Ever found a tomato on the ground with a bite taken out of it and thought, “What on earth did that?” Yep — squirrels eat ripe tomatoes if they spot them. They’re usually after an easy snack, not out to destroy your whole plant. Weirdly reassuring, right? That means you can skip the panic and just focus on a few quick fixes.
Let’s look at why squirrels go after tomatoes, how you can tell if they’re the culprits, and which tricks actually keep them away. I’ll skip the scare tactics and stick to stuff you can actually do.
Do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Squirrels absolutely eat tomatoes when they find them. They’ll chew on ripe fruit, sometimes even unripe ones, and if they’re really hungry, they might nip at stems or leaves too.
Why Squirrels Are Attracted to Tomatoes
Tomatoes are packed with water, which helps squirrels out when it’s hot and there’s not much to drink. They’re also sugary and calorie-rich, giving squirrels a quick energy boost.
If your garden sits close to trees or shrubs, squirrels can reach your tomatoes easily by climbing or jumping. That’s just what they do.
Squirrels eat whatever’s handy. Leaving ripe fruit on the vine or letting tomatoes drop increases the odds of a squirrel visit. Fertilizer smells or overripe fruit can also pull them in.
If you want fewer squirrel visitors, pick fruit as soon as it’s ready and clean up anything that falls. Sometimes putting a squirrel feeder far from your tomatoes distracts them, though results may vary.
Types of Squirrels That Eat Tomatoes
Tree squirrels like eastern gray and fox squirrels, plus ground squirrels, all eat tomatoes. Tree squirrels usually climb up stakes or trellises to nab fruit higher up, while ground squirrels and chipmunks go for tomatoes that hang low or have fallen.
In most suburban yards, tree squirrels are the main tomato thieves. Ground squirrels chew on low-hanging fruits and sometimes burrow under fences to get in.
If you see squirrels hanging out in trees above your garden, they’re probably snatching tomatoes from higher up. Burrows near your beds? Check the lower fruit and the plant bases.
Do Squirrels Eat Green Tomatoes?
Squirrels sometimes eat green tomatoes, but they usually like ripe ones better. Still, if they’re hungry or ripe fruit is scarce, they’ll munch on green tomatoes without much hesitation.
You’ll notice clean bite marks or neat chunks missing from green fruit, not the rough gnawing that other rodents leave. Sometimes squirrels just test a green tomato and come back when it’s ripe.
To keep green tomatoes safe, cover clusters with netting or mesh bags. You can also set up wire cages around the plants until the fruit ripens.
Recognizing Signs of Squirrel Activity
Squirrels leave neat, rounded bite marks, and sometimes they pull whole tomatoes off the vine. You might find half-eaten tomatoes on the ground near your plants.
Other clues include chewed leaves or stems, a bit of fur, or even droppings near the base. Look for small tracks in soft soil, too. If you spot gnawed bark or scratches on tree trunks nearby, that’s another hint.
Try using motion-activated sprinklers or temporary fencing to catch them in the act. Checking your plants early in the morning can help you spot signs before more tomatoes disappear. For more tips, you can check out this guide on how to stop squirrels from ruining your garden (https://squirrelsinfo.com/do-squirrels-eat-tomatoes/).
How to Protect Tomato Plants from Squirrels
Try a few tactics at once: block off your plants, make them less appealing, and use deterrents that react when squirrels show up. Barriers, repellents, and a couple of active devices usually work best.
Physical Barriers and Fencing
Build barriers that actually keep squirrels out. Wrap 1/2-inch hardware cloth around the base of your plants, or make a simple frame from PVC or wood and drape bird netting or 1/4-inch mesh over it.
Pin down the edges with garden staples or rocks so squirrels can’t sneak underneath. For garden beds, set up a low fence (about 18–24 inches tall) and bury hardware cloth 4–6 inches underground to stop digging.
If you use tomato cages, wrap mesh around the outside and secure it with zip ties. Always check for gaps after storms or when you prune.
Trim low branches or nearby trees so squirrels can’t leap onto your tomatoes. Replace torn or worn netting each season—once it’s damaged, squirrels slip through fast.
Effective Squirrel Deterrents
Pick deterrents that suit your yard and how much time you’ve got. Motion-activated sprinklers blast squirrels with water as soon as they approach. Set them up to cover the ways squirrels get in, but try not to drown your plants.
Ultrasonic gadgets and solar sound units add another layer of protection. Move predator decoys like owls or hawks every couple of days so squirrels don’t catch on. Playing a radio or battery speaker with random noise can help, but check if your neighbors mind.
Mix passive and active tricks. Barriers, plus a motion-activated sprinkler or a moving decoy, give you a decent shot at keeping squirrels away—and you won’t hurt them in the process.
Squirrel Repellents and Natural Solutions
Try using taste- and smell-based repellents around your plants to make those tomatoes less tempting. You can grab a commercial squirrel repellent, or just whip up a homemade spray—mix up some garlic and hot pepper with water and a splash of dish soap. Just remember, you’ll need to reapply after it rains.
Planting strong-smelling companions like mint, basil, or marigolds near your tomatoes can help mask the scent of the fruit. If you go with mint, keep it in pots—trust me, it spreads like crazy and will take over your beds before you know it.
Go for some non-toxic tricks if you want to avoid chemicals. Tuck rags soaked in apple cider vinegar in hidden corners, or scatter predator urine products along the edge of your garden. These work for a bit, but you’ll want to switch things up and move them around, or squirrels will just get used to them.
If those squirrels keep coming back, pick your ripening fruit early. You can also wrap single tomatoes in breathable netting to protect them, so you don’t have to cover the whole plant.
Want more ideas? Check out practical barrier tips at 11 Easy Ways to Keep Squirrels From Eating Your Tomatoes and find extra deterrents at 10 Squirrel Deterrents to Protect Your Tomatoes – Treehugger.
