Do Squirrels Eat Lily Bulbs

If you’ve found your prized lilies dug up and their bulbs missing, you’re likely asking a common question: do squirrels eat lily bulbs? The answer, unfortunately for gardeners, is a resounding yes. Squirrels view your carefully planted lily bulbs as a convenient food source, especially when other options are scarce. This guide will help you understand why they do it and, more importantly, how to protect your garden.

Squirrels are opportunistic foragers. While they prefer nuts and seeds, they won’t turn down a protein-rich lily bulb. They are particularly drawn to them in fall when you’ve just planted them and the soil is freshly disturbed. In spring, they might dig them up again if they’re hungry enough. It’s not just eating—sometimes they simply dig them up and leave them, which can be just as frustrating.

Why Squirrels Target Your Lily Beds

Understanding the “why” is the first step to a solution. Squirrels aren’t being malicious; they’re following instinct.

Food Cache: In autumn, squirrels are gathering food for winter. A fat, starchy bulb is a perfect prize to bury for later.
Freshly Turned Soil: Digging in soft, newly planted beds is easy. It signals that something has been buried there.
Scarcity: In late winter or early spring, when stored nuts run out, they remember where they’ve smelled bulbs before.
Curiosity and Play: Young squirrels often dig out of curiosity, damaging bulbs even if they don’t eat them.

Bulbs Squirrels Tend to Avoid

Not all bulbs are equally tasty to them. If you want a colorful spring garden with less risk, consider planting bulbs that squirrels generally find distasteful. These are often bulbs that are toxic or simply unpalatable.

Daffodils (Narcissus)
Alliums (including ornamental onions)
Snowdrops (Galanthus)
Fritillaria
Hyacinths

Remember, a very hungry squirrel might still disturb these, but they are a much safer bet than lilies or tulips.

Effective Physical Barriers to Stop Digging

Physical barriers are the most reliable method. They create a direct obstacle between the squirrel and your bulbs.

Hardware Cloth or Chicken Wire Cages

This is a highly effective, long-term solution. When planting your lilies, create a cage for the bulbs.

Dig your planting hole to the proper depth for the lily bulbs.
Place the bulbs in the hole.
Cut a piece of 1/2-inch hardware cloth large enough to cover the bulbs and extend to the edges of the hole.
Place the wire over the bulbs and bury it. The lilies will grow up through the gaps, but squirrels cannot dig down through the wire.

Surface Barriers

To prevent digging from the top, cover the planted area after watering it in well.

Lay a piece of chicken wire directly on top of the soil and secure it with landscape pins.
Cover the wire with a thin layer of mulch to hide it. The plants will grow through it easily.
You can remove the wire once the ground freezes hard or once the plants are well established in spring.

Using Repellents and Deterrents

Repellents can work, but they often need consistant reapplication, especially after rain. It’s best to use them in combination with other methods.

Capsaicin-Based Sprays: Sprays made with hot pepper can deter squirrels. Apply them to the soil surface after planting and reapply regularly.
Predator Urine: Granules or liquids containing coyote or fox urine can create a fear response. Sprinkle them around the garden perimeter.
Blood Meal: Sprinkling blood meal on the soil surface acts as a fertilizer and a mild repellent due to its smell. Reapply after watering.

Strategic Garden Habits and Distractions

Sometimes, changing your habits or offering a better option can steer them away.

Planting Depth: Always plant bulbs at the proper depth (usually three times the bulb’s height). Deeper planting makes them harder to find, but lilies have specific depth needs so don’t plant them to deep.
Clean Up: After planting, promptly remove all papery bulb skins and debris from the area. The scent can attract them.
Provide Water: In dry periods, squirrels sometimes dig for moisture. A birdbath or other water source might help.
Distraction Feeding: Place a squirrel feeder stocked with corn or peanuts far away from your lily beds. This controversial tactic can work if you don’t mind feeding them.

Long-Term Landscape Strategies

Think about your overall garden design. Making the environment less inviting can reduce problems over time.

Use Gravel: When planting a bulb, put a layer of sharp gravel or crushed oyster shell in the hole above the bulb. Squirrels dislike digging through it.
Adopt a Dog or Cat: The presence of a pet that chases squirrels can make your yard a less desirable destination.
Remove Clutter: Keep woodpiles, dense brush, and overhanging branches away from garden beds. These provide cover and launch points for squirrels.

What to Do If Bulbs Are Already Damaged

If you catch the damage early, you might be able to save your lilies.

Inspect the bulb. If it’s been nibbled but the basal plate (the rooted bottom) is intact, it may still grow.
Replant it immediately at the correct depth. Don’t let it dry out.
Consider soaking it in a fungicide solution before replanting to prevent rot in the wounds.
Protect it with a physical barrier this time. A single bulb can be protected with a bottomless plastic pot sunk into the soil around it.

Unfortunately, if the basal plate is destroyed, the bulb is a loss. This is why prevention is so crucial.

FAQ: Common Questions About Squirrels and Bulbs

Do other animals eat lily bulbs?
Yes. Voles, mice, and even deer (who eat the shoots) can also be culprits. Voles are especially common and tunnel underground to eat bulbs.

Are lily bulbs poisonous to squirrels?
True lilies (Lilium species) are highly toxic to cats but are not considered significantly poisonous to squirrels. They seem to eat them without immediate ill effect, which is why they’re a target.

What’s the absolute best way to protect lily bulbs?
Combining methods is key. We recommend planting bulbs in a hardware cloth cage as your primary defense, then using a surface layer of chicken wire and a hot pepper spray as secondary deterrents. This multi-layered approach has the highest success rate for most gardeners.

Will mothballs keep squirrels away?
We do not recommend mothballs. They are a pesticide and are toxic to soil, pets, and wildlife. Their use in gardens is often illegal and environmentally harmful. Stick to the safer methods listed above.

Protecting your lily bulbs from squirrels requires persistence and often a combination of tactics. Start with a physical barrier at planting time, as this addresses the problem directly. With these strategies, you can look forward to beautiful lily blooms rather than disappearing bulbs and empty holes in your garden beds.