How to Keep Squirrels Away from Your House
Squirrels may seem cute and harmless, but they can cause substantial damage to your home. Learning how to keep squirrels away is key to protecting your house and yard. With persistence and a multi-pronged approach, you can discourage squirrels from invading your property.
What Attracts Squirrels to Your House?
Several factors draw squirrels to houses:
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Access to food – Squirrels are attracted to nuts seeds, fruits vegetables, and even trash. Bird feeders and compost piles provide easy meals.
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Shelter – Squirrels look for places to build nests, such as attics, hollow trees, and dense shrubs.
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gnawing – Squirrels constantly gnaw to wear down their teeth. They will chew on wood siding, wires, and insulation.
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Safety – Your yard likely offers protection from predators like hawks and coyotes.
Dangers of Squirrels Around Your House
Though small, squirrels can cause substantial home damage:
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They chew holes in wood siding, allowing in moisture that causes rot and mold.
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Once inside walls, squirrels rip up insulation to build nests. Their gnawing compromises wires, causing fire hazards.
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Digging in gardens uproots plants. They eat fruits, vegetables, and rip apart flower beds.
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Squirrels raid bird feeders and contaminate the seed. They also scare away songbirds.
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Diseases like ringworm and typhus can be transmitted by squirrels.
Effective Ways to Deter Squirrels
Fortunately, you can take proactive steps to keep squirrels away from your house:
Remove Food and Shelter
Eliminate easy food sources like bird feeders and accessible compost piles. Pick up fallen fruits/nuts. Secure trash can lids. Trim overgrown vegetation so squirrels have fewer nesting sites. Cover or replace vents and holes where squirrels enter.
Use Repellents
Squirrels dislike strong scents. Pepper, chili powder, garlic, peppermint oil, and predator urine make effective organic repellents. Apply around your yard and spray onto problem areas.
Set Up Barriers
Install fences, wire mesh, and other barriers to block squirrels. Metal sheeting around roof overhangs and foundations prevents access. Tree collars keep squirrels from climbing trunks. Baffles on bird feeder poles thwart jumping squirrels.
Scare Them Away
Squirrels startled by unexpected sights or sounds will avoid your yard. Set up motion-activated sprinklers, lighting, or loud sounds. Let dogs out to chase squirrels and leave their scent. Install owl decoys and relocate them frequently.
Modify the Landscape
Remove hiding spots like brush and woodpiles where squirrels nest. Trim tree branches back from the house. Plant daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowers disliked by squirrels. Apply heavy mulch that deters digging.
Set Out Traps
Live traps let you catch and release squirrels away from your property. Effective baits include peanut butter, fruit, and nuts. Release the squirrels at least 5 miles from your house. Exercise caution when handling squirrels to avoid bites.
Call in Professionals
For severe infestations, professional exterminators can help eliminate squirrels. They determine entry points, remove current occupants, and seal up the house. Some also install barriers to keep new squirrels from getting in.
Protect Specific Areas of Your Home
Extra vigilance is required for the most vulnerable spots around your home:
Attic
Plug any holes or openings with steel wool. Place mothballs or ammonia-soaked rags to repel squirrels. Set up lights and noisemakers.
Insulation
Replace damaged insulation to remove nesting sites. Ensure vents and openings are sealed so squirrels can’t re-enter.
Siding
Look for gaps and holes in siding where squirrels enter. Repair or replace damaged areas.
Wires
Seal off access points to prevent chewing on electrical wires. Install protective tubing on exposed wires.
Garden
Use fencing to keep squirrels away from plants. Scatter repellents around the perimeter.
Trees
Trim branches back from the house. Wrap tree trunks with metal sheeting to prevent climbing.
Roof
Install gutter guards and prune overhanging branches. Use traps to catch any squirrels in the attic.
Vents
Attach protective cages over exterior vents. Ensure vents and openings are sealed with wire mesh or concrete.
Stay Vigilant!
Be proactive and persistent to keep squirrels away. Monitor your home weekly and look for signs of entry or damage. Quickly treat problem areas and maintain the yard to eliminate food and shelter. Combining multiple deterrent techniques will discourage squirrels from invading your space. Protect your home with constant vigilance and squirrel prevention strategies.
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The Damage Squirrels Can Cause And Where They Cause It
Now that we know a little bit about their behavior lets discuss the damage they can cause. Squirrels are known to gnaw on wires, which can lead to fires. They also like to chew on wood, such as siding, which can damage the structure of your home.
In addition, they will often dig through trash cans in search of food and make a mess in the process. Squirrels can nest among your insulation if theyve made their way into your attic. And last but not least, their droppings can carry disease.
All of this damage may occur inside and outside of homes and businesses. They can even damage your bird feeders and destroy your vegetable garden. Thats why its essential to take action if you think you have a squirrel problem.
How to Get Rid of Squirrels – Fast & Easy!
FAQ
What do squirrels hate the most?
How do I keep squirrels out of my house?
Replace any damaged wood and siding. Also, make sure you reduce easy access to your house: Because squirrels can jump 4 feet vertically and twice that horizontally, keep tree limbs at least 8 feet from buildings to reduce easy access to your house. Next, clean up the area where they were nesting.
Which scent do squirrels hate?
They don’t like the scent of coffee, peppermint, or pepper. Gardeners can leave a border of coffee grounds around their garden to repel squirrels. Some have success with creating a mixture of peppermint and coffee or peppermint, garlic, and vinegar, which creates a strong smell that squirrels don’t like.Mar 20, 2023
What is the best homemade squirrel repellent?
Do scents keep squirrels away?
Luckily for you, there are a variety of scents that will keep squirrels away and under control. While these tree-dwelling animals might be cute to watch play around among the branches, they can cause a shocking amount of damage to the home and garden.
How do you get rid of squirrels naturally?
One of the simplest, most natural ways to keep squirrels away is by using your own scent. Collect a bundle of your hair from the bathroom or your hairbrush. If you can’t find any, brush your dog or cat and save their hair. When you have a fair amount, spread the hair around the areas of your home and yard that receive the most squirrel activity.
How do I keep squirrels away from my house?
There are many natural ways to keep squirrels away, and purchasing sprays isn’t necessary when you can make one at home cheaper. This DIY squirrel repellent spray is the best way to keep squirrels away from your home and garden. The hot pepper and vinegar irritate the squirrels by both taste and smell.
How do I keep squirrels out of my attic?
All it takes is one tiny open space, and you could be dealing with a squirrel in your attic. The best way to keep them out, then, is to walk around the exterior of your home and check for any vulnerable spots. Make sure that your vents are covered and that there are no holes or cracks in your siding.
How do squirrels get into my house?
1. Check the exterior of your home for entry points Squirrels don’t usually come into your house through the front door. Instead, they will find small entry points along the eaves of the roof, through open vents, or even down the chimney. Rodents are very good at squeezing into tight spaces, and squirrels can actually fit into a 1.5 inch hole.
Can you keep squirrels outside this winter?
As if that isn’t reason enough to keep squirrels outside this winter, they can also carry diseases such as typhus, ringworm, and even the plague. They may also bring fleas and ticks inside with them, which can carry a whole host of other diseases and problems. The good news is, there are some ways to squirrel-proof your home all winter long. 1.