I don't think bird netting will stop squirrels. Galvanized chicken wire will if there are no gaps big enough for the squirrels to get through but bird netting I think not.

Here's something you might try that I found on ehow...

...Another successful way to discourage good climbers like squirrels and raccoons is to wrap a good 3 - 5' band of thin, smooth sheet metal around the trunk of the fruit tree, ideally about 4 - 6' above the ground. Larger raccoons will require larger bands. Make sure the animals have no branches or footholds and cannot jump the distance to get up into the tree. Both squirrels and raccoons are very athletic and dexterous, but if you make it impossible for them to get a grasp on a climbable surface, they'll have to pass up the fruit tree.

Protect fruit

This may not be of use to you, but this is the first year that we have been able to harvest most of our apricots and plums.

My grand-daughter gave me 3-4 mylar balloons for mother's day - which we tied in and around the fruit trees. They have helium or some sort of gas in them, so they can be tied to reach higher branches, etc. Also, we tied some old CD computer disks on the limbs. Both the balloons and disks move with the slightest breeze.

I realize this has been most effective for us - raccoons and birds - but it may spook squirrels as well. Some falling fruit was left on the ground - and this is the first year we have not experienced broken branches from animals climbing the heavy limbs, and birds eating the fruit in higher branches.

Bejay

Holly branches repel squirrels. Tie them to the tree trunk and the squirrel will not climb it. Of course, you will have to make sure the squirrels don't have another way to get to the top of the tree.

Nimzo

Mark,

There has been quite a lot of discussion of squirrels on this forum and your experience is not at all uncommon.

I really think in most cases repellents like balloons and Holly will have temporary effects at best.

Netting is an option. But as it has been discussed here, is not necessarily effective. Squirrels are smart rodents. As such they have been known to chew through nets. Additionally, you have the cost of the nets, and the hassle of putting them up and taking them down. I have to do a lot of netting for birds, and let me tell you, it's a pain.

The best solution I've found is simply to trap them. We have pretty heavy squirrel pressure here because people catch them in the city, and release them out here. Nevertheless, I've been able to trap enough, to keep squirrel losses minimal.

It does involve a year round endeavor, but the total time involved is not that significant. The biggest investment is the initial cost of the traps. I would recommend a minimum of two traps (three would be better). By far, the best trap I've found is the Tomahawk that measures something like 7" X 7" X 24". I think it's their rabbit trap. Make sure you don't get their smaller squirrel trap, which is too small. Unlike Havahart traps, Tomahawk traps have a wire mesh door that squirrels will readily enter. Additionally, I like the tripping mechanism better on the Tomahawks.

Place the traps around the suspected entry points of your property. Make sure the grass doesn't get grown up around the traps (as this will keep the squirrels from entering). This season instead of pulling the grass around the traps, I've started using Roundup around them. Or you can place old rugs under the traps to keep the grass from growing up (this doesn't seem to bother the squirrels at all).

Next fasten a highly visible bait on the trip plate. A small piece of a dried ear of corn works well and lasts a long time before it molds. Use a twist tie to secure it to the trip plate. Pecans also work well, I secure them by drilling a small hole in them (go slow or you'll bust the shell) and attach them to the trip plate with a self-tapping screw.

Lastly throw some more bait in the cage. The idea is, you want the bait easily spotted. I used to use pecans for this, but lately I've been using acorns (I picked up about 3 gal of them last fall). The only disadvantage I've found with acorns is that they are small enough Bluejays will sometimes enter the traps and eat them.

As I said, you have to trap all year round. When fruit starts to ripen, they won't go in the traps as readily, since they have all that fruit to eat, so you have to reduce the population before summer starts.

Fall is when trapping is most successful, but I catch some squirrels year round (caught one this morning).

I recalled someone describing on this forum how they successfully put electric wire around the trunks of their fruit trees to keep the squirrels from getting their fruit. Try doing a search for that post. I know the electric wire is fairly effective against deer.
Northwoodswis

Thanks for all the ideas.

I like the idea of year round trapping. I've got a squirrel sized trap, but have not used it, yet. I currently trap AFTER a skunk, opossum or raccoon takes a chicken, and use my large trap. I need to be more proactive and trap all the time. I might learn something, too.

Mark