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How to scare off squirrels


How to Keep Squirrels Away

Keep Squirrels Away from Your Yard and Home

A squirrel may look cute and cuddly, but only from a distance. Once squirrels start getting into your yard, digging around and eating your plants or birdseed, they become much less precious and more of a pest. Not to mention, if one gets inside your home — now you’ve really got a problem on your hands! A squirrel can be a tough nut to crack (no pun intended). They’re quick, and a bit sneaky, so keeping them away from your home and yard is usually much easier said than done.  However, there are a few things you can do to protect your home and keep squirrels away from your property.

What About My Yard is so Attractive to Squirrels?

There’s a reason squirrels are camping out around your house. Below are the factors that attract squirrels to your property. 

Thick Vegetation

If you have lots of hedges and shrubs, you will probably notice squirrels running in and out of them. Squirrels don’t enjoy open spaces, for fear of their safety (read: they don’t want to be scooped up by a hawk). This is why they love the cover of thick vegetation or other areas around your home that provide shelter. To help prevent this, make sure to keep your hedges and bushes properly maintained. After all, a squirrel isn’t the only pest who will enjoy a place to hide in your yard! Not only will keeping your shrubs maintained help prevent pests, but it’s also an important part of yard maintenance. 

Food & Water

Maybe you want to have birds around your home, so you set up some bird feeders and a bird bath. While the birds will surely love it, unfortunately, so will the squirrels. A squirrel will do just about anything to get to the food in a bird feeder. More often than not, it’s extremely entertaining and results in some pretty funny videos. Without a doubt, these food and water resources in your yard are one of the reasons squirrels keep coming back. If you do keep food and water out for other animals or birds, try to keep it in a place where only they can reach it. Or, use specific bird feeders that are squirrel-proof.  

Trees

Squirrels are attracted to trees, especially tree varieties that produce nuts and fruit.  If your yard has trees, especially large, acorn-filled ones with lots of branches, chances are you’ve already noticed squirrels in them. There’s probably even little patches of ground where they have tried to bury their findings! Unfortunately, there’s no sure-fire way to keep squirrels, or any wildlife, out of your trees. However, there are a few methods you can try to deter them. Squirrels nesting in your trees isn’t necessarily a bad thing — unless the trees are very close to your home. If the branches are close to or touching your home, squirrels could use them as a way to climb around on your roof or worse, get inside your attic. 

The Dangers of Having Squirrels in Your Yard

These little critters can cause more damage than you may think, which is why you should make it a priority to keep squirrels away from your home and yard.

Tree Stress

Squirrels will not only eat the fruits or buds on your trees, but they will gnaw on the bark, too. When done in excess, this can cause stress for your trees and result in damage, and possibly death. Sadly, younger trees and saplings won’t develop if stripped of their bark. 

Related: Does Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Actually Work?
Plant Destruction

Once a squirrel has stolen the fruits or nuts from your trees, it will try to bury them throughout your lawn. Not only will this ruin the look of your grass, but it poses a threat to any plants or flowers that are trying to grow as well. If squirrels get into your garden, they could uproot the roots of your plants or flowers and eat them. 

Food Theft

As we mentioned, squirrels will steal any type of food they can find. While this isn’t ideal for your lawn, it poses an even larger threat to commercial farms. When squirrels get into a commercial farm, they can steal and eat through a majority of its fruit. This can be especially harmful to the crops, and can negatively impact the productivity of the farm.

Home Damage

Just like any other rodent, squirrels love to chew. If given the opportunity, their tiny teeth can do some serious damage to your home. They can chew through wires and cause fire hazards, and destroy your attic’s insulation. What’s worse, once squirrels are inside your home they can begin nesting and quickly multiplying. 

Diseases

Aside from making your home their own, these pests are threatening because of the number of diseases they carry. They can spread typhus, tularemia, plague, and ringworm to humans. Squirrels have a relatively short lifespan, and much of this is due to diseases — along with their poor decision-making skills when it comes to crossing the road. If you, your family members, or household pets contract one of these diseases, it could be extremely detrimental to your health!  Please note: If you find a squirrel in your home, always consult a specialist. Squirrels are quick and can lash out if they feel trapped or cornered. Never try to capture or remove a wild animal on your own!

Tips to Keep Squirrels Away

So, how can you keep squirrels away from your home? Here are a few tips and tricks that should help!

Plant a Variety of Squirrel-Proof Flowers

Surprisingly enough, there are a few plants a squirrel will steer clear from. While a squirrel isn’t generally picky, try planting some of these to keep them moving on from your yard:

 

Daffodils

 

Fritillaries

 

Geraniums

 

Hyacinth

 

Galanthus

 

Lily-of-the-Valley

All of these flowers are either bright in color or produce a strong odor that squirrels don’t particularly enjoy. Plant these around your garden or trees to help protect them from squirrel damage and add to the beauty of your landscape.

Use Strong Odors

Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint.  Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels. If this technique seems to be keeping your yard or garden safe, reapply as frequently as needed! Don’t forget to sprinkle these scents on again after storms too. 

Spray Squirrel Deterrents 

The urine of predators will also keep squirrels away. If they can smell a predator in your lawn, they’re not going to be as willing to stick around.  Commercial repellants mimic the odor and are easy to apply. Coyote and red fox urine seem to work the best, so consider purchasing sprays or liquids that either contain or mimic these odors. In your attic, use towels doused in apple cider vinegar to deter squirrels. The strong odor should deter squirrels for a while, but the towels will need to be refreshed and replaced periodically to keep the deterrent effective.

Remove Sources of Food & Water

You can’t help if the trees in your yard bear fruit and nuts for squirrels to squander. Plus, there’s no sense in cutting down a perfectly healthy tree just to keep squirrels away! However, you now know food and water sources like birdseed and bird feeders will attract squirrels. The best option would be to remove these food sources completely, so a squirrel has no reason to stay. But, if removing them isn’t an option, try squirrel-proofing your bird feeders to keep them from eating what’s not meant for them.

Scare Them Away

Keep squirrels away by adding a statue or figurine of a predator into your space. While this might not be the aesthetic you were going for, the mere silhouette of an owl could send squirrels scurrying. A squirrel is naturally skittish, so the fear of being injured or eaten could keep them away from your lawn for good. Got more than just squirrels roaming around your home? We can help with other pests, too! Download our guide, The Killingsworth Way, to learn about our unique approach to wildlife and pest control. 

The Best Way to Keep Squirrels Away

While these methods of deterrence might keep squirrels away for a little while, the best option is always to consult with a wildlife removal specialist. Squirrels are small but still dangerous if threatened, and you never want to risk contracting disease.  Here at Killingsworth, we’ve handled our fair share of wildlife, so we know a thing or two about getting rid of pesky squirrels. We want to help you protect your yard and home from damage, while safely getting rid of wildlife in a humane manner. If you are having trouble trying to keep squirrels away on your own, schedule a wildlife service. We can come and take a look at what damage they are causing and what sources are attracting them to your home in the first place, so that they never become an issue again. 

 

15 Tips on How to Get Rid of Squirrels Fast [Humanely]

Squirrels may be cute to look at when they’re running around up the trees and nibbling on acorns, but once they’re in your attic tearing up the walls, you’ll be singing a different tune.

Find out how to get rid of squirrels safely, effectively, and humanely with these tips.

1. Install a motion activated sprinkler

Squirrels are naturally jumpy creatures. They’re small and only have their teeth and jaws to fight off danger. When they’re faced with something scary, they will much rather run away than stay and fight. 

To scare away squirrels, you don’t need much. You don’t need to inflict pain or cause any harm. A sudden movement or a sudden sound is enough to make them run away. And a motion-activated sprinkler does this perfectly.

Most people are iffy with sprinklers because they can drive up your water bill fast. To avoid this, choose one that has a lot of customizable settings.

Proper motion-activated sprinkler allows you to choose if you want it on during the day, during the night, or 24/7. It also has a high tech sensor that is able to distinguish between the movement of animals and movement caused by the wind. 

You can adjust the sensor’s angle depending on the height of the animal you’re trying to get rid of. Just connect to your hose, drive into the ground using its spike.

Then adjust the settings according to your needs, and let it work its magic. If there was ever a safe, non-toxic, and all-natural squirrel repellent, it’s got to be a spray of water!

2. Use squirrel-proof bird feeders

Bird feeders are squirrel magnets. The buffet of delicious grains, seeds, nuts, and fruits are hard to resist. These critters can climb up and take all the food for themselves, leaving your home bird-less.

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!

You can suspend it on a wire instead of sticking it on the ground. Make sure it hangs at least five feet from the ground to prevent them from jumping. 

Make sure they don’t reach it through the wire by threading a plastic bottle on either end. It’s fun to see them try to move past the bottle when they realize it keeps rolling on the wire!

If your bird feeder is mounted on a stake, you can place a baffle on it. A baffle can be a barrier to the feeder or a way to widen the pole such that a squirrel can’t grip it. You can buy one at the store or make one yourself. 

If you want to have fun watching these critters try and fail to get at your bird seed, attach a slinky to the bottom of the feeder and allow it to dangle down. When the squirrels grasp it, their weight pulls it all the way back down!

3.

Plant flowers squirrels hate

You might think squirrels love all things green. After all, their diet consists of berries and seeds, and they make their homes in tree trunks. But there are actually such things as squirrel deterrent plants.

To squirrel proof gardens, plant flowers that are either brightly-colored or emit a strong smell. Plants squirrels hate include fritillaries, geraniums, hyacinth, galanthus, lily-of-the-valley, mint, and daffodils. 

Daffodils are dangerous because they contain lycorine and calcium oxalate crystals that are toxic when ingested. 

Alliums include onion, garlic, leeks, and scallions, the taste and smell of which repel squirrels naturally. The smell of mint may be pleasant to humans, but if you check what smells deter squirrels, it’s pretty high on the list.

Use these plants as a way to support your other squirrel removal efforts. Grow them near entry points into your yard to deter squirrels from coming in. Place them strategically around tree trunks to prevent these animals from climbing up and getting to the fruits.  

Position them around the walls of your home to discourage squirrels from coming near at all. These bright and pungent flowers not only get rid of squirrels; they also make your garden come alive with color. 

4. Use mulch

If you have a problem with squirrels ruining your carefully-tended garden, there is a solution that can drive the critters away and make your plants grow even better: mulch.

Mulch is any material that is placed above the soil to maintain moisture, prevent weed growth, and keep away pests. But exactly what do squirrels hate about mulch?

If you’re looking for something that will primarily act as a squirrel deterrent, it’s best to use inorganic mulch such as gravel, pebbles, plastic sheeting, rubber chips, or chicken wire. 

Organic mulch like shredded grass, leaves, hay, and straw is too much like what squirrels naturally dig up, and they will find it easy to get through to the soil. Inorganic mulch is much stronger and has a texture that squirrels detest digging up.  

This is also a good way of getting rid of ground squirrels that like to make their homes by digging up soil rather than hang out in the trees. 

To get rid of squirrels in the garden, apply mulch on the soil at least 12 inches on all sides of your plants. If using plastic sheeting, cut out a hole to let the plant stem go through. It may be worth noting that many say the best squirrel repellent in terms of mulch is layer gravel over chicken wire. 

5. Test an ultrasound squirrel deterrent

Studies show that squirrels can hear sounds over a frequency range that is more than twice as wide as ours. Their range is skewed towards ultrasound, which refers to sounds that are at a higher frequency than what is audible to the human ear. 

This important scientific discovery has spurred the development of ultrasonic squirrel repeller devices. If you are looking for something effective, non-toxic, and humane, this is the best squirrel repellent for you.

This sonic squirrel repellent device is popular because of its adjustable settings, durability, and solar powered charger.  

You can choose from five frequency settings depending on the animal you want to get rid of. For squirrels, turn the knob to 3. As it emits sound, it also flashes bright LED lights that serve as another squirrel repeller.

Position the device in a spot that receives full-on sunlight to take advantage of its solar energy capabilities. Although during overcast days, you can charge it using its USB port. 

The sensor scans the surroundings at a 110-degree angle, but this can be adjusted if you want a narrower range. It can detect movement from up to 30 feet away, so position it within that distance to their usual entry points to make the most of the squirrel repellent sound device.

6. Remove food sources

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. More often than not, it’s because of food.

In the wild, squirrels mostly eat plant material. But in truth, these little critters can eat anything and everything. Squirrel problems can start from leaving pet food out, installing an easily-accessible bird feeder, planting fruiting trees, or failing to secure the trash bags.

So before you start installing squirrel fence spikes or buying gallons of squirrel poison, know that the best way to repel squirrels is not applying something they hate but taking away something they love. 

Avoid leaving your pet’s food bowl outdoors. Install a squirrel guard on the pole holding up your birdfeeder, or else buy one that is squirrel-proof. 

Tent protective netting over your fruiting trees and protect your vegetable garden with hardware cloth or chicken wire. Remove any fallen fruits or bird feed from your yard. Put your garbage in a sturdy trash can that has a lockable lid.

Removing food sources should be your first move in the squirrel control battle strategy. Without doing this, you significantly decrease the chances of success of your other pest control squirrels methods.

7. Remove entry options to the house

For squirrels, human homes are very attractive. It’s well-insulated, offers protection from the elements and predators, and is likely close to a steady source of food. 

So if there is a crack big enough for them to squeeze into, you can be sure they’ll try. If you’re wondering how to keep squirrels away from your home, the simplest solution is to block them from coming in.

Walk around your home and take note of any possible entry points, like a crack in the foundation, a hole in the screen door, or water-damaged eaves. Fill these in with sealant.

Your best bet to stop squirrels from biting through is copper mesh paired with expandable foam. The strong teeth and powerful jaws of these rodents are no match for the copper mesh. 

These thin sheets of metal are pliable and can be easily stuffed into openings of different shapes and sizes. Fill in the tiny gaps in the mesh by applying the foam with a foam applicator gun. 

This keeps water and dust from seeping in through the crack. Paint over the foam once fully dry, and you’ll never know a hole was there.

Keep squirrels away by removing anything they can use to scale up your walls. This includes pruning tree branches and vines that graze the walls and removing firewood leaning at the side of your house.

8. Use a decoy squirrel feeder

You might be thinking, “Wait a second. I thought tip #6 was to remove all food sources?”. Well, think of that tip as part 1 of this tip.

The only way a decoy squirrel feeder is going to be effective is if you first eliminate feeding opportunities in your own home. You must make it as easy as possible for these critters to choose the decoy over your house.

The decoy squirrel feeder should have the most squirrel-enticing buffet of food ever. Fill it with everything they like to eat, and make sure there’s enough for everyone. 

It’s best to choose a spot with hollow trees for tree squirrels and soft ground for ground squirrels. With the killer combination of a steady food source and good real estate, there should not be any reason for them to go back to your home.

There are a lot of innovative squirrel feeders in the market that might just help repair your relationship with these so-called pests. 

You can buy one that is made for mounting corn cobs and laugh at how they nibble at the food. You can purchase one wherein the food is placed inside a cage and watch them figure out how to remove the nuts from the grills. 

9. Scare squirrels with mousetraps

Mousetraps are one of the more violent pest control products, but when used correctly, they can be used to repel squirrels without hurting them.

When a mousetrap snaps, it is a loud crack of sound that immediately scares animals away. This is the principle behind the use of these devices for squirrel control. 

Animal welfare laws and basic humanity dictate that these products should not be used in the traditional way for squirrels.

You can use these to deter squirrels from digging. To use this humanely, it is absolutely essential for you to anchor these traps into the ground. Securing them will prevent hurting animals. 

Cover the traps and the ground they like to dig in with a newspaper and a little dirt. The motion of digging will disturb the newspaper and set off the trap. 

Since these devices are anchored on the ground, they will not jump up and capture the squirrels. Instead, the squirrels will take off at the loud sound and unexpected movement.

Once the squirrels associate that frightful surprise with that area, they will avoid coming back. This is a good way to get rid of ground squirrels that want to make their nests in your newly-tilled garden. 

10. Try natural squirrel repellents

There are a lot of chemical sprays on the market that are effective at getting rid of squirrels, but they may cause toxicity in animals and humans and be detrimental to the environment. Instead, try to make your own natural squirrel deterrent spray using food-grade products.

The key to making an effective squirrel spray is to use ingredients that these critters hate. One of the easiest to find are spices. 

Anything that tastes and smells spicy or minty will make squirrels run away. Mixing a bottle of tabasco into a gallon of water is a cheap and easy DIY natural squirrel deterrent.

To use this squirrel repellent for the garden, add a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid to help make it stay on the surface of leaves longer. 

If you want to protect your trees, you can add a raw egg to the tabasco-water mixture. This makes it more viscous and sticky, perfect for applying on tree bark. The residue will adhere to the squirrel paws, making them let go of the tree quickly. 

You can also use the same principle by sprinkling cayenne pepper powder, pepper flakes, or a garlic powder-pepper combination on surfaces and plants.

11. Let your pets out

A scared squirrel is a squirrel that is as good as gone. Once these animals learn to associate your home with danger, you can be sure that they’ll steer clear of your home. And what better way to scare these critters off than squirrel predators?

Pet owners, rejoice! Dogs and cats are actually living, breathing natural squirrel deterrents. Put them to work by letting them out every hour or two in your yard. Make it an unpredictable schedule so that the squirrels will think that they’re always there.

If you don’t have a cat or dog, there are other ways to fool these animals into thinking that predators of squirrels live in your home.

Install realistic and life-size owl figures on your roof or in the yard. For these to be effective, you have to make sure they move. Buy the ones that use solar power or wind to move erratically. 

Make sure to move them to different locations every few days. There are also anti-squirrel spray products that make use of predator urine or other smells. 

You can spray this in the perimeter of your home or wherever you see the critters hang out. This smells rather nasty, though, so do not spray this in the parts of your house frequented by humans.

12. Eliminate standing water

What’s another thing that all living things need aside from food and shelter? The answer is water. And if your backyard has a source, you can be sure it will attract all types of animals–some of which you might not want to welcome.

That includes squirrels. These creatures need to stay hydrated, so they gravitate towards places that have standing water they can sip from. 

Even if you’ve secured all the possible sources of squirrel food in your home, failing to remove the water source can hinder successful squirrel removal.

Check your property for open tubs of water and either empty them or put a lid on. Empty out your bird bath until you finish getting rid of squirrels in your garden. 

Check for any deep potholes where pools of water can accumulate. After rainfall, double-check to empty out any puddles. This not only helps get rid of ground squirrels but a lot of other animal and insect pests. 

Aside from standing water, beware that your garden hose or outdoor faucets are not leaking. Squirrels have been known to stick their tongues out to lap up droplets. By stopping leaks, you make your home less attractive to these troublesome critters and prevent water waste as well. 

13. Clean out your attic

The scurrying sound of squirrels in the attic may drive you crazy, but the real danger lies in their tendency to chew on wires. This could trigger short-circuits and fires in your home.

To get rid of squirrels in the attic, clean it out to eliminate hiding places that squirrels like to make into nests. Check if any wiring up there has been damaged and replace it ASAP. 

Clean your attic during the day as the squirrels will be out. To further ensure that there are none of them left inside, leave on a loud radio and bright lights for a day or two before your scheduled cleaning. 

Let these squirrel repellents do their work before you come in to clean so you can move things without the fear of encountering one. 

If you find a nest with baby squirrels in it, do not attempt to touch them. As much as possible, it’s best to wait until they grow up and leave. If you need them out immediately, you may use a squirrel trap (see tip #14) or call a professional pest control company.

Once you’ve cleaned out the attic and made sure that all the squirrels have gone, it’s time to cover up any entry points to stop them from coming back. You may also consider installing squirrel spikes along your roof’s perimeter to keep them away.

14. Consider live squirrel traps

If you have squirrels squatting in your home, one way to get them out is through squirrel trapping. This allows you to remove the squirrels without touching them. 

Although there have been few recorded instances of transmission of disease from these critters to animals, it is best to avoid handling them directly. 

They can be aggressive when threatened, and their bite can be painful and easily infected. Instead, use squirrel traps to catch them without contact. Trapping squirrels in the attic or in the walls requires a tempting bait and a durable live trap.

You can make your own bait using bird seed, fruits, grains, and nuts, or you can buy from the store. The advantage of the latter is that it is specially designed to attract squirrels. 

This commercial squirrel bait has a strong aroma of black walnut that can easily be picked up by the critters’ noses. Oils, seeds, and meat are combined to form a peanut butter-like consistency. Simply place on a cracker, on a bait stick, or in a small cup and place inside a trap.

Choose a squirrel trap that is humane, durable, and effective. This live squirrel trap is made to prevent injury to the captured animal. Double-check your trap before you install it to ensure that the spring mechanism is working and the door shuts securely.

15. Install a fence

If you want to protect your home from squirrels, it starts at the perimeter of your property. You hit two birds with one stone when you have a good fence: it can get rid of squirrels in the house and in the garden.

But not just any fence will do. A squirrel-proof fence takes into consideration the animal’s ability to dig, climb, and nibble.  

Use material that is strong and durable, like hardware cloth or chicken wire. Make sure the holes in the mesh are small, preferably around 1 inch wide, to make sure they don’t squeeze through.

The mesh should be installed over the outward-facing surface of the posts. Leave at least one foot of mesh on the bottom to bury into the ground. 

This thwarts any squirrels that think they can get in by digging under the fence. Prevent them from climbing over by installing an electric wire at the top.

Make sure that the fence has no loopholes. If there is a tree outside your property, prune its branches so that squirrels can’t use it to leap over the fence. 

Related:

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

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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

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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.

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