Natural way to keep squirrels away
Keep Squirrels At Bay With These 20 Tips
1. Apple cider vinegar spray
The pungent smell of pure apple cider vinegar repels the squirrels. ACV is readily available and can be sprayed directly on the plants and flower pots without harming them. Spray it as often as needed to keep the little creatures at bay.
2. Strobe lights
If the squirrels intrude your home and are living in your attic, you may use a strobe light to deter them. The regular flashes of light irritate the pest while being harmless. The squirrels will definitely not hide in places where these lights are installed.
3. Motion sensor sprinklers
Squirrels get extremely scared with this type of sprinklers that start to function as they sense motion on your lawn. It protects your garden from the tiny pests while watering your plants in an effortless way.
4. Keep your yard clean
Keeping your yard clean is extremely important not just to keep squirrels away but to prevent the invasion of other pests and deadly animals such as snakes.
Clean away the fallen nuts and fruits that squirrels like eating.
Regular cleaning makes your garden free from pests as well as augment its beauty.
5. Mulching
If the squirrels tend to dig up the planted bulbs, consider adding mulch to the soil. Squirrels find mulch unattractive and stay away from it.
If the problem still exists, put some decorative stones that are heavy for them to remove or just use a mulch which is heavy in weight.
6. Animal repellents
There are specific repellents on the market that can be purchased to help keep squirrels and other wildlife away. This is a humane method to deter squirrels because they do not like the taste or smell of the repellent and will stay away from the area.
7. Jalapeño pepper-vinegar spray
Jalapeño pepper irritates the squirrels. When mixed with vinegar, it produces a pungent smell that is disliked by them.
Make a spray solution by mixing jalapeno pepper and vinegar. Spray it in your attic to check their entry.
8. Safflower seeds
If the squirrels are destroying the bird feeder, consider mixing the seeds with some safflower seeds. The bitter taste of the seed will not bother the birds but will angst the squirrels, keeping them away in a natural way.
9. Fox urine
Foxes are natural predators of squirrels and the little creatures will always stay away from places frequently traversed by a fox.
You can use fox urine if you find it in an online store or from the zoo to prevent the entry of squirrels in your garden and house.
Fill a spray bottle with the fox urine and spray it in the attic and near the plant beds to deter squirrels.
10. A dog
If you own a dog who likes to play in the garden, it could help you to scare away the naughty pests, such as squirrel, from your home. They can easily hunt for squirrels and scare them far away from your place.
11. Create a greenhouse
If you like growing a lot of veggies that get damaged by squirrels, consider creating a separate greenhouse that prevents the entry of the squirrels into it.
Make sure you keep the greenhouse locked at all times. It will also protect your plants from many other pests and birds.
12. Gravel
If the squirrels are digging up the soil near the plants, consider laying gravel. This will make digging difficult and discouraging.
Also plant bulbs that squirrels do not like such as daffodils, allium, and snowdrops. Daffodils are toxic to them and they will not cause any damage to them.
13. Live trapping
Live trap is one of the best home remedies to catch live squirrels and relocate them to another place. It is a more humane way to get rid of the pests without killing and harming them.
Buy a squirrel trap from a local store and put some food such as nuts and seeds that squirrels can’t resist.
As they come into the trap to eat the food, they get trapped. Keep a watch over the traps for any trapped squirrel. If you are planning to relocate it later, provide enough food and water for it to survive. It is best to relocate them as soon as they fall into the trap.
14. Grow mint
The strong smell of mint discourages the squirrels from intruding into your garden or home. Place a few pots with the fresh mint plant to deter them naturally.
15. Use human hair
Collect human hair or dog hair (if you have one) and put them in places where the squirrel mostly visit. This will scare them, as they would think a human is closeby, and make them leave your place.
You can also get human hair from a nearby salon. Put them in a bird feeder and at the base of plants to prevent the damage caused by them.
16. Ultrasonic devices
When squirrels are causing a nuisance in your attic, nothing works better than an ultrasonic repellent.
This device creates an ultrasonic wave that is not audible to the human ear but can highly irritate the squirrels deterring them from your house.
17. Remove Food Sources
It is important to remove food sources that attract squirrels and to keep bird seed properly stored. Additionally, you can cover plants with chicken wire to ensure that squirrels cannot eat the plants in the garden.
18. Keep trash sealed
Squirrels may get attracted to your home to find leftover food in the trash bin. Keeping the trash bin sealed will prevent attracting squirrels and other pests.
19. Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is known to repel squirrels in an effective way. Just sprinkle some of it on the bird seed to prevent them from damaging the bird food.
You may also sprinkle it everywhere else to deter them from your home and garden.
20. Build a fence
Building a fence will help you get rid of the squirrels for a long time. You may use netting to protect your plants from them or create a fence over the entire plant bed to prevent them from reaching your plants.
The fence should be 8-12 inches below the ground or the squirrels will come digging through the soil.
Natural Squirrel Repellent Ideas - Keep Squirrels out of The Yard!
Do you have a problem with squirrels? If so, these natural squirrel repellent ideas may prove useful to you.
Dealing with squirrels has been an ongoing problem for me in one way or another for several years.
If you read my blog often, you may remember reading about the squirrels in my vegetable garden a few years ago.
Suffice to say, it was a nightmare all around. I was at my wit’s end trying to keep them out of my home grown vegetables.
Problems caused by squirrels in the garden
Animal lovers are charmed by the acrobatic maneuvers of squirrels and find them delightful.
But when a gardener walks out into their vegetable garden to find their corn in a mess and their tomatoes scattered over the ground with exactly one bite out of each, they are anything BUT charmed.
Squirrels are a constant source of frustration for any vegetable gardener and I, for one, am always looking for new, and natural, ways for keeping squirrels out of my garden.
I am an organic gardener by nature, but when my 1000 foot vegetable garden was destroyed by squirrels two years ago, I was prepared to try anything and everything to get rid of them.
I made some squirrel repellents but was never happy with the idea that they contained moth balls, which are quite toxic, so I discontinued the use of them and started looking into other natural squirrel deterrent ideas.
Even if you never see squirrels in your yard, there are lots of signs that they have been visiting your garden.
Look for shallow digging and holes around plants, small bites on vegetables (particularly tomatoes), seed heads that hat been nibbled, whole plants that have disappeared (!) and digging evidence in your plant containers.
These are all signs that Mr. Squirrel has been paying you a visit and that it might be time to take action to control him.
Keep squirrels away naturally with some very creative ideas. Dogs, cats, garlic, peppers and peppermint are all useful tools to rid your yard of squirrels. 🐿🌶😺🐶🐿 Click To Tweet
Let’s look at some Natural Squirrel Repellent Ideas
Keeping squirrels out of the garden is a challenge for sure, but these ideas should help.
Hot Pepper Plants and Cayenne Pepper
Hot peppers are the most often used ingredients in natural squirrel repellent remedies, it seems. You can use them in a variety of ways:
- Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes on the ground near the plants that seem to be attracting squirrels.
- Sprinkle a light dusting of cayenne pepper right on the leaves of squirrel tempting plants. Low lying leaves are the most important ones to sprinkle.
- Mix cayenne pepper and petroleum jelly and spread it on the stems of plants at the base. Also spread it on fences, poles and other solid things near plants that squirrels like.
- Make a cayenne pepper spray to spray on the leaves of tempting plants. To do this, mix a small bottle of your favorite hot sauce with a gallon on water. Place in a spray bottle and use it directly on the leaves of the plants that the squirrels are going after.
Note: all of these remedies will need to be reapplied periodically, especially after it rains.
Garlic Sprays
Squirrels also dislike the smell and taste of garlic. Make a concoction with chopped up garlic, water and vinegar.
Let the mixture sit for a few days to give the flavors a chance to combine well and spray it on fences, and stakes in your vegetable garden.
Apple Cider Vinegar Spray as a squirrel repellent
The acrid taste and smell of apple cider vinegar is a real turn off to squirrels. Use it as a spray on hard surfaces and fixtures in squirrel infested areas.
Note: This spray is for use on hard surfaces, and it can be sprayed 100%. Don’t use it on plants since vinegar can kill plants.
How to Keep Squirrels away with Bulbs and Plants
Use bulbs as a way of keeping squirrels out of the garden. Some plants that repel squirrels are beautiful to see, but many of them are actually unappealing to squirrels.
There are some bulbs and plants that squirrels really avoid due to their taste and smell. Planting this type of bulb near your vegetable garden can do a good job of keeping the squirrels away.
A few ideas for squirrel repelling bulbs are daffodils, hyacinths, allium, lily of the valley, peppermint and geranium.
Squirrels aren’t the only thing that plants will repel. Lots of plants are great at repelling insects. See my list of mosquito repelling plants here.
Peppermint Essential Oil is a Natural Squirrel Repellent
Squirrels don’t like the strong scent of peppermint. In the same way that a live peppermint plant will deter them, peppermint essential oils also can be used.
Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them here and there on jar lids around plants in your garden that the squirrels like. The baits will need to be re-soaked periodically.
You can also make a peppermint essential oil spray with the ratio of one drop of peppermint essential oil to one ounce of vinegar and use it to spray on hard surfaces in the garden.
Peppermint essential oil can also be combined with other oils to make an effective homemade mosquito repellent spray.
Other Natural Squirrel Repellent Ideas
If the remedies don’t work at keeping squirrels out of the garden, then it might be time for some more drastic measures. Here are some other ideas for what repels squirrels.
How to Get Rid of Squirrels by scaring them
Motion detecting lights, scarecrows, high frequency sound machines, owl decoys, and other tools are used to scare squirrels. Some friends of mine have a huge farm property and Randy has a vegetable garden which gives her prizes every year at the State Fair.
When I visited recently, I asked Randy how she keeps the squirrels away from it and she said it was this amazing sculpture that she had made.
The sculpture is huge, has lights that come on when anything approaches the garden and does a great job of keeping the squirrels away from it.
How to repel squirrels Using Cats and Dogs
The last few dogs that we had love to chase squirrels and this is one behavior that I don’t discourage.
If you have a dog or cat in your yard that chases the squirrels every time they visit, it is unlikely that you will have much of a squirrel problem.
Not all dogs deter squirrels. When I had my squirrel invasion, the dogs I had then had no interest in the squirrels! Other times (and other dogs) proved just the opposite!
Squirrel Traps
Sometimes the answer to a squirrel problem is simply to trap them and remove them to another location.
Note: Be sure to check the rules about relocating in your area. Some regions prohibit this action by law.
Place sunflower seeds, small pieces of corn on the cob or other threats that squirrels like in a squirrel trap. Place the trap near the area where you know the squirrels visit.
Once the squirrel gets trapped, release it in some far away place (or they will just return if you release near your home!)
Remove things that attract squirrels
You may be unknowingly attracting squirrels in your attempt to bring other wildlife into the garden. The bird seed that the birds love is also a favorite food of squirrels.
Place bird feeders away from your vegetable garden area if possible, and be sure to clean up around them. The smell of seeds and bits of fruit can really be attractive to squirrels.
Also, make sure that your garbage bins are closed to keep temptation away. There is no sense in sending out a welcome mat if you want to keep squirrels at bay!
Give them an alternative food choice
This may seem like an oxymoron, but sometimes giving the squirrels their own food supply can be the answer.
If you have tried everything to keep squirrels away and they still keep returning to your garden, try setting up a distraction station somewhere in your yard that is some distance away from your veggies.
Set up a food station with squirrel tempting treats like sunflower seeds, nuts and other treats. This will attract the squirrels away from your vegetables and to other areas of the yard.
Just be sure the station is positioned well away from your edible vegetables. Don’t forget to keep water here too. My entire crop of tomatoes each had one bite out of them and I am sure the squirrels were mainly thirsty that day.
Cages for Vegetables are natural squirrel repellents
Squirrels love vegetables, in particular corn. (My squirrel problem was never a problem until I decided to plant corn in the vegetable garden.)
If all else fails, cages may be your only option.
Photo Credit: Flickr: Hardworkinghippy
One of the best natural squirrel repellent ideas is simply to keep them out! The squirrels cannot eat when they can’t get into the vegetable area. Think about making tall wire cages.
Be sure the garden beds have tops (bird netting works well) as well as sides, or the squirrels will just climb up and in. Row covers also work for smaller veggies.
A note on Predators.
Both hawks and owls love to prey on squirrels. My husband is convinced that our squirrel population is so much higher because wooded land near by has been built up with houses and the owls are less plentiful.
Find out what you can about attracting owls and hawks to the area to see if this helps.
If you don’t have live owls living nearby, think about investing in some owl decoys. They are designed to scare away squirrels and other rodents.
Have you found other natural methods effective at keeping squirrels out of your garden? Share your natural squirrel repellent in the comments below!
Pin this post on Natural Squirrel Repellent Ideas
Would you like a reminder of this post for keeping squirrels out of your garden? Just pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest. You can also watch the video on YouTube later, as well.
Admin Note: This post first appeared on the blog in April of 2017. I have updated the post with additional tips, more photos, a printable check list and a video for you to enjoy.
Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty easy
Estimated Cost $10 - $50
Materials
- Cayenne Pepper
- Peppermint Essential Oils
- Squirrel Cages
- Motion Detectors
- Vegetable Cages
Tools
- Print out the check list below to help plan for dealing with squirrels this year.
Instructions
NATURAL SQUIRREL REPELLENT IDEAS
- Hot pepper plants
- Cayenne pepper on the leaves of plants.
- Peppermint essential oil on cotton balls in the garden
- Garlic and vinegar spray (hard surfaces)
- Apple cider vinegar spray (hard surfaces)
- Motion detector lights
- Large statues in the garden
- High Frequency sound machines
- Cats and Dogs will keep squirrels away
- Squirrel traps to trap and move squirrels
- Move bird feeders away from vegetable garden
- Keep garbage bins away too
- Set up a squirrel feeding station for their own food supply
- Grow vegetables in cages.
- Plant bulbs that deter squirrels such as daffodils, hyacinths, allium, garlic, lily of the valley, peppermint and geraniums.
Notes
Set your printer to "fit to page" and print out this chart on heavy card stock
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How to Get Rid of Squirrels Without Harming Them
If you're looking for how to get rid of squirrels, chances are you've got intruders in your attic, or your plants may be looking more gnawed than usual. While squirrels look pretty cute and fluffy, they can easily become a nuisance in any of the above scenarios. And this trouble can quickly turn into a high cost if your home is damaged as a result. That's why, if you suspect that squirrels have made their way inside, you should deal with this matter as soon as possible. The problem is that, as most of us know, squirrels are very difficult to catch - they are fast, smart and can crawl through the smallest gaps. So what can you do if you have a protein problem but don't want to harm it? Here we will introduce you to some tips and tricks to keep squirrels at bay, whether they are in or near your home. Here's how to get rid of protein. If you suspect something more has taken up residence in your attic, learn how to get rid of raccoons.
Before we begin, you should always refer to your state's laws regarding protein handling. You may need a permit to use the traps, and there may also be restrictions on the use of toxic chemicals. None of the following methods use such chemicals. 1. Don't feed them. First, no matter how cute and fluffy they are, don't start feeding squirrels. This will only encourage them to return to your home. Also, look out for any sources of food in the yard that may inadvertently feed them, such as pet food bowls, bird feeders, or unprotected containers. Keep all food sources covered and out of reach. 2. Make your home inaccessible. If squirrels make their way into your territory, take the time to think about how they get there. If there is an overhanging tree near you, they may well use it. You can make and install a baffle around the trunk to keep the squirrel from climbing - you'll probably have to make your own as such designs seem limited on the internet. In addition, you can remove branches that provide access to your home. Be aware that squirrels can jump up to 7 feet from tree to tree, so a baffle alone may not be enough if there are other trees nearby. As a last resort, you can also remove the tree. 3. Attach the bird feeder. Your bird feeder is considered a food source, and if it attracts squirrels more often than birds, it defeats the purpose. Keep the bird feeder out of the reach of squirrels - this can be done in a number of ways. You can use a baffle such as this 3-piece metal spring device ($13.99, Amazon (Opens in a new tab)), or you can just swap out your feeder for a squirrel-proof design like this Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone bird feeder ($19.96, Amazon (Opens in new tab). You can also sprinkle the seeds with chili peppers - birds love the taste and squirrels will stay away. Cole's Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce ($19.31, Amazon ) is a popular brand for this.4. Use scents. Another way to scare off squirrels is through their noses. Some smells repel squirrels, especially the smell of a natural predator. You can buy predator urine at local garden centers and home improvement stores, and it's even widely available online, such as this 100% Fox Urine predator urine ($34.67, Amazon ). All you have to do is "mark the territory" around the house, just like an animal would. Just remember to apply regularly. 5. Release the dog. If you've always wanted a dog, this is a good reason to get one. Dogs are natural predators of squirrels and love to chase them. So, if you often have a dog in your yard, squirrels are unlikely to come to you. 6. Apply repellants. If you don't like the smell of urine or the idea of using it, you can of course opt for a patented squirrel repellant instead, such as Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent ($12.82, Amazon ). You can get them in both spray and kibble form, and they often contain chili or mint residue to repel squirrels. In some cases, you can even apply this to your soil and bulbs for extra protection - refer to your manufacturer's instructions for guidance. Protect your plants. Your plants will most likely be another food source for squirrels - in fact, your entire garden will provide a smorgasbord of options. Squirrels will eat everything from fruits and vegetables to nuts, seeds, and bulbs, so your plants need some protection. You can invest in a greenhouse for your most valuable plants, but it needs to be of a strong, airtight design that squirrels can't get through. Alternatively, you can place a net or fence around your plants.8. Be selective with your plants. Squirrels love some plants and some hate them, so depending on what you choose, you can start or stop a squirrel infestation. Plant daffodils and mint to scare away squirrels. The bulb of the first is toxic to the squirrels, and the smell of the second they hate, so they will stay away from both. Proteins are also repelled by the aroma of allium, catnip and hyacinths. However, avoid tulips; it's a favorite on the menu.9. Motion detectors - Devices are available that emit ultrasound to repel squirrels. They can be placed both in the yard and at home - they are equipped with motion sensors, so they are activated only when motion is detected. They are widely available at home department stores and online, such as the Virine Mice Repellent plugin ($54.98, Amazon ). Alternatively, you can also use motion sensors connected to sprinklers to douse the squirrel when detected, such as this motion-activated Havahart Critter Ridder animal repellent and sprinkler (39dollars, Amazon (opens in a new tab)). 10. Keep your yard clean. While you may have closed off all obvious food sources, squirrels will still attract a neglected lawn. They provide plenty of hiding places. Not to mention that there will be hidden food sources in the grass itself. Take the time to tidy up your yard and rake the grass to remove any potential berries and nuts - here's how to rake leaves the easy way for a guide. If you have a fruit tree, make sure that any fallen fruit is also picked up as soon as possible. 11. Catch and move the squirrel. Finally, if one squirrel is causing a persistent problem, you can of course use a live trap. Although, as mentioned earlier, you should check your local state laws to see if you need a permit to do so. Set the trap in an area where squirrels frequent and check it at least twice a day. After you've caught a squirrel, move it at least 10 miles away from home before releasing it so it can't find its way back. You can use Havahart's small 2-door humane trap to capture and release live animals ($19. 98, Amazon (opens in a new tab)) for that. If all else fails, and the protein problem persists, it's time to turn to a professional. You also need to make sure that any damage to your home is repaired and sealed as soon as possible to prevent other squirrels from settling in. Are you also dealing with unwanted guests in your backyard? Here's how to get rid of moles without harming them. You can also learn how to get rid of fruit flies quickly if you have them at home and how to get rid of mice.
What squirrels hate most: food, flowers, smell, plants
Creating an environment that squirrels don't like is one of the most effective strategies to keep them out of your yard. Let's find out how to make this action plan.
Chipmunks dislike various things, including food, flowers, plants, and even scents. Because these creatures are considered a problem in many parts of the United States, anything they don't like can become a natural deterrent for squirrels.
In this article, we'll talk about the things squirrels hate the most, including plants, food, flowers, scents, and other related items.
Which plants do squirrels avoid?
Squirrels are most often found around trees. Trees shelter them, but there are many trees and plants that squirrels despise and shun.
Here is a list of the top 10 plants/trees that squirrels avoid in the first place and why.
Plants that squirrels avoid | Causes |
Soy candles Cinnamon | |
Onion | Squirrels are not very fond of the spicy smell and taste of onion plants. |
Garlic | The smell of garlic is too strong for squirrels. As a result, they avoid garlic plants or anything that smells like garlic. |
mint | Mint, especially spearmint and peppermint, has a strong odor that irritates sensitive noses. Like the plant itself, squirrels dislike peppermint essential oil. |
Hyacinth | Squirrels despise scented hyacinth, especially bluebells! |
pepper | Squirrels dislike pepper, including those that produce white pepper, black pepper, red pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and jalapeno pepper. In fact, a significant number of commercial squirrel repellants use hot peppers. |
Rosemary | Only the strong smell of rosemary will scare away squirrels. It should be noted that the slight smell of rosemary is unlikely to affect these critters. |
Lily of the valley | Again, it is the strong smell of lily of the valley that repels squirrels. |
Geranium | Geranium emits an odor through the oil it produces. The protein repels the plant's citrus aroma, which also has warm green, earthy, or peppery undertones. |
Fritillary Snake Head | 1. Grouse flowers Snake head resembles the head of a snake, enough to scare away squirrels. However, the real task is performed by its unpleasant smell, which actually repels these rodents. 2. The smell is often compared to that of a fox. Note: This plant produces poisonous chemicals such as Merlin and Tulipalin A, which can cause serious health problems in humans if consumed. |
What colors do squirrels avoid?
Some varieties of flowers are more resistant to proteins than others. Some flower plants can also scare these critters away from flower beds.
Image Photo: Daffodils by the River by Annazach Licensed (CC BY-SA 4.0)Here are the top flowering plants that squirrels scorn and shun.
Squirrels avoid flowers Consequently, he prefers to avoid any yard with daffodils growing in it. | |
Bleeding Heart | Although bleeding heart flowers cannot protect other flowers in the yard from squirrel damage, they can fight off animals without harm. Thus, the bleeding heart is one of the flowering plants that repel squirrels. |
Irises | Irises can effectively repel squirrels when planted with other plants that repel them. Squirrels do not consider these flowers to be edible or repulsive. |
Galanthus | Galanthus effectively repels squirrels due to the smell it produces. Protein will scare away the aroma that even the bulbs of these plants emit. |
Carnation | Although squirrels don't like the smell that dianthus produces, they can eat the plant if they are especially hungry. In addition, dianthus is more attractive to squirrels than other fully squirrel-proof flowers. |
Goldenrod | Goldenrod has evolved to be resistant to all mammals, especially squirrels. Squirrels mostly avoid the flowers and foliage of this plant because they are unpalatable in taste. |
What food do squirrels hate?
Because their teeth are constantly growing, squirrels need something to chew on to keep them in good condition. However, they do not enjoy all kinds of food.
Here is a list of foods squirrels hate.
Squirrels hate | Reasons |
Acute pepper | Squirrels cannot cope with a spicy feeling of acute pepper. Squirrels, like other mammals, have certain nerves in their mouths that respond to hot peppers. So naturally they hate that food. |
Garlic | In addition to the strong smell, squirrels hate the taste of garlic and therefore avoid it. |
apple cider vinegar | The smoky flavor completely shuts off the proteins that apple cider vinegar produces. |
Seeds | Most of the time, squirrels stay away from seeds such as millet, safflower, canary grass, nayer and rapeseed. But remember that a hungry squirrel will eat any seed that gets in its sight. |
Cracked corn | Corn mixed with bird food is often less attractive to squirrels. Offering them this mixture will gradually cause them to look elsewhere where they are likely to find their favorite food. |
What smells do squirrels hate?
Below is a list of the top odors that squirrels hate the most.
Squirrels smell like hate | Causes |
apple cider vinegar | Squirrels don't like the smell of apple cider vinegar. As a result, squirrels hate the smell of apple cider vinegar. As a result, using the scent of apple cider is very helpful in repelling these critters. |
Spicy scent | Spicy scents repel squirrels. As a result, they despise such smells. Therefore, the smell of white pepper and cayenne pepper can be used to repel squirrels in the yard. |
Peppermint essential oil | Squirrels dislike the smell of peppermint oil as much as they dislike mint itself. Peppermint essential oil is very unpopular with squirrels. They will want to avoid the smell as much as possible because they find it overbearing. |
Moth balls | The irresistible smell of mothballs repels squirrels. These balls can be kept near flowers or even in other parts of the yard. To keep them working, refill mothballs every few weeks. |
Predator/animal urine | 1. Animal urine, especially squirrel-eating predators and other rodents, is disgusting to squirrels. Therefore, spraying a substance that mimics this smell throughout the yard will help to effectively repel the squirrels. 2. The squirrel will assume that there is a dangerous animal nearby when it smells a stench. Therefore, he will run away from the location. |
Smell of some flowers | Some flowers, such as geraniums, daffodils, irises, galanthus, and others, have a strong odor that squirrels despise. As a result, they hate the scents of these flowers and prefer to stay away from them. |
Skunk smell | Squirrels are not very tolerant of things that smell like skunks. However, you don't have to catch real skunks to scare off squirrels. Instead, Cleomes, also known as the "Skunk Flower", is the better choice. |
Irish Spring Soap | The woody scent of Irish Spring Soap can repel squirrels in the same way it repels other rodents such as raccoons. |
What makes squirrels stay away?
Image Photo: Coffee fine, moist by Roma licensed (CC BY-SA 3. 0)Squirrels may look adorable from a distance, but they can be a real nuisance to a garden or yard. Therefore, it is necessary to keep them away.
Here are the best ways to scare squirrels away from property in a more humane way.
1. Keep pets
Squirrels are keenly aware of any potential predators around. So these cunning rodents are more at risk from pets such as dogs and cats. Squirrels consider these creatures natural predators. This way, pets will keep the squirrels away from the property's perimeter.
2. Coffee grounds
The smell of coffee grounds is not very attractive to squirrels. Finely ground coffee should be added to the soil where the plants grow, where squirrels often feed. This will help get rid of rodents.
3. Keep your house clean
Squirrels are active eaters. This way they will visit your property if they find food there. Therefore, maintaining the cleanliness of the house and the surrounding area is one of the vital tasks. Squirrels will not be as interested in returning to human property if there is no food nearby.
4. Seal Entry Points
Keeping your home tidy is important, but you also need to close any gaps where squirrels can get in. In other words, regular home maintenance and checking every nook and cranny can pay off in the long run.
5. Grow a garden
Grow a garden, even if it's just a garden, with flowers that squirrels hate to smell. You can include plants such as hyacinth, onion, garlic, daffodils and so on in your garden.
6. Feed the squirrels
It may sound strange, but having a separate feeding area for squirrels is a great way to stop these creatures from destroying surrounding property. Getting rid of proteins is probably impossible. Learn more