There is a squirrel that keeps ripping open the cushions on my outside swing. I have caught her in the act with fuzz in her mouth three times now (with my dogs just sitting there watching her!). I assume she is a mama squirrel making a nest so I don't want to hurt her or trap her and take her away. We tried buying identical cushion fuzz and putting it out for her but evidently only real cushion fuzz is good enough. We tried putting cayenne pepper on the cushion...no effect. Any other ideas? (Again...I don't want to hurt her.)

Bring the cushions inside

Since she isn't eating the stuffing, perhaps that is why the pepper doesn't work? You may want to try some other remedies and see if perhaps some of them work by scent.

http://ezinearticles.com/?13-Home-Remedies-For-Keeping-Squirrels-Away&id=1222651

Being a "mama" squirrel perhaps she likes your choice of cushions and is very particular in what style she wants her little ones to be comfortable in.

I personally would replace the cushions and pretty much give her the ones that are already all torn up. But I have a thing for squirrels

[This message has been edited by rhoswen (edited 10/4/2009 5:47p).]

The thing is that this is a cushion attached to a swing, so we would pretty much be out a $200 swing. I am happy to buy her all the fuzz she wants, but she prefers to rip it out of my cushion rather than take what we leave out for her. I thought I had two pretty good squirrel repellents...dogs...but they just watch her do it.

why dont you stop hiding acorns in the cushions?

problem solved...

Time to get a third dog...Rat Terrier!

Let me see if I have this straight; a furry tailed rat is chewing up the cushion on your $200 swing and you want advice on how to alleviate your problem without hurting the potentially pregnant furry tailed rat? See, that's what is really neat about humans. Even though our DNA is the same; we can react so differently to situations. On the one hand, common sense would tell me to shoot the damn squirrel before it procreates and I now have a family of rats chewing up my cushions. I would not be bothered even a little bit about this knowing that my actions would have an immeasurably small impact on the squirrel population while also having a profound impact on my sense of mind concerning the cushions on my $200 swing. On the other hand, you want to save the squirrel while also trying in vain to save your cushions because you feel some sense of loyalty to the rodent who couldn't care less about you. It's amazing to me that I can't even comprehend your thought process while mine, I'm sure, seems just as foreign to you and probably barbaric to boot!! What a true picture of the complexities of man!!!

Good luck with your "dilemma".

a gun should do the trick..not a big one...just a little .22

a pellet gun would be a bit cheaper and would create a lot less noise.

Yeah that's true...I guess it's the OP's choice

I'd just as soon shoot the squirrel.


However, what about that stuff that's supposed to prevent dogs from gnawing on stuff? Some sort of bad tasting spray?

Or things like urine from a fox or such? Seems like the mark of a predator nearby should work.

This is why PETA has a membership; people (no offense to the OP) elevate animals to equal status as humans. Kill the squirrel. The squirrel lost its rights when it trespassed and committed vandalism.

My 2c

You can trap the squirel and relocate it.
You can probably borrow a trap from Animal Control for free.

Mmmmm, some squirrel stew sounds yummy

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That's pretty darn funny; I don't care who ya' are.

Squirrel launcher. See youtube for examples...