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So here's my question. I have ordered today off Amazon.com a water/sand table for my kiddos to play with on my porch. I plan to keep in it random things, of which include corn kernels/pasta/rice for sensory use. What I've been told by a few sources is that squirrels, who smell these things in the table, will dig holes in the hard plastic covers and bite through til they reach the "goodies". So I've done some reading to see about squirrel detterants. I've read about Tabasco sauce/water mix and peppermint oil. So can I get any more suggestions/advice from anyone? What I can put on/near my porch to keep them away completely. Now mind you, I barely EVER see squirrels but they ARE out there and I do NOT want them headed to my front porch for a retreat... Any advice would be great, as I have a feeling I will be trying it ALL out...
So here's my question. I have ordered today off Amazon.com a water/sand table for my kiddos to play with on my porch. I plan to keep in it random things, of which include corn kernels/pasta/rice for sensory use. What I've been told by a few sources is that squirrels, who smell these things in the table, will dig holes in the hard plastic covers and bite through til they reach the "goodies". So I've done some reading to see about squirrel detterants. I've read about Tabasco sauce/water mix and peppermint oil. So can I get any more suggestions/advice from anyone? What I can put on/near my porch to keep them away completely. Now mind you, I barely EVER see squirrels but they ARE out there and I do NOT want them headed to my front porch for a retreat... Any advice would be great, as I have a feeling I will be trying it ALL out...
If you go to your local Home Depot or Lowe's I believe that they sell some squirrel repellent powder. I doubt that it is kid safe, so I wouldn't be putting it on the table. You could, however, use it around the edge of the porch as a barrier.
Otherwise, you could just put a tarp over the table.
We battled squirrels for years at our last place. We lost. I'd bring that stuff inside at the end of the day and store it in a plastic bag. Tabasco might work, but what are you going to do with it? You can't really douse the corn/rice/pasta, right? I don't think your kids would be too happy. You could paint the hard plastic top with tabasco, but it'll wash/wear off and you'd have to redo it every couple of days.
You could just wait and see what happens. Perhaps you'll get lucky and the squirrels will leave it alone. Perhaps the hard plastic top is strong enough to withstand a squirrel attack. But if not, bringing the tempting stuff inside is a lot easier than fighting the squirrels, IME.
Get a metal garbage can to store such things in. They will eat thru anythig plastc to get to eats as will rats which you might be surprised are around .
You cannot leave food out on the porch and expect the native critters to leave it alone. They are smarter than you are, every time.
You're going to have to bring that stuff in the house when the kids aren't playing with it. Either that or find something else for them to play with. They'll get plenty of "sensory use" (whatever the hell that is ) playing with something else.
I'd suggest using non-food products for sensory use. Problem solved.
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) playing with something else.
