Home » Misc » How can i get rid of squirrels in my yard

How can i get rid of squirrels in my yard


How to Get Rid of Ground Squirrels in Your Yard: A Complete Guide [2022]

In some states, home and business owners enjoy watching squirrels frolic and play, scampering around, leaping from branch to branch in tall trees, or defying gravity by climbing onto bird feeders.

However, in California, most home and business owners do not enjoy hosting a squirrel that can cause damage and create dangerous conditions on their properties.

Fortunately, you don’t have to share space with the California ground squirrel forever.

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we help Bay Area and Central Coast homeowners get rid of ground squirrels quickly and humanely with professional squirrel control services, so we know a few things about how to get rid of ground squirrels permanently.

Whether your ground squirrel infestation is new or has been a problem for a while, our team can help.

We’ll share our top tips for getting rid of ground squirrels and reclaiming your yard in this post.

Key Takeaways

What is a Ground Squirrel?

California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) are 9-11” long with a bushy tail that’s about as long as their body. Their fur is a mix of gray, light brown, and dusky fur, which gives them a mottled appearance.

Strips of darker fur extend from the head to the mid-back, while gray fur forms a cape over the sides of the head and shoulders. Their underside is a pale buff or grayish yellow.

Where do Ground Squirrels live?

California ground squirrels live, breed, and mate in burrows containing 2-20 or more animals. They build their burrows into hillsides or low berms. They avoid flood-irrigated areas, dense woods, very moist soil, or lands that are frequently cultivated and tilled.

If they can’t find a hillside, ground squirrels will dig down vertically several feet to create a safe space. Their burrows are about 4-5” in diameter, 2.5-4’ below the surface of the ground, and 5-35 feet in length.

Multiple generations of ground squirrels use each burrow, and individual squirrels all have their own entrances. A single den may have dozens of tunnels and several dozen openings. Left unattended, ground squirrel colonies can get very large very quickly.

When California ground squirrels are not gathering food to “squirrel away,” they spend their time underground in their tunnels and burrows.

Once they’ve constructed these elaborate burrow systems, California ground squirrels tend to stay close to home.

In fact, both males and females can usually be found within 150 yards of their burrows. These animals are active throughout the year in the coastal areas of the state but may hibernate in the winter in inland areas with extreme temperature variations.

When ground squirrels do hibernate, they emerge in January, when the weather begins to warm up. Females have one litter each spring, averaging about 8 young. The baby ground squirrels first leave the burrow when they are about six weeks old.

What do Ground Squirrels Eat?

Ground squirrels eat a diet of nuts and seeds, with a particular preference for California black walnuts, grass seeds, and poppies.

They also eat fruit (especially gooseberries and prickly pear) and will eat insects and fungi.

What Attracts Ground Squirrels to My Yard?

One of the best ways to deal with a ground squirrel infestation is to understand what’s drawing them to your property in the first place.

Here are a few of the biggest culprits:

1. Food and water

They may also eat frogs, insects, bird eggs (including chicken eggs), and fungi.

If your yard has acorn or walnut trees, they will attract squirrels. Fish ponds, birdbaths, and streams also provide squirrels with both a food and water source.

2. Shelter

Ground squirrels like to live in large, grassy areas that provide plenty of unimpeded space for their excavation.

What Damage Do Ground Squirrels Cause?

Don’t let their small size fool you. Ground squirrels are bad for your yard because of the following reasons:

To learn more about the types of damage ground squirrels can do, check out our article on the topic.

9 Signs of a Ground Squirrel Infestation

How will you know if you have a ground squirrel infestation?

Look for the following signs:

  1. Holes. Ground squirrels create exposed, open tunnels with mounds of discarded dirt around the entrance. These holes tend to appear at the base of trees or around your garden plants.
  2. Destroyed plants or bulbs. If you notice that the tops of your vegetables are gone, or that the fruit has been harshly chewed off your plants, ground squirrels could be the culprit. They’ll also eat seedlings and certain ornamental plants and will dig up and eat flower bulbs.
  3. Patchy grass. Ground squirrels can cause serious damage to your yard and can easily cause bald areas with their grazing.
  4. Squirrel sightings. If you see ground squirrels, or your domestic pets start bringing you dead squirrels, it’s a sure sign you have ground squirrels on the property.
  5. Chew marks. Ground squirrels could be to blame if you’ve noticed gnaw or chew marks on your sprinkler heads, wood furniture, or anywhere else.
  6. Strange noises or smells.  Have you noticed strange squeaking or scratching noises in your outdoor space? It could be ground squirrels moving around or digging burrows. You may also notice strange, musty smells, which could indicate the presence of ground squirrels and their feces and urine.
  7. Droppings. If you see ground squirrel droppings, which are solid, black or brown in color, tubular, and rounded in shape, it’s a sign that ground squirrels are frequenting your property.
  8. Missing chicken eggs. If you have backyard chickens and you’ve noticed missing eggs, it could mean that ground squirrels are stealing and eating them.
  9. Nests. Like tree squirrels, ground squirrels make nests. These nests are made of leaves, twigs, bark, moss, and other organic materials compressed into a dense bed.

Once you’ve identified a ground squirrel infestation, you need to move fast to put an end to it.

Follow our tips on how to get rid of ground squirrels naturally or contact Smith’s to help you get rid of the pests (if you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, California).

Managing Ground Squirrel Populations

Managing ground squirrels can be difficult since the management actions needed to control them depend on the activity pattern and feeding preferences of the squirrels and the time of year.

That said, some of the most management tactics for ground squirrels include the following:

Cultural Control

Habitat modification can be an effective control method for ground squirrels. Removing prunings, rock, and wood piles that ground squirrels use as shelter can deter them from creating burrows.

Plowing deep lines along fence perimeters will also destroy the entrances to ground squirrel burrows and help deter the pests. That said, fumigants, baiting, and traps are still the most effective control methods.

Biological Control

Introducing natural predators like coyotes and hawks can help control ground squirrel numbers but will not eliminate the need for other, more intensive ground squirrel control methods.

How to Get Rid of Ground Squirrels Naturally (Without Killing Them)

You want to get rid of ground squirrels, but you don’t feel comfortable killing them.

Don’t worry – there are plenty of home remedies ground squirrels hate.

Here are 8 common remedies:

1. Natural predators

Wondering how to keep squirrels away from the garden?

While it might seem strange to solve a rodent problem by introducing more animals, inviting predators to your yard can resolve your ground squirrel population.

Plant tall trees to attract hawks and other raptors or use large rocks and brush cover piles to attract snakes that will eat the ground squirrels.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Long-term solution

Cons: 

× Expensive

× Time-consuming

× Labor-intensive to set up

× Many people do not feel comfortable attracting snakes and birds of prey to their yards, especially if they have young kids

2. Noise

Ground squirrels hate noise. Luckily, you can use this to your advantage by using ultrasonic ground spikes to drive them away.

Purchase vibrating stakes at your local hardware store and place them in the ground near burrows.

You can also hang wind chimes or add a few moving lawn ornaments that create below-ground vibrations to scare away squirrels.

Other forms of hazing are also common: these include motion-activated devices that blast artificial hawk or predator sounds or the use of dogs to scare gophers.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Humane

✔ Easy to install

Cons: 

× May be unsightly

× Hands-on

× Bothersome to pets, which may be able to hear the noise

× Proven ineffective by many case studies

× Impractical for many sites

× Costly

× Squirrels quickly become desensitized to scare tactics

× Hazing tactics may make an area unpleasant for humans to use or inhabit

3.

Plants

While ground squirrels eat almost anything, there are some plants they detest. The scent of narcissus, castor bean, and crown imperial will send them packing.

Plant these varieties around your yard and garden to keep ground squirrels out.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Safe for kids and pets

✔ Adds to the beauty of the yard

Cons: 

× Requires manual planting and maintenance 

4. Pepper spray

Soak a cup of plain red pepper flakes in a cup of hot water for 12 hours. Add a splash of dish liquid and another pint of water and strain the entire mixture into a spray bottle.

Spray plants and leaves the squirrels have been nibbling on, as well as visible burrows. The scent will deter the animals and make your yard less appealing.

Pros: 

✔ Affordable

✔ Easy

✔ Non-toxic

Cons: 

× May be irritating for kids and pets

× Requires manual reapplication

× Repellents like pepper spray and castor oil can work if applied daily, but the gophers usually come back once the repellent wears off

× Repellents do not reduce gopher populations

5.

Castor oil

Castor oil is an affordable, accessible way to get rid of critters.

For best results, mix ¼ cup of castor oil with two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid.

Mix two tablespoons of this mix into a gallon of water and spray it anywhere in your yard you have noticed ground squirrel activity.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Humane

✔ Easy to make

✔ Affordable

Cons: 

× Can affect other pets and animals, manually intensive 

6. Decoys

Ground squirrels have many natural predators, but you don’t have to introduce these predators to get rid of ground squirrels.

Instead, you can use decoys to scare the squirrels off.

An owl decoy, for example, will frighten squirrels, and make them less likely to call your property home.

For best results, purchase at least 3-4 decoys and position them around your yard, anywhere you’ve noticed squirrel property. Move the decoys regularly to keep squirrels on their toes.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Affordable

✔ Easy to use

✔ Non-toxic

✔ Safe for kids pets, and other animals

Cons: 

× Time-consuming

× Many people find decoys ugly, squirrels may “get used to” decoys and come back

7. Live-catch traps

Traps don’t have to be fatal for squirrels. Instead, try live capture traps, which contain squirrels and make it possible to relocate them.

Purchase these traps at your local home or hardware store. Bait your traps with pretzels, acorns, birdseed, or peanut butter and place them anywhere you’ve noticed squirrel activity.

Once you capture a squirrel, relocate it at least 10-15 minutes from your home.

Keep in mind that some states don’t allow the trapping of wild animals, so you’ll have to consult your local laws and regulations before taking this step.

Pros: 

✔ Effective 

✔ Humane

✔ Removes squirrels from your property

✔ Captures only target pests

Cons: 

× Requires you to handle squirrels manually

× State law requires all squirrels to be euthanized on-site

× Must check traps frequently

× Can be time-consuming

× Trapping is very costly (sometimes up to $100 per trap)

× Since most populations are dozens or hundreds of animals, trapping may not be cost-efficient

8. Address other pest infestations

Ground squirrels love to eat insects, so dealing with any present insect infestations is one of the best ways to send ground squirrels packing.

Contact a professional pest management company like Smith’s to help you resolve insect infestations and reduce available food sources for ground squirrels.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Humane

Cons: 

× This is a long-term solution but won’t remove ground squirrels immediately 

Home Remedies that

Won’t Work

While the home remedies above will deter ground squirrels, there are a few myths you should be aware of:

Conventional Methods to Get Rid of Ground Squirrels

Traditional methods may be a better fit if you’re not interested in home remedies to get rid of ground squirrels.

Here are four of the most common:

1. Fumigation

Fumigation is a common method to deal with ground squirrels. It is generally most effective in the spring or when the soil moisture is high.

Since fumigation is conducted underground, it’s safer for non-target species while also effectively eradicating ground squirrels.

Pros: 

Conducted below-ground, which makes it a safe yet effective method

✔ Kills animals quickly

✔ Humane

Cons: 

× Must be done at a specific time of the season

× Can kill non-target species if not done carefully

2. Trapping

Trapping is a practical method for dealing with ground squirrel infestations. If numbers are low to moderate, trapping is a good solution. We recommend using live ground squirrel traps instead of kill traps.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Humane

✔ Can get rid of rodents fast

Cons: 

× Live traps require relocation of animals, while kill traps require disposal of dead animals

× May harm kids or pets

× Can trap non-target animals

× Unsightly

3.

Gas Bombs

Gas bombs are designed to smoke ground squirrels out of their underground burrows and tunnels and kill the pests quickly.

Keep in mind that gas bombs aren’t legal everywhere, so you’ll need to check your local laws and regulations before purchasing and administering gas bombs.

Pros: 

✔ Effective

✔ Rapid solution

✔ Will not affect tree roots

Cons: 

× Dangerous to use around pets and kids

4. Baiting

What is the best bait for ground squirrels? Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we recommend using a first-generation anticoagulant.

When exposed to first-generation anticoagulants, squirrels digest most of the bait by the time it kills them.

Additionally, squirrels who consume this bait die in their dens, so you don’t have to worry about hawks, owls, and other non-target species consuming the dead squirrels and experiencing secondary poisoning.

To prove the safety of first-generation anticoagulants, the county of Contra Costa scattered these baits along a mile-long stretch of country road.

Then, they monitored for squirrel carcasses, and they found none (meaning the squirrels had died underground). They also monitored for secondary toxicity in wildlife and birds and found none.

Baiting with a first-generation anticoagulant is effective during the summer and fall when ground squirrels are very active.

This method is an effective control option for large populations and will control even rampant infestations quickly.

Pros: 

✔ Effective and affordable,

✔ Provides population reduction and control

✔ California-approved products present low risk for secondary effects on other wildlife or the environment

✔ Easy to deploy

✔ Safe for hawks, owls, and other wildlife

Cons: 

× First-generation anticoagulants contain chemicals like chlorophacinone and diphacinone 

× A license and insurance are required to use baits.  

How Safe is Ground Squirrel Bait?

The answer to this question depends on the bait you’re using and how you make the bait available to the ground squirrels.

Using treated grain as bait, for example, can be a very safe and effective way to control ground squirrel populations but, if not applied correctly, may also harm non-target species.

The bait must be placed in a tamper resistant rodent bait station that will exclude non-target wildlife, people, and pets.

Ground squirrels who consume the bait generally die below-ground, which prevents wildlife like hawks and owls from consuming them and experiencing secondary toxicity.

If you’re going to use ground squirrel bait, the safest option is a first-generation anticoagulant.

Substances like Diphacinone and other first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) are known within the industry as multiple-feed toxins, which means that ground squirrels must consume the bait several times over multiple days to ingest a toxic dose.

Because of this multi-feed requirement, if a ground squirrel is captured by other wildlife, the amount of active ingredient in its body is very low at any given time.  Multi-feed baits reduce secondary toxicity.

Additionally, FGARs have low primary toxicity concerns, which means that they’re safe for nontarget wildlife, even if nontarget species consume the bait directly.

Despite their relative safety for nontarget species, pest control professionals like Smith’s Pest Management always take precautions with FGARs, such as applying them in bait stations that are not accessible to nontarget species.

How do Pest Control Experts Get Rid of Ground Squirrels?

Ground squirrels multiply rapidly – having 5-9 babies each season. This means even a small ground squirrel infestation will quickly multiply.

Fortunately, professional pest management teams understand this and will take rapid action to resolve your infestation.

At Smith’s Pest Management, we’re conscientious and concerned lovers of nature.

While we help homeowners and businesses send ground squirrels packing, we do so in the most humane and low-impact way available. 

We use EPA-approved rodent control products, apply them in accordance with all label directions, and keep a close eye on developing science to ensure we’re never using products or techniques that could harm the environment, non-target species, or the ecosystem at large.

Here’s how we professionally and humanely get rid of ground squirrels:

1. Inspection

The first step to remove ground squirrels is to locate their burrows. During this phase, our licensed pest control techs will visit your property, inspect your problem areas, and assess the extent of the damage.

2. Management Plan

Once we’ve completed our inspection, we’ll develop a plan to deal with the infestation. Smith’s uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to provide a comprehensive solution without excess use of poison.

3. Elimination

Many of our customers come to us after DIY methods fail.

We want to rapidly get rid of your squirrel infestation, so we’ll deploy the best elimination tactic for your property and unique circumstances.

Ground Squirrel Exclusion

Smith’s Pest Management does not provide ground squirrel exclusion, although we will make recommendations if we believe exclusion is a good fit for your property.

Our goal is to make your property less attractive for ground squirrels but as relaxing and beautiful as possible for you.

How Can I Keep Ground Squirrels Off My Yard?

While the following won’t guarantee that you will never have ground squirrels take up residence on your property, they may help minimize their numbers and keep your property relatively safe from their destructive habits.

FAQs

1.

What is the Difference Between a Ground Squirrel, a Tree Squirrel, and a Chipmunk?

While tree squirrels tend not to cause much damage, their ground-dwelling counterparts can be a big problem.

In fact, the California ground squirrel is the most common vertebrate pest in agricultural areas and urban and suburban areas.

To understand the differences between these two squirrel species better, here’s a quick breakdown of their differences:

Ground squirrels burrow – tree squirrels do not

Tree squirrels are not typically a problem unless they find their way inside attics or other places inside a home.

Once inside, they can cause issues because of their constant chewing. A squirrel in an attic can damage a home’s structure, destroy insulation, chew through wiring, or damage stored items.

California ground squirrels, however, cause enough damage without entering the home. Ground squirrels dig. It is what they do. They will dig burrows and tunnels in yards, orchards, around building foundations, patios, decks, and gardens.

And since these animals multiply quickly (each female has five to nine babies a season), infestations snowball.

Large infestations can generate large holes in the grass that present a danger to anyone walking or running there.

Ground squirrels cause damage to lawns, fields, and gardens

Ground squirrel burrow entrances are large enough to engulf a person’s foot, posing the risk of a broken ankle or leg.

On the other hand, tree squirrels live in tree cavities or nests, high up off the ground where nobody is at risk of tripping over their home.

Ground squirrel vs. chipmunks

The ground squirrel and the chipmunk are very different animals. While both are small rodents, chipmunks have a distinct, reddish-brown fur with telltale stripes on their heads and bodies.

Like tree squirrels, chipmunks live in wooded areas and trees, while ground squirrels prefer to live, feed, and burrow in grassy areas like yards, pastures, and golf courses.

2. What Diseases do Ground Squirrels Carry?

Like most rodent pests, ground squirrels carry a host of dangerous diseases, including rabies, the bubonic plague, and leptospirosis.

Many of these diseases can spread to domestic animals or humans, so it’s wise to take steps to eliminate ground squirrels as soon as you notice an infestation.

3. Can I Kill Ground Squirrels?

The presence of ground squirrels can be so frustrating that you might find yourself just wanting to kill the pests. This is understandable, but it’s not always the best way. Shooting squirrels, for example, is a slow and expensive process.

While lethal methods like trapping, fumigation, and baiting (more on these later) may be required for severe infestations, they involve all sorts of dangerous side-effects that pose a risk to your property, landscaping, kids, and pets.

We highly recommend humane techniques, such as live trapping or exclusion tactics.

With a little patience and some professional guidance, non-lethal methods can be just as effective as conventional methods – with none of the unfortunate side-effects.

Are Ground Squirrels Taking Over Your SF Bay Area Yard? We’re Here to Help!

Tolerating ground squirrels just isn’t an option. After all, the pests can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your property. Plus, they can carry fleas and diseases and attract unwelcome visitors like coyotes.

Fortunately, you don’t have to live with them forever. Our team is here to help.

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we don’t only take care of gopher problems. We trap and eliminate other pests, including California ground squirrels!

If you need assistance with a ground squirrel problem, our team is here to help. Let us eliminate your ground squirrel problem effectively, humanely, and in a way that’s safe for your kids and pets.

Our team helps residential and commercial customers in Northern California – from Marin to Monterey.

Ready to learn more about our California ground squirrel control services? Contact us today for a free quote.

How To Keep Squirrels Out of Your Yard

Squirrels can be a nuisance in the yard or garden by eating fruit, vegetables and birdseed and chewing tree bark. Squirrels also have a way of making their way into your attic or crawlspaces and setting up nests. Here’s how to get rid of squirrels in the yard and keep them out of your home.

Don’t feed them. If you feed them, they will come. Any food found in your yard is fair game for roaming creatures or those already calling your property home. When you’re hanging bird feeders, scattering plant seeds or throwing compostable food scraps into your garden, you create the opportunity for easy meals. You should weigh your enjoyment of bird watching with the potential to attract pests with uneaten birdseed.

Remove what attracts them. The sight and smell of fallen fruit, nuts and seeds lures squirrels. Rake your yard regularly to remove these items from under bird feeders and trees. Use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids to keep squirrels out of your trash.

Scare them. A dog or cat may keep squirrels out of your yard, particularly if your dog chases squirrels. If you don’t have a cat or dog, you can place plastic owls around your property on elevated surfaces such as fence posts or the roof to frighten squirrels away. You can also buy containers of predator (wolf or tiger) urine to spray in your yard or garden. The scent scares many animals, including squirrels, deer and rabbits. You need to re-apply the solution after it rains.

Spray them. Motion-activated sprinkler systems may help keep squirrels out of your yard.

Exclude them. Keep squirrels out of your yard by blocking their entry points. Prevent squirrels from traveling along utility wires by putting two-foot sections of lightweight two- to three-inch diameter plastic pipe around non-electrical wires. Slit the pipe lengthwise, spread it open and place it over the wire. The pipe will spin on the wire, causing tightrope-walking squirrels to tumble to the ground.

Deter them. If you can’t keep ground squirrels out of your yard, you can keep them away from your trees and plants using squirrel baffles. Put a two-foot-wide metal collar around trees, at least six to eight feet off the ground. You can also use squirrel baffles on poles that support your bird feeders. Put fences or netting around your plants. Build a fence out of one-inch mesh wire. The fence should be at least 30 inches high and extend six inches below ground, with an additional six inches underground bent outward at a 90-degree angle to discourage burrowing. An electric fence is a further deterrent. Place at least two electrified fence strands about three inches from an existing fence, one six inches above the ground and the other at the fence height. Cut small pieces of plastic bird netting and wrap it around ripening fruit. Use heavyweight mulch, stones or decorative rocks on the surface of your soil to keep squirrels from digging in your flowerpots.

Repel them. Treat seeds, bulbs and flowers with a taste repellent such as capsaicin or commercially available chemical repellent. Reapply these substances after it rains. Don’t use repellents on vegetables or fruit you’re planning to eat. Plant mint at the edge of your garden. Squirrels avoid the smell of peppermint plants.

Plant flowers squirrels hate. Daffodils have a toxin that makes them inedible. Squirrels don’t like the taste of snowdrops, allium or hyacinth, so plant those spring bulbs as a deterrent.
Trap them. Catching squirrels with a live trap can rid your yard or squirrels temporarily, but other squirrels often arrive to take their place. In many states, squirrels are considered a game species and are protected by law. Trapping may be illegal, so check with your state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Keep them out of your home. If you’re having problems with squirrels in your yard or garden, it could be a symptom of a larger problem: squirrels in your home. Walk around the exterior of your house looking for possible damage or breaches in the eaves, exterior walls or roof. Holes could serve as a squirrel’s point of entry and exit as they fetch food from your yard and take it back to their nest. Be sure to promptly patch or repair any openings to give squirrels one less option for entering.

Assess the squirrel activity in your yard or garden to determine the best way to get rid of ground squirrels. Look for signs of squirrel damage: golf ball-size or smaller holes in your plant beds, bite marks on fruit, missing plants or tree bark and container digging. Then follow the appropriate steps above to keep squirrels out of your yard or get rid of them after they arrive. Remember, a squirrel infestation can lead to severe damage that extends beyond that in your yard or garden. Prevent squirrels in your home by controlling the squirrels outside your home.


How to get rid of squirrels in the country | With your own hands

Contents ✓

Last summer, the walnuts on my two trees in the country house were eaten by a squirrel. I saw her once on the branches and even drove her away. But you won't be on guard all the time! And having arrived once again for the weekend, I found that not a single nut was left on the trees, and empty shells were lying below. Tell us how to get rid of this animal or at least protect the crop.

Oleg Ivanovich DENISENKO, Brest region, Malorita

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THIS ARTICLE IS HERE >>>

Squirrels eat and spoil everything in a row

These are just funny animals that look quite good-natured in the pictures. Despite their external attractiveness, they have long gained a reputation as malicious pests that spoil literally everything that comes their way. The main part of the diet of squirrels is made up of various nuts - hazelnuts, cedar and walnuts, peach pits. There is a known case when a squirrel plucked the most beautiful fruits of a pear and gnawed seeds out of them. It was also noted that in the absence of their favorite food, they are not averse to feasting on bulbs of vegetable and flower crops (especially tulips), berries, buds and bark of fruit and berry crops.

They can also be predators: squirrels often eat nestlings and eggs of useful birds, lizards and frogs. Titmouse, which are expelled from their houses, suffer the most from them. There are cases when squirrels "sharpened" their teeth on wooden furniture and electrical wires.

Read also: How to get rid of mole rats and voles - my way

Farewell, cottage!

Animals with sharp teeth feel great in foreign territory all year round. Not only do they manage the garden, but they turn everything upside down in the attic if they get there.

A pair of squirrels in love is able to “equip” an entire army of rodents and occupy your home for a long time. In a year, a squirrel brings a couple of litters of

3-10 squirrels, and a year later the squirrel population is enough for a whole fur coat, but earlier the rodents will eat everything that is in the country, along with a wooden house.

Therefore, let's face it: such a cute little animal has no place in summer cottages and household plots. It follows from this that keeping them in the garden, or at least feeding them, is by no means worth it.

Sound and light

Fighting squirrels is not a one-day task, it takes time and patience. These creatures are quite smart, and it is very difficult to beat them. High intelligence and agility allow them to reach any feeder or get deep-planted bulbs out of the ground. The insidious plans of the animal are brought to life with the help of strong paws: they easily jump from branch to branch, cling to wires and dig entire holes.

The simplest way to fight is the method of avoidance. Instead of feeding animals, you need to remove everything that a squirrel can eat: collect nuts, acorns, fruits from the ground, buy airtight trash cans with tight lids and always keep them closed. Get special bird feeders - they come in a variety of models and types. Do not put them close to trees and the house, keep the area under them clean.

If nothing stops the jumpers and they continue to visit guests, try to scare them away with a sound, leaving the radio or music player on the roof. Squirrels will constantly hear human voices, and they are unlikely to like it. Leave flashing lights right on the site and attic. They can make the animal run away and leave the venture to settle there.

See also: How to get rid of mice in the vineyard and orchard

note

Constant light in the attic can cause squirrels to leave. In especially difficult situations, a pulsating light beam can scare away rodents. For this, flashing strobe lights are used.

Repellents

Squirrels can be repelled with repellents. Today, the market offers many such drugs to choose from. All of them have a deterrent and are available in any form: sprays, liquids, oil, granules or powder.

Repellents are easy to use and economical. They allow you to protect bird feeders, flower beds, shrubs, ornamental plants from destruction by proteins. It is enough to spray a spray, sprinkle granules, powder or oil a place around the perimeter - and the smell will scare away the animals for up to 30 days.

Electronics

Electronic squirrel repellers are environmentally friendly and safe devices. They come in different types: ultrasonic, light, water, etc.

Ultrasonic devices emit sound vibrations to which only animals are sensitive. They make the squirrels uncomfortable and force them to stay away from the device. The high decibels of ultrasonic repellant noise can make an area of ​​interest unbearable for individuals who only plan to occupy it.

Traps

If the previous methods turned out to be powerless, and predators made a real mess - they gnaw wires and multiply uncontrollably, then use traps for squirrels. Outwitting and catching a squirrel is not as easy as it seems, because you are dealing with an intelligent creature. There are several types of traps on the market that are used according to the instructions.

One-man automatic trap cage (pictured) is the most common squirrel trap. It is a solid metal trap cage with a special door slamming mechanism. When an animal comes in to feast on something tasty, the mechanism works, and the squirrel is inside - closed, alive and unharmed. A number of cages are made from hard plastic, metal rods and other materials. Squirrel cages should be large enough and strong enough to hold a rodent. As practice has shown, the optimal size is 15.25 × 15.25 × 45.75 cm.

Make sure that the bait is far inside so that the squirrel cannot reach it from the side. Ideal bait are nuts, crackers, apple slices, peanut butter, bread crusts.

It is best to take the caught squirrel to the forest, located 20-25 km from its habitat. It is believed that in this case she will not find her way home.

Be careful with poisons!

It is undesirable to use poisons for squirrels, after all, they are living creatures that have their own life, flowing according to rules different from those of humans. This is probably why there are no officially registered squirrel poisons on the market. In addition, it is unlikely that such a smart animal can be "persuaded" to eat poison. So it is better not to experiment in this direction.

Precautions

Squirrels still belong to the wild, they can scratch and bite a person, especially if he is aggressive against them. At the same time, there is a risk of contracting rabies and some other infectious diseases. Therefore, you need to be careful, and if the animal nevertheless attacked you, you should immediately contact a medical facility.

Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Aleksandr Vladimirovich GORNY answered the reader's question

TOOLS FOR MASTERS AND WOMEN, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS VERY CHEAP. FREE SHIPPING. THERE ARE REVIEWS.

Below are other entries on the topic "How to do it yourself - for a householder!"

Subscribe to updates in our groups and share.

Let's be friends!

mechanical traps, ultrasonic traps and chemicals

When meeting this furry animal in the forest, many look at him with affection. Funny squirrels sometimes even take a treat from their hands.

A squirrel on a tree

But if these fluffy robbers have settled in your area and started destroying the planted nuts, spoiling the fruits, tenderness disappears and irritation appears.

It is even worse when the animal settles in the house, in the attic or in another secluded corner. Then he chews on everything.

We have to figure out how to get rid of proteins on our own: we will present the most effective ways to fight in our article.

Article content

If earlier the squirrel could only be found in the forest, now it increasingly lives next to a person, living in parks or city gardens.

Hand-feeding squirrel

This is a small animal, the length of which does not exceed 32 cm, most of it falls on its tail.

This baby does not weigh more than a kilogram, but usually up to 400 g, and less during the active period. In summer it is painted in a classic red color, in winter it is noticeably darker.

Lifestyle

In the wild, squirrels are solitary except during the rut.

Squirrel's nest in a tree

But sometimes in winter you can meet up to 6 individuals in the nest - this way they get less cold, warming each other.

Habitats of wood squirrels are diverse:

  1. Nest built from branches independently, usually spherical;
  2. hollow - the former dwelling of a woodpecker;
  3. empty nest of a large bird.

The squirrel's strong paws, equipped with sharp claws, are perfectly adapted by nature for climbing trees. No worse than a squirrel and jumps, flying along a curve up to 10 m.

Squirrel in a jump

When there is no snow, the animal often moves along the ground, making huge jumps up to 1 m in length.

In winter it prefers to climb trees, sometimes not leaving the nest for a long time in bad weather. If this interval is long, it can fall into half-sleep, but not into hibernation.

Diet

It is very diverse in squirrels and can include up to 130 different types of food, but the main component is seeds obtained from cones of coniferous trees, which are dictated by the habitat:

If the squirrel does not have enough food to eat, it switches to hazelnuts, fresh and dried mushrooms, occasionally acorns.

Nut-eating squirrel

Can eat berries, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes. It can gnaw buds and shoots of trees, severely damaging the bark.

In the mating season and in spring, it can switch to animal food, destroying bird nests and eating their eggs, and sometimes chicks.

In addition to insects and their larvae, it can also attack small vertebrates. The amount of feed that a squirrel needs per day is small - during the mating season about 80 g, and in winter only 35.

The squirrel is very active during the day. She does not eat all the food she finds, she hides some of it in secluded corners: these are stocks for the winter.

True, she forgets about their whereabouts very quickly, in winter she finds them only by chance. Most of the stock is eaten by other animals and birds.

Harmful to humans

Squirrel teeth are designed in such a way that they grow constantly and require grinding. This forces the animals to gnaw on everything they meet.

Such a feature is dangerous for humans:

  1. once settled in a house, they can gnaw through the wires, which will lead to a short circuit and a fire;
  2. the noise they make annoys the inhabitants of the house and interferes with peaceful sleep;
  3. excrement, and they can be seen in animal habitats, make you think about how to get rid of squirrels;
  4. Parasites and diseases that can be transmitted from furry robbers to humans pose a significant health hazard.

Squirrels do a lot of harm in their dacha:

All this makes you think about how to drive the squirrels from the site to their natural habitat.

How to get rid of squirrels with your own hands

You need to start the fight with humane methods. The easiest way is to simply not allow animals to enter the site.

To do this, it should not have anything attractive to them.

  1. We'll have to remove all the branches of the trees, through which the animals can get into the attic.
  2. Do not leave acorns and fruits on the ground.
  3. Waste bins must be sealed.
  4. Bird feeders must prevent squirrels from reaching their contents.

To prevent the animals from getting into the house, certain measures must be taken:

If all this does not help, the fight against proteins continues with radical methods.

Mechanical traps

They are a bit like a mousetrap, but larger. The principle of operation is the same - the animal is caught on the bait.

The cage can be made of metal, plastic or other materials, as long as they are strong enough.

Trapped squirrel

Size - 15x15x45 cm. It is better to take a trapped squirrel to the forest away from home so that it does not find its way to it.

Ultrasonic repellers

They can be either simple or combined.

GX-033 Ultrasonic Repeller

The former are capable of emitting only ultrasound. Secondly, in addition to it, there is a sound signal and flashes of light. They are more efficient.

Stationary dog ​​and squirrel repeller Tornado 115

The devices differ in both power and price.

  1. Model Tornado 115. Actually, this device is designed to scare away dogs and cats. But with a problem with proteins, it will also help very effectively. This squirrel repeller uses 115 dB ultrasonic waves emitted from two speakers to drive the squirrel away. If the squirrels settled somewhere in your attic or shed, then you will need to find out how they get inside there. Having found out this point, the device must be placed at the beginning of the passage of the dwelling where the squirrels settled. And it is important that this facility has access to a 220 V network. Then Tornado 115 must be connected to a 220 V network and it will start dispersing unwanted squirrels.
  2. Model GX-033. Emits ultrasound, runs on batteries. Equipped with a motion sensor that activates the action of bright light flashes. Hang it at a height of approximately 1.2 m.
  3. EcoSniper Model. It operates at a distance of up to 10 m. In addition to the functions that the previous model has, it can turn on a sound siren.
  4. "Defender of the yards" model. The motion sensor is designed for 16 m. It protects an area of ​​200 square meters and is able to work both from the mains and from batteries.

If furry pests cannot be repelled in this way, less humane chemical methods are used.

Video: Stationary dog, cat and squirrel repeller Tornado 115
Chemicals

Of course, no one is going to poison animals. It is enough just to apply chemical agents that have a deterrent effect - repellents.

They are available in various forms:

Means are non-toxic, repel animals by smell.

Gel repellent from the manufacturer Trixie

The composition is usually complex: extracts of hot pepper and mint, extracts of secretions of predators.

Learn more