My pumpkins were hit hard too! In three days we lost two uncarved pumpkins so I brought the rest inside until Halloween. After carving, I was able to discourage the squirrels by sprinkling cut surfaces with some cayenne pepper.

Those are very pesky little guys , never seem to leave anything alone. My friend Ian works at a home I,prove,rent pace in portola valley and he says rat poison in moderation will get rid of them. 1100

The squirrel's pumpkin raid is most likely due to the drought -trees are dying and with them the nuts and seeds. Our local wildlife are thirstier/hungrier these days.

The squirrel's pumpkin raid is most likely due to the drought -trees are dying and with them the nuts and seeds. Our local wildlife are thirstier/hungrier these days.

Sciurus niger (so-called "eastern" or "red" fox [tree] squirrel, and common in two colors here, one grey-haired with brownish or reddish touches, the other dark brown) is a nonnative introduced species responsible for much of the aggressive feeding behavior that humans see in the Bay Area Web Link California treats this species as a noxious pest, similar to rats or mice ("Eastern fox squirrels found to be injuring growing crops or other property may be controlled at any time and in any legal manner by the owner or tenant of the premises without a permit" -- from UC-Davis's overview, on its excellent Integrated Pest Management website linked above). Note that that status is species-specific; other squirrel species require permits for removal; however S. niger is the species I mostly see.

But Hafkenschiel's "rat poison" isn't such a clever idea. State code warns against using poisons (traps are emphasized instead). This is also plain good sense, for the same reason that experts discourage poison for rats: dying or dead outdoor rodents often become food for benign scavenger animals, which then can get poisoned in turn.

Thanks everyone for your input - here's another received via email:

"You're absolutely right about the squirrels. This is very odd behavior for them and it is due to the lack of food, but they are picky on which pumpkins they like. And as for the indian corn, they are only eating the very edge of the inside of the kernel. As you can see by the picture, they were picky but messy."

I don't think there is one reason only. I've had them get my pumpkins ni wet years or otherwise times of plenty. I've had them leave the squash alone the past 3 years. I think it's more food supply at the local(block) level.
We had one neighbor who fed them regularly, then she died. The following year they ate EVERYTHING, including chewing off all my sprinkler heads, though I think that was more due to their need to gnaw since their teeth are always growing. After that year i think they found other food sources.

FWIT, if you bait those electric rat traps with peanuts and put them out during the day, they will kill the non-nocturnal rats as well.
Using poison is bad since they wander off to die in paces like under houses, or they get eaten by other animals who then inject the poison.

Usually it's just one offender doing the damage, as was the case with my sprinklers. Once the bad one was gone I had no other issues.

The squirrels in our Barron Park have been attacking pumpkins the last 4-6 years. Prior to that, they never touched the pumpkins. We wonder if this is learned behavior and is spreading to other areas of town? My daughter was thinking of doing a science project to map the areas of Palo Alto to see if this theory is true.

Did you bring a squirrel back to California from Detroit last time you visited?! I think that's what happened. The Detroit squirrel taught the California squirrels how to abuse the pumpkins. Squirrels have been eating pumpkins on porches here in Metro Detroit for as long as I can remember.

I lived in Barron Park the 10 years before Portola Valley and they didn't attack my pumpkins back then - so interesting Barron Park resident. More info for your daughter! And then before that I lived in the Detroit area Colleen - I don't remember them eviscerating pumpkins - of course ours were always carved, and put out just before Halloween. Those inner city squirrels - always a bad example for the rest of us.

Ok, I know that squirrels are just rats with pretty outfits, but I love them and so I don't mind them in my garden. Every morning they are outside eatting the seeds that I saved after carving pumpkins so they haven't touched the decorative pumpkins. Of course after Thanksgiving I can cut them open and they can give thanks for what they have received.

Janet Storz, what a lovely comment!

This is the first year I have had squirrels eat my pumpkins, and they demolished them quickly. I think the drought has caused it, due to lack of their other food sources. My friend in S CA says even the deer were eating her pumpkins. Please though, let's not put our any poisons, this has a chain reaction on other wildlife and even pets, and damages our eco balance.

SO, DID YOU ACTUALLY SEE THEM?
You do not suspect rodents as in RATS?

Rat poison? To the poster who suggested this, I hope you don't find yourself in an alley one dark night surrounded by a gang of hungry squirrels.

Our back and front yards are their living rooms, so we should try to co-exist peacefully with them.

Not only did I see them, I saw them crazed. They were scampering around the backyard in a frenzy. When I entered the yard one day, one just sat on my front porch looking at me approach like I was the intruder. That's when I freaked and brought the remaining 3 pumpkins inside. It was weird, almost manic, like they were on drugs or something. I didn't want then to start gnawing on me next!

Bacon, yes it tastes good, but it's bad for your health, bad for the environment and especially bad for the poor pigs. If people really knew the process of getting bacon, many would avoid it. We need to move to a plant-based diet if we have any hope of saving the planet. Seen Cowspiracy yet?

I LOVE bacon! Best when candied with brn sugar and maple. So good.
Q: How can you tell a vegan at cocktail party?
A: Don't worry, they'll be sure to let you know.

In all honesty, there is no ONE answer just as there is no ONE answer to automobile types. The best alternatives will be varied so the impact of all eggs in one basket is not felt.

The removal of wild spaces turned into mass farming operations would ruin our scarce and delicate wild areas and wild animal populations. The best option for the Earth will be not putting all our nutritional needs into one basket. Variety of diet including animal protein is ticket for those not stuck in the 1970's. We don't ALL have to do anything. If fact once we ALL start doing the same thing, we're doomed because there are too many of us.

Hafkenschiel ---
Please! Do NOT use poison – anywhere – EVER! Why? It kills pets and native wildlife, including hawks and eagles and owls. It gets into the ecosystem and stays there for a long, long time. And the mammals it poisons may crawl into places where it is very hard to remove them from, and die and decompose, making a horrid stench.

Laura Stec ---
I am so sorry those dratted squirrels ate your beautiful pumpkins. I had not heard of that happening before. I, too, think the drought is to blame for this.

I enjoy your writing. You do have a way with words. I really felt for you when you said that doggoned squirrel made YOU feel like the intruder! Such chutzpah!

Humble observer ---
Thank you very much for the fascinating info. I did not know, until I read your comment, that our state treats that one squirrel species as a noxious pest – wow.

Janet storz ---
That is soooo funny -- “...squirrels are just rats with pretty outfits”. LOL! Some people feel that way about deer, too – calling them “hooved rats”. A friend in another area said deer ruined her beautiful garden – they ate EVERYTHING! She said her reaction to mountain lions is, “Here, Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!” (She’s just kidding!)

The problem is that things are out of balance. Too many creatures for the food and water that is now available.

What a great Food Party! this week. The jokes make for great dinner conversation. Thanks for coming.

It's clear it is due to the drought, but probably also - nothing ever thins the population of squirrels either. There are just too many of them in the area.

They normally don't eat my garden but this year everything was gone, I got nothing from my fruit trees, the pesky squirrels got everything and they are so stupid they get it while it is still green as soon as anything has a hint of color.

I think we need open season of squirrels. Thank goodness my neighbor's cat gets one every once in a while.