Sasha CampbellIf you’re like most people, you probably love the outdoors and all the animals that come with it. But there’s one animal that you may not love so much, and that’s the squirrel.
They can be a nuisance when they enter your attic or raid your bird feeder.
If you’re looking for natural and humane ways to keep squirrels away, this article covers several methods that may help protect your yard and home.
Squirrel Damage
Having a garden means plenty of different creatures can wreak havoc on your hard work. One common garden nuisance in many areas is the squirrel.
Squirrels love to dig up tulip bulbs and eat other plants. While they may look cute, don’t be fooled! They can dig up bulbs, eat fruits and vegetables, and damage young plants.
And as mentioned, squirrels can enter your attic and make noise and damage things. They can gnaw through wiring and insulation, and their sharp claws can even tear open attic vents [1].
How to Get Rid of Squirrels Naturally
Whether squirrels are getting into your garden or your home, keeping them away is essential. The methods below will help get rid of squirrels without harming them.
1. Remove Food Sources
Before doing anything else, remove squirrels’ food sources. Otherwise, you’ll just be playing a never-ending game with these critters.
So, what do squirrels like to eat? Their favorite foods include nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
Therefore, pick up fallen fruit and nuts, clean up spilled birdseed, and store pet food and birdseed in squirrel-proof containers.
Removing easy food sources may encourage squirrels to spend less time in your yard.
2. Repellent Plants
Some gardeners say squirrels stay away from strongly scented plants like marigolds, daffodils, mint, alliums, hyacinths, and catnip. However, this doesn’t work in every yard.
3. Seal Cracks and Entryways
Sealing up cracks and entryways can also prevent squirrels from getting in. By doing this, there will be no easy entry point, helping keep them out of your home.
Wait until you’re sure the squirrels have left before sealing any openings. Otherwise, you could trap them inside.
4. Ground Cinnamon
Some gardeners also use cinnamon as a natural deterrent because of its strong scent, although results can vary.
To give it a try, sprinkle a little ground cinnamon around places where squirrels visit.
However, rain will wash it away, so you may need to reapply it.
5. Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Motion-activated sprinklers can also help deter squirrels.
You can buy them at most hardware or home improvement stores. They work by spraying water when a squirrel or another animal approaches, startling them and causing them to run away.
6. Eliminate Standing Water
Reducing easy access to water may make your yard slightly less attractive to squirrels, especially during hot weather. They will drink from puddles, bird baths, and anything reachable that contains water.
So, if you want to make your yard less attractive to squirrels, be sure to empty containers with water that’s been sitting around.
7. Clean Your Attic
First, find out how the squirrels are getting into your home.
Make sure they have left the attic before sealing the entry holes. Then remove any nesting materials they left behind.
8. Squirrel Traps
You can buy squirrel traps from a farm or garden supply store.
Bait the trap with various foods, such as corn, sunflower seeds, or even a piece of fruit. Once the trap catches the squirrel, you can release it in accordance with local wildlife regulations.
Wear thick gloves when handling traps, and never release a squirrel onto another person’s property.
Note: Before relocating trapped squirrels, be sure to check local wildlife regulations. Relocation may be restricted in some areas, so it’s essential to know the rules.
9. Squirrel-Resistant Fence
A fence made from wire mesh can help protect vegetable gardens.
It’s most effective if it extends underground and has a floppy or outward-angled top. This design makes it harder for the animals to climb over.
10. Cayenne Pepper
This spice is known for its hot, fiery flavor and can also be used to repel squirrels. You can use it to make a homemade squirrel repellent spray.
All you need to do is combine one tablespoon of cayenne pepper powder with two quarts of water in a pot.
Next, bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Afterward, remove from the heat and strain through cheesecloth as it cools.
Use this spray to mist problem areas around the bird feeder, patio, porch, attic, and other areas. Avoid spraying directly on plants with delicate leaves until you test a small area first.
11. Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders
Special squirrel-resistant bird feeders have clever designs. They use weight-sensitive mechanisms or cages. This way, they keep squirrels from reaching the seeds.
Pairing these feeders with squirrel baffles can further reduce squirrel activity around feeding stations.
12. Squirrel Baffles
Install baffles on poles and tree-mounted feeders. These dome-shaped or cone-shaped barriers make it difficult for squirrels to climb up to bird feeders.
13. Garlic Spray
You can make garlic spray at home with just a few ingredients. All that’s needed is garlic, water, and a few drops of dish soap.
Blend the garlic and water, add the dish soap, and mix well to make a natural squirrel repellent spray. Next, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it to areas where you see squirrels.
The strong smell of garlic may discourage squirrels from returning.
Garlic spray is generally safer than many chemical repellents when used as directed. However, avoid spraying directly on pets or in areas where they often eat.
14. Coffee Grounds
Some gardeners find that the smell of coffee grounds helps discourage squirrels, although results may vary.
To give it a try, apply them to areas where you don’t want these pests.
Sprinkle them around the outdoor plants that they’re bothering. You can also add used coffee grounds to your potted plants.
Replace the coffee grounds after heavy rain.
15. Get a Dog
The presence of a dog can discourage squirrels from spending time in your yard. However, squirrels can often escape by climbing trees or fences.
16. Peppermint
Peppermint may help discourage some insects and small animals because of its strong smell. You can use it to make a DIY squirrel deterrent spray.
Just combine about 12 drops of peppermint oil in one cup of water. Shake well and apply to areas where the pests love to visit.
Alternatively, you can purchase this combo repellent spray with peppermint and other botanical oils.
17. Fox Urine
Fox urine is commonly used as a predator-scent repellent for small mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks, and skunks. Apply it around problem areas outside to help keep squirrels away.
Because foxes are natural predators of squirrels, the scent may help make an area feel less safe to them.
Reapply after rain for the best results.
18. Human Hair
Some gardeners scatter human hair around plants because the scent may make squirrels nervous.
Once you have enough hair, spread it around places where squirrels visit. Results vary.
19. Ultrasonic Devices
Ultrasonic devices may provide temporary deterrence. However, squirrels can become accustomed to them over time.
Most ultrasonic devices are safe for people, but they may bother pet rodents or rabbits.
20. Safflower Seeds
Throw some safflower seeds in the feeder instead of other common bird seeds.
Many squirrels find safflower seeds less appealing than sunflower seeds. This preference may help reduce the number of visits to your bird feeders.
21. Apple Cider Vinegar
Some gardeners use apple cider vinegar as a natural squirrel deterrent because of its strong smell.
Mix one part ACV and three parts water in a spray bottle. Apply this DIY squirrel repellent to problem areas.
Avoid spraying directly on plants, as vinegar may damage leaves.
You could also soak a few old rags in raw apple cider vinegar and place them around the attic. The strong smell may help keep squirrels away for a while.
22. Cover Trash Cans Tightly
Don’t forget to cover your trash cans tightly. That way, squirrels will not be able to get in.
23. Eliminate Overhanging Branches
Another squirrel-control method is to cut off any branches hanging over your house.
Doing so will make it harder for squirrels to get onto your roof and access your home, eventually leading them to find another place to live.
Takeaway
We all know that squirrels can be a nuisance, raiding our bird feeders and scurrying around the yard. They can also cause significant damage to gardens and even enter our homes.
However, as you can see in this blog post, there are many ways to help keep them away.
Every yard is different, so you may need to try more than one method. Combining several humane techniques often works better than relying on just one.
Squirrels like other rodents do come if they have the food source. Keep the place clean. Get rid of any garbage and keep the garbage can closed. Fencing is also an option. If nothing works then a professional pest control work will help.