Is your garden or backyard being overrun by squirrels? Are you fed up with the constant gnawing, digging and chattering? Getting rid of pesky squirrels can be a tricky task, but don’t despair. With a few simple steps, you can stop these furry critters from taking over your outdoor space. Read on for some helpful tips on how to get rid of squirrels!
How To Deter Squirrels
The first step in deterring squirrels is to block off their access to food. Squirrels are always looking for easy meals, so it’s important to keep bird feeders away from trees and other climbing points. If you have fruit trees in your yard, ensure they’re harvested regularly and remove any fallen fruit quickly. You should also cover trash cans tightly and remove any pet food left outside.
Another way to deter squirrels is to use repellents such as spicy pepper spray or predator urine. These products are available at most home improvement stores and can be sprayed around areas where you’ve seen the squirrels congregating. Be sure to reapply the repellent every few weeks for the best results.
Now that you know the basics of how to get rid of squirrels, it’s time to take action! With some patience and persistence, you’ll soon have your outdoor space under control!
Identifying The Nuisance
Identifying the nuisance is a crucial step in getting rid of squirrels. It’s important to note where they are most active so that you can identify their entry points and nesting sites.
Squirrels will often inhabit attics, garages, outbuildings, and trees. They also have a knack for finding food sources like bird feeders and gardens. Droppings, chewed wood or wires, tracks in the snow, or nuts’ empty shells can all indicate that squirrels are present.
These signs will help you determine the best way to tackle your squirrel problem. Once the source has been identified, you’ll be better equipped to choose an effective method to eliminate them.
Preventing Infestations
The best way to prevent a squirrel infestation is by making sure all food sources are inaccessible or eliminated. This means keeping bird feeders and pet food away from windows and doors and ensuring outdoor garbage cans have tight lids.
Additionally, trimming branches away from roofs and sealing up any holes or cracks in your house can help keep squirrels out.
It’s also important to know what kinds of plants you’re planting in your yard – some shrubs and trees may attract more squirrels than others. If you know your garden is a hot spot for these animals, use squirrel repellents such as hot pepper spray or predator urines around the perimeter.
Exclusion Techniques
The best way to keep squirrels away is to use exclusion techniques. Start by sealing up any entry points the squirrels may use to enter your home or garden. Look around for openings in your roof, attic, or foundation and patch them with heavy-duty hardware cloth or steel mesh. You can also buy pre-made exclusion barriers that you can attach to the openings. This will keep new squirrels out, while any already inside can leave as they please.
Once you’ve sealed off all potential entrances, you’ll want to take measures to discourage new ones from coming back.
Habitat Modification
Habitat modification is a great way of repelling squirrels. It involves changing your yard or garden to make it less desirable for the animals.
- First, trim any tree branches close to the house, so they don’t provide easy access for the squirrels.
- Make sure any bird feeders are far away from the house and secured so the squirrels can’t easily access them.
- Additionally, remove any potential food sources, such as fallen fruits or nuts, and keep pet food indoors.
- Finally, make sure there are no holes or cracks in the exterior of your home that could provide entry points for squirrels.
All these steps will help in deterring squirrels from entering your property in the first place and make your home a less attractive place for them to live.
Squirrel Repellents
Repellents are another great way to get rid of squirrels. They work by making the area around your home unpalatable or scaring squirrels away with noise or motion. Squirrels have a keen sense of smell and taste, so certain smells can make the area unappealing. This can be done with store-bought products such as predator urine or pepper sprays, or natural substances like garlic, hot sauce, vinegar, and cayenne pepper.
These substances should be applied to areas where squirrels are likely to travel, such as window sills, ledges and other entry points into your home. Motion-activated sprinklers and noises like radios also work well in deterring squirrels from entering an area, as they don’t like loud noises and sudden movements. However, these methods may only be effective in the short term, so it’s important to take steps to prevent them from coming back in the future.
Squirrel Deterrents
Several deterrents can be used for scaring squirrels away from your garden:
- One option is to use a motion-activated water sprayer. This device will spray water at any animal that passes by the area. It may take a few attempts for the squirrels to associate the water with the area, but eventually, they will learn not to enter it.
- Additionally, noise-making devices like ultrasonic emitters and predator calls can be used for scaring squirrels from an area.
- Finally, visual deterrents such as bright lights or reflective surfaces may also prove helpful in repelling squirrels from an area.
With a combination of deterrents and other techniques, you should be able to get rid of squirrels in your garden successfully.
Natural Predators
Squirrels are prey to various animals, such as hawks, eagles, owls, and snakes. However, these natural predators cannot always keep the squirrel population in your grounds under control. To supplement their efforts, you may need to take additional steps for deterring squirrels from your garden.
For example, if you don’t have one already, you may want to consider having a pet cat or dog. Squirrels are scared of cats and dogs, which will often chase squirrels out of your garden.
Professional Assistance
If you have tried the above squirrel deterrent methods but haven’t succeeded, then it’s time to consider professional assistance.
Pest control specialists can usually take care of the problem quickly and efficiently. They will be able to identify the source of the problem, use humane traps to remove the animals, and provide advice on how to prevent future infestations. It’s important to remember that most pest control companies offer a guarantee of their work, so if you’re not satisfied with the results, you can contact them for a refund or additional treatment.
Choosing a pest control company is an important decision. Make sure to research and find a company that has experience dealing with wildlife and is licensed and insured in your area. You should also ask questions about their methods before signing any contracts. The right choice will ensure that your home remains squirrel-free for good!
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember when trying to get rid of squirrels is not to try any illegal methods. Any harm to the squirrels could be considered animal cruelty and lead to legal action. The best way to handle a squirrel problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place by making sure that all potential entry points are sealed up properly.
If you have an infestation, there are some humane ways to eliminate them. Exclusion techniques such as one-way doors, habitat modification, and repellents can all help discourage squirrels in your home or yard. Additionally, natural predators like owls and hawks can also keep their population under control.
Finally, professional assistance may be necessary if these methods don’t work. Animal removal companies can safely and humanely remove squirrels from your property and offer advice on how to best prevent them from returning. With a bit of patience and knowledge, you’ll be able to get rid of those pesky critters for good successfully!
Additional Resources
- How to Squirrel-Proof a Bird Feeder: 7 Easy Tips You Should Try
- Best Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders of 2023
Ash is a contributing author who has been writing about wildlife for as long as he can remember. He has a vast knowledge of many different types of animals, from the tiniest shrews to the great whales that live in the deepest oceans.