Do Squirrels Harm Trees? If you see damage to the corners of your siding that’s a sign a squirrel is chewing to get through. Part of the twig harvesting may be for nesting; however female squirrels often chew on bark to relieve the pain and stress of pregnancy (hey, we get it! Spruce trees have an abundance of cones and seeds that red squirrels find appealing. Squirrels can do a lot of damage to trees, but it’s not always fatal. Squirrels often chew on tree branches and strip the bark from tree limbs and the base of the tree. They can remove and store a large number of cones from a conifer, which can cause serious damage to a tree. Habitat modification. In spite of their non-threatening demeanor, squirrels eating fruit tree buds limit production and stunt new growth. They find a large percentage of their food on the forest floor. Call our squirrel removal services in Toronto for help with squirrel removal and control. They dig up bulbs and eat tender new plants. Squirrels in trees are difficult to remove for the average homeowner. Red squirrels do not spend as much time in trees as the other squirrel species. These squirrels are territorial and look for homes where they can safely store their food. Healthy trees are prime targets for squirrels, especially if there are apple or peach trees like many households do in Ontario, Canada. Squirrel Damage in the Garden . Small fruit and nut trees can be protected by netting the entire tree for the short period when squirrel (or other animal) damage … Like rabbits, squirrels can cause severe damage to landscaping and plants in several ways.They like to dig in lawns for nuts and to chew on the bark and twigs of trees and shrubbery. On the ground, large hawks and owls, domestic cats and dogs, coyotes, and bobcats catch squirrels. ... and squirrels do not often cause much damage to gardens. Squirrels can cause problems and damage trees by chewing on its bark and often, squirrels use trees as a means to get into a house to nest, usually the attic. Bark Damage. Squirrels can do a lot of damage to your trees before you even realize there is a problem. They also dig for planted bulbs. Bark may also be damaged if fungal infections enter the damaged wood. In trees, squirrels are relatively safe, except for an occasional owl or goshawk. Protecting your fruit trees is important because squirrels can cause a lot more damage than you may think. Residents can reduce the possibility of damage by placing squirrel baffles around trees and bird feeders, but the only surefire way to protect against the nuisances is to contact a professional wildlife removal service such as … Most squirrels die during their first year; if … Squirrels generally don't do significant damage to plants, but if a squirrel is indeed the culprit, keep them away from the plant with fencing or a wire mesh cage. However, although it is uncommon, removal of too much bark around the circumference of a branch can block movement of sugars and the branch can be damaged. Vehicles, disease, and starvation also kill squirrels. Trim trees and limbs to 6 to 8 feet away from buildings to prevent squirrels from jumping onto roofs. They strip the bark off branches and chew off smaller branches and twigs. ). Squirrels may appear to be cute fluffy tailed little critters, but their damaging feeding behaviors and digging can cause problems in the home landscape. Squirrel tree damage is generally limited on healthy trees. Trees can withstand quick a bit of abuse, even if the gardeners can’t. Whatever the reasons why you should remove squirrel … Trees.