC: Our patented Natural Enemy Scarecrow Owl is extremely lifelike. Hand painted, so every detail mimics the presence of a real bird of prey, to provide effective and safe pest dissuasion that does not harm wildlife.
- HIGH QUALITY: We have exclusively designed the texture and color of a real owl perched on a log. Our realistic decoy is non-toxic and topped with a resistant coat to make it more durable. We recommend using our Natural Enemy Scarecrows as needed and keeping them indoors when out of use or move decoys around your garden to avoid pests becoming accustomed to them.
- NATURAL: The most effective Natural, Safe and Humane pest control product in the market. Safely keep your garden and home free from unwanted pests without polluting or using harsh and hazardous substances. The Owl can be filled with sand or gravel for additional stability in highly windy areas.
- NOT JUST A SCARECROW: If you are an owl lover, you will be thrilled with our realistic Great Horned rendering. Besides being an excellent bird repellant, this magnificent work of art makes an amazingly unique outdoor/indoor décor. It is the perfect garden ornament.
- LIFELIKE DESIGN: Made and hand painted in the USA to keep your garden clean, your fruits safe and your décor excitingly impressive. We offer you the best detailed, non-fading, and all-weather painted owl. If you are not satisfied, feel free to talk to us, and we will make it right.
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The same way farmers use scarecrows to keep birds away from their crops, you can use predator decoys to discourage squirrels from attacking your tomatoes.
All you need to do is buy a few decoys — owls and hawks work pretty well — and place them close to your tomato plants. Be sure to change the position of your decoys from time to time so that the squirrels don’t realize the predators are fake.
7. Spray Liquid Squirrel Repellents
- For year round control of deer, rabbits, elk, moose, hares, voles, squirrels, chipmunks and other herbivores
- Protects 100 plants, 1 foot high
- Applicaton frequency: Growing season (2-4 weeks + spray new growth), Dormant season (3-6 months). Bulbs (spray or dip bulbs before planting).
- Plantskydd works on flowers, perennials, shrubs, trees and bulbs.
- Made in the USA
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Repellent sprays can do a good job of keeping squirrels away from your tomato plants. These sprays may contain all-natural ingredients or there may be some chemicals involved.
Either way, spray repellents are super simple to use. You just point a spray bottle at the plants and press on a trigger to release the liquid.
The drawback of using repellent sprays is their longevity. Although their effects may last for several days at a time, most of these sprays wash away with water.
So, you’ll have to reapply the spray whenever it rains or after every time you water the tomatoes.
8. Try Ultrasonic Devices or Radios
- Do you have problem with unwanted animals in your area, garden, farm? Are they destroying your garden or eating the fruits? Do they bring many viruses to you? Let's start to use Broox deer Repellent to solve your problems! This effective device helps you to get rid of unwelcome animal visitors. It contains a motion detector system which detects movements and emits powerful ultrasonic sound and flashing LED light.
- Repel animals in a humane way: Broox squirrel repellent outdoor, repels animals by emitting ultrasonic sound, alarm and LED flashing light. When the motion detector, detects a motion, it will trigger the ultrasonic speaker to emit a high frequency noise which makes animals uncomfortable, therefore, keeps them away from the protected area.
- Solar Powered and Waterproof (normal rain): With a solar panel on the top of the device, it can be charged by solar energy, that benefits in energy saving and environmental protection. It also can be charged with included USB cord. This outdoor repellent uses high-grade material with the weatherproof and UV-protected construction, which can protect itself against water splashed from all directions and withstand normal rain, snow, or the harsh sun. it is perfect for garden, yard, farm, etc.
- Note: Different animals, even of the same species, may have varied reactions to each mode of the repellent. Should you find a particular mode ineffective, we recommend trying others to find the most suitable one. This process might require some patience, as identifying the optimal setting can take time – typically around two weeks. Experimenting with various modes is key to achieving the best results with the animal repellent.
- Note: Please be aware that ultrasonic frequencies are generally beyond the range of human hearing. Therefore, if you do not hear any sound when the device is turned on, especially in modes 2 and 3, this should not be interpreted as an indication of a malfunctioning device or that the device is not working. The device is functioning as intended; the ultrasonic frequency is simply inaudible to humans. Please charge the device prior to first usage and install it in a place with sufficient sunlight.
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ultrasonic devices can prevent squirrels from entering your garden and eating your tomatoes. They produce sounds at frequencies that the human ear can’t pick up but are very annoying to animals such as squirrels. This noise will make the critters want to keep away from your property.
If you don’t want to buy an ultrasonic device but have a radio lying around, you can use it to generate noise that’ll deter squirrels from your tomatoes. Simply place a radio close to the plants and play some loud, upbeat music.
9. Set Up Motion-Detecting Sprinklers
- Naturally Repels – Repels nuisance animals such as birds, cats, chipmunks, deer, dogs, groundhogs, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, and squirrels
- Detects & Deters – The device releases a startling surge of water to scare animals away and conditions them to avoid the area in the future
- Motion-Activated – An infrared sensor detects animal heat and movement within 100 feet, triggering the device to spray the invader
- Multiple Settings – 4 sensitivity settings allow you to adjust for your target animal, or the continuous spray setting allows for use as a sprinkler
- Eco-Friendly Design – The motion-activated repellent uses only 2-3 cups of water per spray, making it economical and environmentally conscious
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Finally, you can set up motion-detecting sprinklers near your tomato plants. They’ll go off whenever they sense movement, blasting water at squirrels and other animals that get too close to the fruit.
You can benefit from such sprinklers in watering your plants, but be careful about placing them right next to your tomatoes to avoid overwatering.
Wrap Up
So do squirrels eat tomatoes? You can bet on it, but as we explained, there are ways you can effectively keep squirrels away from your garden and enjoy your tomatoes in peace.