Bird netting is about the only thing that will help and that may not deter the squirrels. You might try a fake owl in the tree, often find them at sporting goods stores. Other than that a good dog or an air rifle will stop a lot of them. George Ron Hay wrote: > > Help! This is the first year we have had any signifucant number of > apricots on our tree, and all of a sudden, as they ripen, predators > strike at the crack of dawn. They may be birds, although I rather > suspect they are squirrels, since some of the pits are gnawed a bit, and > there are no real peck marks on the interior of the fruits. > > Any suggestions? > > I am about to go out with my fruit picking pole to harvest whatever I > can, to let the fruit ripen in the house. > > Ron