How to Get Rid of Squirrels
Is your yard covered in nuts, berries, and acorns from trees? If so, your place is squirrel heaven! Be sure to rake and remove their food so you’re not party central.
Also, make sure you have tight-fitting trash cans and never leave food sitting out.
Consider protecting your garden with a wire fence and make sure it is buried about a foot into the ground, so the squirrels can’t dig under it.
Natural Squirrel Repellents
- There are also many natural repellents on the market. Some are made with the urine of squirrels’ predators. These are meant to be sprayed around gardens to keep squirrels away.
- Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, pepper flakes, and/or garlic pepper on and around your plants when they are ready to bloom. Squirrels won’t eat anything with cayenne—which you can often buy in bulk. Birds don’t mind the taste.
- One reader claims blood meal sprinkled around the garden soil works.
- For edibles, you may wish to invest in some netting and put that over your plants—just as you would invest in bird netting for berry bushes.
- A dog or cat is a great squirrel chaser if that’s an option.
- Pots are easy to protect with a layer of netting across the top of the pot.
- Or, here’s an expensive pantry solution: Lay aluminum foil across the top of vegetable pots; poke holes for water. The squirrels do not like the shiny reflection.
- Scatter dog or human hair around your garden. One readers shares, “I used to have a problem with squirrels digging up my bulbs. Now, once in the spring and once in the fall, I ask my hairdresser to save a big bag of hair for me. I lightly dig this into the soil. Squirrels can not stand the smell of humans, so they leave the gardens alone.”
- Plant nasturtiums, marigolds, and mustard as a border around your vegetable garden; these plants have an unpleasant aroma.
- Don’t trap and relocate squirrels. This is a losing battle, since the population of squirrels is extremely high. Also, if the animal is a female, there is a high likelihood that you will remove her from babies that depend on her for survival.
- Some readers will feed the squirrels in a different part of the yard so that they don’t eat their garden vegetables or plants. We’ve never tried this approach!
- If you’re really going crazy, explore the idea of a raptor perch and owl nest box for natural predators who will eat them in no time.
Protecting Bulbs from Squirrels
- To protect spring bulbs, cover the surface of the bed with black plastic netting, which is invisible and inexpensive.
- Or, you can line the planting hole itself with wire mesh “hardware cloth.” Some gardeners have found that planting the bulbs in a handful of sharp, crushed gravel discourages the squirrels. This might help provide better drainage as well.
- If squirrels are especially challenging, try chicken wire. Plant beds with one inch chicken wire and place more wire on top of the bulbs. The plants can grow through the wires, but the squirrels can’t get to the bulbs. Also, consider planting bulbs that squirrels don’t like such as daffodils, ornamental onions (Allium), snowdrops (Galanthus), and grape hyacinths (Muscari). Plus, check out our list of rodent-proof bulbs.
- Don’t advertise your newly dug bulbs by leaving papery bits of bulb debris in or on the soil. Clean up your act, or better still, try not to lay your bulbs on the ground while you dig the holes to plant them—squirrels will smell their favorite and scamper over.
- If all else fails, just grow tulips in pots as squirrels aren’t attracted to tulips.
Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders
- Birdfood definitely attracts squirrels who love seeds and nuts and berries. Keep the area under your bird feeder as clean as possible.
- Place birdfeeders at least 5 to 6 feet off the ground and 8 to 10 feet away from your house, trees, or structures. (Squirrels can leap that far and even farther.) Some folks use a pulley system. Add squairrel guards or baffles below new birdfeeders. (If squirrels have already used a birdfeeder, they’ll find a way around the baffle.)
- If squirrels are climbing up your birdhouse poles, try rubbing them with Crisco! It doesn’t hurt the birds, and the squirrels slither down!
- Try using safflower seeds. Birds are happy to eat these seeds, but squirrels find them bitter.
Reader Suggestions
Here are a couple of squirrel repellent suggestions that readers sent in:
- Try motion-activated sprinklers, primarily designed to keep cats and rabbits out of gardens, may help scare away squirrels, especially in small yards or at corners of front yards where damage is most likely to occur. However, the presence of numerous squirrels, stray animals, or children may result in overwatering and high water bills if they continually trigger this device.
- Get some mousetraps. Anchor them solidly to the ground in the area where the squirrels have been digging. Cover them with newspaper, and sprinkle a little dirt on top. When a squirrel comes to dig, it will set off the traps. As the mechanism snaps, it will scare and throw dirt at the squirrel. Once it’s scared enough times, it will find another digging area. Be sure to anchor the traps just in case the wind blows the newspaper off of them. If the trap is anchored, the squirrel will not get hurt.
Squirrels Inside the Home
In the autumn, many squirrels try to find shelter and may come inside your home. Avoid this by trimming branches that hang near your roof and place a mesh guard on your chimney. Close up all holes into your home.
If a squirrel does become trapped in your chimney or attic, you don’t want it to die inside. Make sure it has a way to get out. Hang a rope down through your chimney so it can climb back up to the roof. Or, buy a live trap to get the squirrel out of your house.
Call an animal control specialist if you’re desperate. Once a squirrel lives in your house for a few weeks, they and all their relatives will be attracted to your attic for at least a couple of years.
Do you have any tips for keeping squirrels away? Let us know below!
Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
Could you let us know a non-killing solution to mice & spiders?
We have problems with squirrels, mice and spiders. I have one solution and
that's peppermint tea (for spiders), but I need more than one. They seem to
become tolerant after awhile.
Thanks for this info, I really appreciate it. Squirrels can be a real nuisance here,
yet they are cute and I don't want to ever hurt them (squirrels). Spiders and mice
can be more dangerous. So, I really need spider and mice info too!
pest control
For mice control options, you might check out this page: https://www.almanac.com/pest/mice
As for spiders, although they do help control other pests in the home, and very few are able to penetrate human skin if biting, a few can be dangerous, depending on where you live, or if one is highly allergic to spider bites. Some spiders spin webs to capture prey while others hunt actively for insects. In the home, one of the best ways to control them is by vacuuming and dusting; be sure to destroy any egg sacs that you might find, including in garages, basements, and attics. Reduce as much clutter as possible in dark areas, such as closets, basements, garages, etc., where spiders like to set up shop. Remove debris/weeds around the home’s foundation and keep wood piles away from the house. Make sure doors and windows are air tight, with no cracks that might let in insects and spiders. Control insects, which may attract spiders as a food source. Outdoor lights on at night will attract insects, some of which might come into garages etc, which in turn attract spiders. Hope this helps!
Squirrel Damage
I have a small city garden that squirrels like to visit very early in the morning.Those unwanted thieves have now developed a special liking for young cucumbers, just when they reach about 2 to 3 inches long. They snap them off the vine for a quenching snack during this dry spell. Beware!
Squirrel Repellants
My squirrels LIKE hot peppers, garlic, vinegar, tabasco sauce, safflower seed , moth balls.They've figured out how to untie a rope meant to keep the bird feeder lid on and to remove the plexiglass windows. The only thing they don't like is a cold shower from the hose.Any other suggestions to get rid of these pest would be greatly appreciated
Squirrels
The squirrels in my gardens sound like the ones you have. Every thing I have tried from the experts has failed - and I'm not used to failure so I keep trying to find a good solution, even the owls have given up! I guess; because I've not seen them in my yard for awhile. They probably are getting the squirrels in neighbors yards now as I can hear them in the area. The squirrels are very smart and cute but very very annoying. I've tried feeding them in a different area but there are so many of them I can't keep enough food for them and then they are back in my gardens and stealing the bird food, my pecans, vegetables, flowers, etc. Please help!!!
Squirrel Infestation
We moved into our present house last summer. We had a few squirrels (4-5) in the yard and our dog kept them at bay. He would run after them and they were not a nuisance. This week I looked outside and saw 12 squirrels running and jumping from tree to tree in the front and side yard. We have a pile of large logs piles on the side yard and they scurry in and around that all day. They stare at us when we sit on the deck and are not deterred by loud noises. They just look at the dog and only run when he chases them. We have 12 squirrels and no babies yet. Unfortunately we now live in a suburban neighborhood so my preferred method of eradicating the squirrels cannot be used. Has anyone had to deal with such large numbers of squirrels? Would getting rid of the wood pile make a difference? Thank you for any suggestions.
Squirrels
They seem to enjoy that wood pile and may even be roosting in it, so removing the logs should encourage them to find somewhere else to hang out. Problem is, you don’t know where they’ll choose! They could take a liking to your neighbor’s yard or your crawlspace instead. If you have any birdfeeders up, these are also squirrel-magnets, so take them down.
Alternatively, you could try spraying strong scents around the logs, which could discourage them from hanging out there. The strong scents of essential oils, like eucalyptus, lavender, or citronella, may be just offensive enough to get the squirrels to scram.
Overall, removing any sources of shelter or of food is the best way to get the squirrels to move on to greener pastures.
Squirrel Damage
Help! The squirrels have eaten the lead seal off all the vent stacks on my roof causing several leaks in my house. Their teeth marks are apparent on the vinyl trim and soffit and facia board of my house. And, they have even chewed the aluminum fence ties off my chain link fence. How can I get rid of these destructive animals? I don't want to use any type of poison lest I harm the family dog or my neighbor's cat.
squirrel trouble
Squirrels chew in part because their teeth are always growing, so they need to constantly wear them down. As for the lead around vent stacks, apparently that is a common problem. There are various methods you can try, including installing a vent shield made especially for deterring squirrels from chewing there. Installing wire mesh over certain places that squirrels favor, and trying squirrel repellents, available at hardware stores and garden centers, are other options. Hope this helps!
Squirral and chipmunk problems
I've been using vaseline rubbed on the pole holding my bird feeders for many years. This works all season and through the entire year. I've only had to replace the vaseline once a year. The pole/bird feeder stands alone; so there is no way for the pesky critters to jump to the bird feeders.
Squirrel problems
I note quite often the publisher steers clear from the obvious solution.....population reduction. The loss of natural predators has created an explosion in the population of the bushy tailed critters. I noted in the article it said not to relocating squirrels, as it could present a problem for any abandoned young. There is no reason not to remove and relocate during your areas hunting season for squirrels. Pretty safe, as they are outside the critical times when the young are being cared for. Population control, is no longer a first solution........a dozen proposals written that just tiptoe around the only true solution. I’m fortunate enough live in an area where the obvious solution usually has the best outcome...squirrel and dumplings!!!!
Squirrel Retardant
I liberally sprinkle moth balls through my flower garden. Does the trick every time as well as neighborhood cats.
Squirrles hate soap
I plant bulbs with a healthy amount of grated bar soap flakes on top and then more soap grated over the top layer of soil once the bulbs are covered up. If the bulbs are near an edible plant humans eat I use my homemade soap that has no harmful additives. I have had total success with my soap deterrant. Good luck to you all!
Squirrels control
The best deterrent is a 12-gauge shotgun, used frequently, and then the crows will take care of the carcass!!!! Bon appetite!!!!
Squirrels
I have found that putting straw around any where you don't want them to dig works, l think they don't like the texture of it, so l use it every where, even in my flower pots,you can also try rocks, they can't move them,good luck !
Squirrels prevented from digging in our pots
When we did container gardening, and we first planted the seeds, the squirrels would love to dig in the soil and bury their nuts. We just placed a bunch of toothpicks in the soil. The squirrels do not like to dig and touch the toothpicks. It worked like a charm and we didn't need any chemicals or complicated solutions!
Squirrels
Me and my daughter have both had problems with squirrels making nests in the engines of our cars. They eat the wiring. It cost my daughter 2000.00 to repair her car. I was luckier. Cost me less than 200.00. The dealership told us to tuck peppermint oil soaked cotton balls in the engines. So far it's worked like a charm.
Squirrels damage!
Yes squirrels are fun to watch. I lived in a neighborhood where house after house had to replace the electrical wiring because squirrels had eaten the insulation off the wiring in the attic.
Squirrels
Leave the squirrels be. No reason to scare them away. They won't destroy your garden. They're just trying to survive like any other animal.
Squirrels
I had two 4x4 raised beds of sweet corn. 160 plants. They were doing fantastic. I was going to have a huge bounty of corn. The squirrels came and destroyed my corn beds. Deterrent sprays did not work. They ignored live animal traps. I will probably be going to extreme measures this fall.
SQUIRRELS WILL DAMAGE YOUR GARDEN !!!!
Squirrels
I have a small garden even so it is a lot of work and I don't do it for the squirrels and deer.
Cage it!
My 4x4 raised bed of sweet corn was destroyed in the tassel stage by ?raccoons? And the cure was this: first drive four stakes at each corner followed by mesh fencing around the perimeter. Check mesh opening size so that it is small enough to keep the pests out. At a height of four feet, cover the bed with more mesh and secure to the side mesh. Allow the corn to grow thru the mesh while the ears mature inside this cage. Enjoy the corn. Good luck!
leave squirrels alone?
The grey squirrel is the very invasive and has adapted well to development. It has few natural predators in these areas and their numbers have so increased that there are areas that encourage killing them. I for one, thought they were very cute and fed them as they were very poor looking. I even rescued a baby squirrel and my kids named it Box; cause it lived in a box.
I soon realized how feeding them and encouraging them to make homes in my yard would cost me dearly. First they chewed the wires up in my new Toyota pick up. The repairs cost over $1800.00. They invaded my attic and managed to go down inside a wall and chewed the wires to the dryer. I was told by the fire marshall the squirrels were electrocuted and their bodies piled up inside the wall and eventually the wire sparked and the hair on the bodies ignited. It was April 3rd about 2 am. My father was 84, he lived with me. He had dementia. The fire and smoke scared him and he hid. I tried to find him but had 5 children to rescue as well. I lost my father because he died from the smoke and fumes.
I hate grey squirrels and do everything to keep them out of my yard. There are a lot of people that do not share the ideas that grey squirrels are cute creatures to be left alone. If anyone wants to protect the rodents, I respect that but do not try to impose your feelings on me because I choose to not want the pests in my yard.
I HATE grey squirrels and do everything I can to keep them out of my yard.
nandina and squirrels
The squirrels literally eat my nandinas - right in front of me! These are small about 1 foot high but have not been able to buy a big one- any help if someone gives me another small plant to transfer?
netting
You may wish to consider some bird netting for your nandinas? The squirrels do like those berries!
Squirrel deterrent
I have tried Human hair in stockings and in the soil to keep squirrels away. As soon as the rain washes the scent of Human away the squirrels will return. Crush oyster shell into 1"-2" pieces and spread them around the area where digging has occurred. This usually keeps the squirrels away, the shells scratch their paws and they will not dig there anymore. Windshield glass works as well but the oyster shell is better for the soil. You should use caution if you dig in your garden bare handed.
squirrels
We have container gardens in our yard. We have placed mint plants in our gardens for the last 2 years. It is very effective in keeping them away. Before the mint plants they would dig in my flowers constantly. Now they stay away from the gardens.
Thanks for sharing about mint plants
I was hoping that mint PLANTS might deter them since people talk about peppermint oil being a deterrent as well. I have several types of mint that I keep in containers around, and I might just move those containers into garden area or consider planting mint outright. It can spread, so a bit concerned about that but I prefer to deter rather than annihilate if I can. Go live your life squirrel... get the heck outta mine ;)
Squirrels
We treat them as yard pets, and mostly enjoy them. I am of the notion that we need to accommodate other critters we share space with. We live in a small village, and realize that we humans are seriously displacing fauna and flora alike. We keep squirrels happy with corn cobs. They don't bother our plants. Same is true of rabbits, we leave out corn, and I cultivate wild clover plants for them -which they love.
mouse traps
have tried everything from human hair to repellents,,,mouse traps seem to work..They get really scared,and haven't bothered my flowers so far.....good luck
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