Well show you how to repel squirrels from around your home using simple and easy solutions. Pour water into a bottle sprayer, add several drops of Tabasco sauce or any other hot sauce that contains capsaicin, and a squirt of dish soap. In addition to the vinyl coating, its also galvanized inside, providing a double coating to prevent rust! Proper motion-activated sprinkler allows you to choose if you want it on during the day, during the night, or 24/7. Dogs and cats are actually living, breathing natural squirrel deterrents. They mob small pets like cats who come out in search of nuts. Soak a few cotton balls with peppermint oil and leave them around areas the squirrels visit. You can use loud noises to keep squirrels away from your home. They also like to dig holes in lawns, flower beds, and vegetable gardens to bury their stockpile of acorns. To scare away squirrels, you don't need much. However, there are many plants that squirrels find distasteful. Squirrels learn quickly that their advances are futile, leaving the dining to the downy woodpeckers. A field project: Investigating the influence of urban noise on eastern gray squirrel behavior. If you want to stop squirrels from coming into your property, you need to understand why they love hanging out there in the first place. Be warned, not just Santa, but also squirrels can climb down the chimney to your house. Spray the hot pepper spray on and around surfaces you'd like the squirrels to stay away. 1. Using something like the BUBOBOSS Fake Scarecrow Owl Decoy can help by employing their motion-activated sounds and movements to safely scatter the squirrels. More often than not, its because of food. Place it: Squirrels prefer outdoor open spaces. Follow your live trap instructions and place it in an area where you suspect the squirrel is coming and going, such as an opening in the exterior. Scare squirrels off with water. unlocking this expert answer. Squirrels belong to the Sciuridae family which includes medium-sized animals. Animal welfare laws and basic humanity dictate that these products should not be used in the traditional way for squirrels. Zucchini and Summer Squash Squirrels can be entertaining to watch, but it can be very frustrating if they keep digging up your garden plants or take up residence in your garage. In the wild, squirrels mostly eat plant material. As you probably already know, squirrels love to climb trees! They seek refuge comfortably in your attic. This article was co-authored by Joshua Bloom. A live trap made of peanut butter and aspirin that repels squirrels is a humane way to remove squirrels from your home and transport them to another location. Firecrackers. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. There are three species of squirrel, and all of them are considered a pest. By This Old House Reviews Team 4/11/2023 8:00 am Mix safflower seeds in the bird feeder or buy ready-made seeds with a combination of safflower seeds. This liquid is also a great repellent for keeping pests away. Once they stop getting the food of their liking,they will have to relocate elsewhere in search of palatable food. Instead, try to make your own natural squirrel deterrent spray using food-grade products. Dont worry, theres help. As it emits sound, it also flashes bright LED lights that serve as another squirrel repeller. It may seem like a lot of work, but as a bonus you will also be preventing damage from mice, voles, groundhogs, birds, rabbits, and deer. This makes it more viscous and sticky, perfect for applying on tree bark. Make sure they dont reach it through the wire by threading a plastic bottle on either end. Place a few in the yard and your flower beds and nerdy bushes. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, Best Way to Repel Squirrels with Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders, Natural Ways to Repel Squirrels with Peppermint, Heres How to Stop Squirrels from Eating Bird Food with Hot Pepper, Deterring Squirrels with Garlic and Vinegar, Making Hot Pepper Spray to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden, Using Mothballs to Keep Squirrels Out of the Yard, How to Catch a Stubborn Squirrel with a Live Trap, peanut butter and aspirin that repels squirrels, Privacy Policy GDPR Medical Disclaimer DMCA. 10 Quick and Easy Ways to Repel Squirrels - Tips Bulletin Its also a great homemade pigeon repellent spray. You can pull it up again once you've had a few hard rains. However, when one group of researchers (published in PLoS One) played the sounds of a red-tailed hawk, squirrels became more vigilant and wary of their surroundings. Lemongrass. Here are several techniques to get rid of squirrels in your yard to keep your lawn and structures safe from squirrel destruction. Check your property for open tubs of water and either empty them or put a lid on. Since these devices are anchored on the ground, they will not jump up and capture the squirrels. Cinnamon. 4 Sounds That'll Scare Squirrels (And Keep Them Away) Show more Show more This not only helps get rid of ground squirrels but a lot of other animal and insect pests. Garlic does more than keep mythical creatures away. With the other herbs and spices (essential oil), add 10-20 drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle depending on the size. This keeps water and dust from seeping in through the crack. Now that you know how to repel squirrels to keep your flowers, veggies, and home free of squirrels, why not share our squirrel deterrent solutions with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook? Unfortunately, this means that these critters often take over your backyard and even try to nest in your home. Old stockings or cheesecloth can prevent squirrels from one of their most infuriating practices: taking a single bite from a ripening tomato, and then abandoning the spoiled fruit. You can choose from five frequency settings depending on the animal you want to get rid of. So if there is a crack big enough for them to squeeze into, you can be sure theyll try. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. You can also use the same principle by sprinkling cayenne pepper powder, pepper flakes, or a garlic powder-pepper combination on surfaces and plants. Start with the area outside your house. Squirrel Deterrents, What Really Works? - YouTube Support wikiHow by Position them around the walls of your home to discourage squirrels from coming near at all. Squirrels can climb anything. These critters can climb up and take all the food for themselves, leaving your home bird-less. There are many uses for vinegar around the home, from pickling to cleaning. And if you have a garden, try installing a fence to help deter squirrels from entering and making your property their home. It is easier to chase squirrels away from your backyard rather than from the attic or any other space indoors (hopefully you've caught the problem before they have entered the house. When users buy via links on our website, we may earn a commission. Use material that is strong and durable, like hardware cloth or chicken wire. If there are trees close to your home, take some time to trim back the branches. What is the best way to make a loud noise? Squirrels in busy parks where humans constantly passed by them came closer to humans. Other Option For Repellent Sounds. Squirrels are the primary diet for snakes. However, part of the cap is made from a wire cage, so the smoke will still be able to get out. Anyone that may have issues with squirrels and other critters, should check out https://www.wildlifeandpest.com. They share tons of helpful tips and tricks as well, and if youre in Colorado or Texas, can do removals for you! They dont spare any high spot your pipes, trees, walls and any kind of fence. Keep a dog. Install a squirrel guard on the pole holding up your birdfeeder, or else buy one that is squirrel-proof. 1. Their range is skewed towards ultrasound, which refers to sounds that are at a higher frequency than what is audible to the human ear. Squirrels will raise their litters in numerous places. Once youve cleaned out the attic and made sure that all the squirrels have gone, its time to cover up any entry points to stop them from coming back. To avoid the wind carrying away the fine powder, sprinkle them on wet soil or damp surfaces. [6] Hardware cloth and plastic bird netting also work for this trick. Soak a bunch of balls of cotton with peppermint essential oil and place them strategically around your home to repel squirrels. We are talking about squirrels. You can whip up a spray concoction using one of the many recipes found online. When they're faced with something scary, they will much rather run away than stay and fight. It causes discomfort to almost all animals, and squirrels are no exception. Create a barrier with these flowers, and the squirrels won't want to pass through it. Next up, weve got some squirrel repellent home remedies: No food no squirrels. This is also useful for preventing larger bully birds, such as starlings, grackles, and pigeons, from accessing the feeder. More info. Squirrels have an extremely strong sense of smell which is what allows them to thrive during the fall and winter. They have sharp teeth and can nibble a standard wire mesh too. These types of DIY squirrel repellents are also the best solution to ensuring chipmunks stay away from your bird feeders. Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. It is an effective way to keep squirrels away. And what better way to scare these critters off than squirrel predators? One such plant is Daffodils. How To Scare Squirrel ? Find Out Here Squirrel Arena The smell of peppers convinces the furry fiends to find a more hospitable place to feast. You can also use garlic and vinegar to make your own mole repellent to keep all types of rodents out of your yard. After all, their diet consists of berries and seeds, and they make their homes in tree trunks. Use these noises and tricks to help keep the squirrels away and then take a walk in the woods and enjoy them in their own environment. 7 Simple Ways to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden - The Spruce Read on for some information about where squirrels prefer to live as well as 4 sounds that can help scare squirrels away from your gardens and bird feeders. Chili peppers and mint are common home remedies for keeping squirrels at bay, since they detest the taste and smell of both. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Position the device in a spot that receives full-on sunlight to take advantage of its solar energy capabilities. Squirrel-Repellent Sound Devices. This works well for getting rid of squirrels in the attic as well. 1. 2. The shrill squirrel sounds you hear is their mating call. Tent protective netting over your fruiting trees and protect your vegetable garden with hardware cloth or chicken wire. You could also scatter mothballs, spray cider vinegar or sprinkle white or . You can use these to deter squirrels from digging. I find it easier to shoot them, I literally have shot hundreds being destructive to my property, ruining trees, eating robins eggs, tearing up my lawn/mulch, I used to trap them and relocate them to a park, I gave up, just an FYI as many of them I have exterminated they just keep coming, theyll produce multiple offspring in one pregnancy. Squirrels in the Garden They will stay away from your premise. High-volume music and the sound of predatory birds can also startle squirrels, causing them to stay away. The rodents are considered pests because, Read More 7 Ways Squirrels Can Damage Your House (With Prevention Tips)Continue, Your email address will not be published. You can buy one at the store or make one yourself. If you have a dilemma with these pests getting into your attic, consider spraying the vinegar around all entryways to the area. Raiding your fruit and veg. Dice a garlic clove into pieces and add it to a cup of water and vinegar in a jar. 4 Sounds That Scare Squirrels Away. Fill in the tiny gaps in the mesh by applying the foam with a foam applicator gun. Cover the traps and the ground they like to dig in with a newspaper and a little dirt. Instead, use squirrel traps to catch them without contact. While they're cute, they can also be destructive to your property, and they can run birds off from your bird feeder. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0221279. Mint is also an odor squirrels don't like. Squirrels cannot jump more than seven feet from a tree, five feet from the ground, and avoid dropping more than nine feet off a feeder. When squirrels hear normal song patterns, they tend to take that as having some degree of safety. Mothballs work well in the attic too. Vinegar: Why It Works To Repel Squirrels And How To Use It There are a number of things that you can do to keep squirrels out of your home and yard. Complications with trapping squirrels can involve a number of things. Inorganic mulch is much stronger and has a texture that squirrels detest digging up. Grow Unappealing Food. Keep squirrels away by removing anything they can use to scale up your walls. There are more uses for mothballs than keeping moths out of your clothing. They often use predator's urine in them. Responses of urban gray squirrels (Scurius carolinensis) to humans and conspecifics in an area of Boston Common. Instead, set a shoebox filled with leaves and other nesting materials under a tree so that mama can easily cart the babe back up to her nest. Grow them near entry points into your yard to deter squirrels from coming in. This smells rather nasty, though, so do not spray this in the parts of your house frequented by humans. You can buy new squirrel-proof bird feeders at the home improvement section, but there are a lot of DIY ways to protect your existing bird feeders from these little pilferers. And most of them are pretty entertaining! The sound of any large predatory bird can be used to help scare squirrels away. Here is how to keep squirrels away with natural squirrel repellent ideas. Researchers call this discrimination, and they say that it often happens when squirrels recognize a particular person who has been a nuisance to them in the past. It may be a slightly expensive option, but its a great way to protect your fruit and vegetable garden. If you like what we're doing, please gives . Heidi & Olav Squirrel Proof Chicken Wire Cloche for Plants, GoldPeak Black Hardware Cloth Vinyl Coated Wire Mesh, 7 things to do if you find a squirrel in your home. How to Eradicate Squirrels from Your Attic & Prevent Re-Entry. To attach the ring, use wire. Squirrels relish many of the same plants that we do, including fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, and berries. Make sure it hangs at least five feet from the ground to prevent them from jumping. % of people told us that this article helped them. Install a motion activated sprinkler Squirrels are naturally jumpy creatures. You can make your own bait using bird seed, fruits, grains, and nuts, or you can buy from the store. Red squirrels, on the other hand, will make use of rock dens or burrows if necessary. Your best bet to stop squirrels from biting through is copper mesh paired with expandable foam. They can pry open loosely placed lids of a trash can in search of food and make a mess. Visit our Terms and Conditions for more information. But in truth, these little critters can eat anything and everything. Luckily, there are many simple solutions for keeping squirrels away from your outdoor space safely. Make sure to buy a sealable trash can and secure the lids properly. 11 Simple, Humane Methods to Keep Squirrels Out of a Garden Place them strategically around tree trunks to prevent these animals from climbing up and getting to the fruits. Eating your bird food. around bulbs. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Bird chatter can let the squirrels know whether the area is safe or if theres something to worry about. Use a trap to catch a squirrel. It may be inaudible to our ears, but the high frequency is intolerable to squirrels and other pests in and around your house. This is the principle behind the use of these devices for squirrel control. The moisture will hold the powder for long. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Mixing a bottle of tabasco into a gallon of water is a cheap and easy DIY natural squirrel deterrent. Some of them are: Irrespective of the species, squirrels are rodents and they are carriers of dangerous diseases. Also, sprinkle some cayenne pepper on your plants so they taste bad if squirrels try to eat them. You can apply vinegar to areas around your home to repel squirrels. tb1234. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board. Simply get yourself away from the animal! I grew up in an area of Upstate, NY where dealing with wildlife pests is a common occurrence. Another option is to place black plastic netting over the bulbs in the same way to protect them. The only way a decoy squirrel feeder is going to be effective is if you first eliminate feeding opportunities in your own home. Although there have been few recorded instances of transmission of disease from these critters to animals, it is best to avoid handling them directly. Gray squirrels have their babies between March and April and again from June until August, depending on how abundant their food supplies are. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing. Trim tree branches that lead to your house Given their agility, these urban rodents enjoy climbing trees. They, however, forget where they have buried them and start digging the ground to look for them. That is not all, squirrel feces and urine are known to be one of the leading sources of the deadly salmonella virus. Many breeds of dogs devour squirrels. The moment any kind of motion is detected by the sensor, the sprinklers turn on, and stop as soon as they sense inactivity. Repeat it every day till the squirrels find another place. Required fields are marked *. Plant bulbs that deter squirrels such as daffodils, hyacinths, allium, garlic, lily of the valley . Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. They are the close cousins of chipmunk and groundhogs. Instead, contact animal removal services. There are many natural ways to keep squirrels away, and purchasing sprays isn't necessary when you can make one at home cheaper. How to Repel Squirrels Naturally (5 Ways to Deter Squirrels) Aluminum flashing works well for wrapping tree trunks, and also prevents squirrels from running up trees. This 14-foot cordless V20 from Craftsman is easy to use with its extended reach and cordless accessibility. Avoid spraying the liquid directly on your favorite plants to prevent harming them. Spray it on stacked boxes, clothes, pots and pans and every crevice in your attic. Some studies have shown that squirrels have a behavioral trait called flight initiation distance which is a measurement of how close we can get to our animal friends before they run away. Keeping squirrels away from your shrubs and fruit trees. This article has been viewed 158,567 times. He has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry and specializes in commercial and large facility pest control management. Consider netting those bushes. They hop from tree to tree and into your homes. They are extremely intelligent and can put on a deceiving behavior to fool the onlooker. Water sprinklers with motion detectors. Got Squirrels In The Attic? With the garlic and onion, you can use the same method as you would for the pepper spray. Safe, Easy Tips to Keep Squirrels Out of Bird Feeders - The Spruce I get into the nitty-gritty on the most common types of pests youll see on your property including BOTH insects and wildlife, along with the specific signs to look for regarding any pest you have questions about. As much as possible, its best to wait until they grow up and leave. Many people think squirrels collect nuts and acorns and only feed on them. Make sure to move them to different locations every few days. These thin sheets of metal are pliable and can be easily stuffed into openings of different shapes and sizes. The best way is to get a low voltage electric fence. Not only do they eat all of the birdseed, but they seem to defeat all odds to claim the feeder as their own. Be sure to hire a professional if your tree is very large and unruly. [10] Sounds That Scare Squirrels Away - Pest Control Weekly Cover the plant with the netting and weigh it down with rocks around the edges. Squirrels give birth to young ones twice a year. To help prevent them from coming into the house, check for any open areas that they may want to enter, like crawl spaces or attics. Sound To Scare Squirrels Away - YouTube If you have kids and pets, use caution. Fun fact you can note the kit is a squirrel by its dark toenails! Below are some other things that scare squirrels away. Dont make food available to them. Please note for UK readers that under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act it is illegal to release squirrels into the wild or keep one as a pet, which means humane traps pose a bit of a dilemma. My name is Garth, and I would like to welcome you to my personal birding space. When theyre born, baby squirrels are hairless, pink, and look a lot like other young mammals. You don't have to give up on feeding the birds, but switching to less palatable feed like safflower seed or seed treated with cayenne pepper can deter hungry squirrels. You can find these at most garden stores, as well as online. 10 - Get a Dog. This includes pruning tree branches and vines that graze the walls and removing firewood leaning at the side of your house. They are also a great DIY alternative to physical barriers. Radermacher, E. (2018). Read More Heres Where Stink Bugs Really Go And Live During The DayContinue, Some animals, like your pets, are welcome in your yard and on your property. These are just a few of the words that describe a stink bug infestation in your house and yard. Another option is to place a dome-shaped squirrel buffer on the bottom. If a squirrel finds its way inside your home attic, garage, or other structure, its time to use a squirrel trap to capture them safely. Pet owners, rejoice! (2019). While loud music isnt a permanent solution (your neighbors may be inclined to cut the power cord), playing music at a decent volume during the day can keep the squirrels away. Unfortunately, these small animals have certain habits that cause more havoc than realized. If you find a nest with baby squirrels in it, do not attempt to touch them. If you dont have a cat or dog, there are other ways to fool these animals into thinking that predators of squirrels live in your home. But dont be fooled by their looks.