bisjoe

Here in WA there are some laws regarding squirrels, you'll have to check the laws in your city and state.

First, it's unlawful to discharge any firearm within the city limits.

Then there's a state law protecting the native western gray squirrels as a
state-threatened species. Eastern grays were brought in and are taking over certain areas, so the law prevents you from live trapping them and releasing them in other areas. So if we lived in an area that allowed shooting we could pop them, but first would have to identify which type they are and it's not easy.

Then a state law was passed meant to protect animals in the wild from being killed by traps left for bears. Unfortunately the way the law was written made it illegal also to trap other animals, including squirrels and moles, only mice and rats can be trapped here.

So we have to live with them.

Why do they bother your bonsai? Some may be looking for things to eat, like grubs, worms or roots. They may also be looking for a place to hide food they found elsewhere.

The bark stripping may be for nesting material, but may even do it do it for fun.

The remedies for repelling squirrels do not work well as you know, and the population is great enough that killing a few may slow it down or stop it for a while but then others will come.

The only sure way to protect bonsai is enclosing them in a wire screen. Something like a dog kennel with chicken wire added.