Stop Squirrels from Ruining Your Tomatoes: Trapping and Early Harvest

The One-Bite Tomato Thief

Few garden frustrations compare to finding perfect green tomatoes on the ground with a single squirrel bite taken out of each. Squirrels often sample fruit just as it begins to ripen, destroying a crop in days.

Option 1: Live Trapping and Relocation

Cage traps are highly effective for squirrels. Here’s a proven protocol:

1. Purchase a standard squirrel-size cage trap (approx. 5×5×18 inches).
2. Place it on a piece of newspaper in a high-activity area.
3. Bait with a small handful of sunflower seeds behind the trigger plate so the animal must step on it to reach the food. Add a dab of peanut butter on the plate for extra appeal.
4. Check traps in the morning—squirrels forage most actively at dawn.
5. Cover the trap with a towel after capture to calm the animal.
6. Relocate at least 2 miles away with landowner permission. Note: not all relocated squirrels survive.

Option 2: Harvest Early, Ripen Indoors

If trapping isn’t your style, pick tomatoes at the “breaker” stage (first blush of pink). They will ripen fully indoors at temperatures no warmer than 85°F. This beats the squirrels to the punch and often yields better flavor than vine-ripened fruit in hot weather.

What Doesn’t Work Well

Deterrents like water bowls, sweaty shirts, or commercial repellents have spotty success. Squirrels are adaptable and food-motivated.