Do Squirrels Eat Peaches

If you have a peach tree in your yard, you’ve probably wondered, do squirrels eat peaches? The answer is a resounding yes. These agile backyard visitors are notorious for targeting ripe, juicy fruit just as it’s ready for harvest. Watching a squirrel nibble on your prized peaches can be frustrating, but understanding their behavior is the first step to managing it.

This guide will help you figure out why squirrels are so attracted to your peach tree and what you can realistically do about it. We’ll cover effective, humane methods to protect your harvest so you can enjoy more of your homegrown fruit.

Squirrels don’t just eat peaches; they often seem to make a special trip for them. They are opportunistic feeders with a diet that changes with the seasons. While they primarily eat nuts, seeds, and fungi, fruit is a major summer food source. Peaches, with their high sugar content and soft flesh, are a particularly desirable treat.

Why Squirrels Target Your Peach Tree

Squirrels are driven by instinct and need. Here’s what makes your tree so appealing:

High Energy Food: Peaches provide quick carbohydrates, which gives squirrels the energy they need to be constantly active.
Water Source: The juicy flesh helps hydrate them, especially during hot, dry summer months.
Easy Access: Unlike hard-shelled nuts, peaches are soft and easy to bite into. Squirrels can also climb your tree with incredible ease.
Instinct to Forage: They are hardwired to gather and store food. Even if they don’t eat the whole peach immediately, they might take bites out of several or even haul smaller ones away.

The Damage Squirrels Cause

Squirrel damage is usually easy to identify. It’s often more wasteful than the damage caused by birds or insects.

They take single, large bites out of multiple peaches, ruining far more fruit than they consume.
You’ll find half-eaten peaches still hanging on the branch or dropped on the ground beneath the tree.
They may also break small branches while leaping around or trying to reach the best fruit.

How to Protect Your Peach Harvest

Completely eliminating squirrels is nearly impossible and often undesirable, as they are part of the local ecosystem. The goal is to deter them and make your tree a less convenient target. A combination of methods works best.

1. Physical Barriers (Most Effective)

Creating a physical block between the squirrel and the fruit is your strongest defense.

Individual Fruit Bags: Cover young, developing peaches with mesh or paper bags made for fruit. This protects from insects and birds too. Secure the bag tightly around the stem.
Tree Netting: Drape bird netting over the entire tree once fruit begins to ripen. Ensure the netting is pulled taut and secured at the trunk to prevent squirrels from getting tangled or finding a way inside. Check it regularly.
Metal Collars: Wrap a wide band of sheet metal or specialized baffle around the trunk, at least 6 feet off the ground and away from jumping points. This prevents them from climbing up from the ground.

2. Habitat Modification

Make your yard less inviting by removing easy advantages.

Trim tree branches so they are at least 8 feet away from fences, roofs, or other trees. Squirrels are amazing jumpers.
Keep the area under the tree clean of fallen fruit, which attracts them to the spot.
Use squirrel-proof bird feeders, or place feeders very far from your peach tree to avoid drawing them into the area.

3. Natural Deterrents

These methods rely on taste, smell, or sensation to repel squirrels. Their effectiveness can vary and often needs rotation.

Spray Repellents: Apply taste-based repellents (like capsaicin sprays) directly on the developing fruit. Reapply after rain. Always check that the product is safe for use on edible crops.
Predator Presence: The scent of predators can scare squirrels. You can try placing dog hair, used cat litter (in a secured container), or commercial predator urine granules around the base of the tree.
Motion-Activated Devices: Sprinklers or ultrasonic noisers that trigger with movement can startle squirrels and condition them to avoid the area.

What Not to Do

Some methods are ineffective, inhumane, or even counterproductive. Avoid these common mistakes:

Poison: It is cruel, illegal in many areas, and risks killing non-target animals like pets or beneficial wildlife.
Trapping and Relocating: Relocated squirrels often die due to territorial disputes, and it simply moves the problem to someone else’s yard. It may also be regulated by local law.
Relying solely on scare tactics like plastic owls. Squirrels are intelligent and will quickly realize they pose no real threat.

Planting Considerations for the Future

If you’re planning a new orchard or garden, you can make choices that are less attractive to squirrels from the start.

Choose varieties with firmer flesh or fuzzier skin, which some squirrels find less appealing, though this is not a guarantee.
Consider planting your peach tree in an area that’s easier to net or protect, away from overhanging structures.
Some gardeners find that planting aromatic herbs like mint or garlic around the base can provide a mild deterrent, but this is more of a complementary strategy.

Sharing the Harvest: A Philosophical Approach

Sometimes, the most peaceful solution is acceptance. Squirrels are persistent and clever. If you have a large, healthy tree, you might decide to share a portion of the harvest. Setting up a dedicated feeding station with corn or nuts far from the tree might, in some cases, distract them from your peaches. This doesn’t always work, but it’s a mindset that can reduce gardening stress. After all, watching wildlife is part of the joy of having a backyard habitat.

FAQ: Squirrels and Peaches

Do squirrels eat the peach pit?

No, squirrels do not eat the hard inner pit (stone) of the peach. They gnaw through the flesh to get to it sometimes, but they discard the actual pit. However, they might chew on the pit to wear down their ever-growing teeth, but they won’t consume it.

Will squirrels eat green, unripe peaches?

It’s less common, but yes, they might sample unripe peaches, especially if other food sources are scarce. Their preferance is definitely for the sweet, ripe fruit, so most damage occurs close to harvest time.

What other fruits do squirrels eat?

Squirrels have a broad palate for fruit. They commonly target apples, pears, plums, figs, citrus, berries, and tomatoes (which are a fruit). Pretty much any sweet, accessible fruit in your garden is at potential risk.

Do peach trees attract squirrels?

A fruiting peach tree is a major attractant for squirrels. The combination of food, water, and often a good climbing structure makes it a prime destination during the summer months.

How can I tell if it’s a squirrel or a bird eating my peaches?

The damage looks different. Birds typically peck small, sharp holes in the fruit. Squirrels leave behind larger, wedge-shaped bites or take entire chunks out. They also are more likely to leave partially eaten fruit hanging or to drop it with clear tooth marks.

Protecting your peaches from squirrels requires patience and a layered approach. Start with physical barriers like netting or bags, as these offer the most reliable protection. Combine this with making your yard less squirrel-friendly by trimming branches and cleaning up fallen fruit. Remember that complete elimination isnt the goal—coexistence and damage reduction are. With these strategies, you can save a significant portion of your harvest and enjoy the fruits of your labor.