+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Sap Sacs and Squirrles

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Vt
    Posts
    29

    Default Sap Sacs and Squirrles

    The squirrels win. We tap 135 and last year they ruined 90. This year 50 so far. We have tried everything including wide gorilla tap on the bottoms of the bags.Even sprinkled cyan pepper on the sticky side of the tape. Squirrels just go above the tape. Anyone interested in trading some good buckets for sap sacs and hangers? No more sap sacs for us!
    Last edited by sherwoodm; 04-05-2019 at 03:09 PM. Reason: Spelling- tried to edit in title and couldn’t

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Brockport, NY
    Posts
    253

    Default

    Believe me, I feel your pain. Or anger and frustration. We do sap bags as well, and the squirrels hit pretty hard every year. It IS a battle. We just include in our plan for a certain number of replacement bags (well, going to tubing eventually though). Anyway, we've found that they are trainable animals to an extent. When they start, we'll replace em all right away. Next day notice where they start FIRST, and replace all but one there (leave one leaker). Next day same thing, for a few days. Ends up with 4-7 bags we'll leave with chews in them, and they "forget" about all the others and habituate to the leakers. No, I don't like ANY leakers, but this is what works for us. Good luck!
    take care, Mark

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Vt
    Posts
    29

    Default

    Hi Mark,
    Thanks for your input. We had one area this year where they got every bag. (29 of them) If they would be happy with a bag here and there we would live with it. Last year we returned to one sugarbush after a cold spell and they had ruined 89 bags out of 90. Sure wish we could train these greedy critters.
    Last edited by sherwoodm; 04-05-2019 at 05:15 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    124

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sherwoodm View Post
    Sure wish we could train these greedy critters.
    Train em with .22 lead.

    I don't have near the trouble you guys do but I put the new bag inside the old/chewed bags and that seems to help.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Vt
    Posts
    29

    Default

    We have a hired gun! So far squirrels are too smart for him. Putting ruined bags outside of new ones does work. Just a pain to hitch them in place. Thanks!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    428

    Default

    2 squirrels.jpguhDDPPFtTGuV-hPGs0THK5ubJvLhE0QLbD456ZWOL88UuUceIAqIYXGwl29TiLTp.jpg

    Lets see, 2 bags, 2 squirrels, Which one can chew or scratch a hole through first?
    1960 - 1970s 70 taps on galvanized buckets with Dad and Grandpa.
    1970s - 1985 Acted crazy!
    1986 - 2005 20-30 buckets.
    2006- 2017 70 buckets and bags
    2017-2019 100 bags and buckets
    2020 Finally retired!!! 75 buckets, 50-75 on tubing. RO Bucket, New 12 X 16 Shack and a 42X42 flat pan.
    2021-Adding another 125 taps along with a second RO bucket.
    2022- Shooting for 350 taps, with 100 on lines.
    Lots of Family and Friends and dogs named Skyy and Nessy!

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts