To learn how to keep squirrels out of your house, scroll down! "Using tree collars. There are three main ways you can keep a squirrel away from your house 1 - Eliminate the things that attract the squirrels, such as bird feeders. Put a layer of river rock on top of the pot soil. If pesky adult squirrels refuse to leave, you may have a nest of babies; that makes it hard for the adult squirrels to abandon the house. You may need to attach more than one wire. To learn how to keep squirrels out of your house, scroll down! If the squirrel is too frightened to look for a way out, then entice it. You can usually find a bag of river rock at garden supply stores, including Home Depot. Keeping squirrels away from your bird feeders. Squirrels are known for jumping up to 9 feet across expanses like that from a tree to your rooftop. It does not want to nest or make a home in a house with human activity so close to it. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Look for tracks around the fireplace, inspect the attic for nests, and check the foundation and exterior for holes. Open all doors and windows that lead outside. Once on your roof, they'll often look for ways to get in, and soon enough, you'll have an infestation. Sprinkle a small amount of cayenne pepper over area. 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. If it is March or September outside, the pests in walls are little baby squirrels. Metal flashing can be a sealant, as the animals cannot chew through it to get back in. Mint is also an odor squirrels don't like. Keep doors closed when not in use. The first thing to know is that the squirrel is usually more scared of you than you are of it. You can also lay chicken wire over the soil that you weight down with rocks. If you leave the squirrels in the attic when you close up the holes, you could end up with an awful smell. This article was co-authored by Joshua Bloom. Also, sprinkle some cayenne pepper on your plants so they taste bad if squirrels try to eat them. He has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry and specializes in commercial and large facility pest control management. If the loud-noise method doesn't work, set up a bright light in the area and leave it on through the day and night. Another option is to place black plastic netting over the bulbs in the same way to protect them. … Seal any potential entry point to prevent another squirrel or another wild animal from getting in. Do not feed squirrels or have an easy food source around (like open garbage cans). Spritz the repellent around the border of your yard to keep squirrels out. Plant peppermint, onions, and garlic between your other plants to help deter the squirrels. Scare squirrels using a plastic owl —Placing a plastic owl on your fence post or the roof may help scare squirrels away from your yard. Use a wire cage trap at least 9 inches by 9 inches square and 2 feet long with doors on either end. Put a squirrel guard around your bird feeder as in the video, or buy a squirrel-proof bird feeder to keep squirrels off your bird feeders for good. If you have squirrels in the attic, then try frightening the squirrel/s out of the house with loud noises. To further complicate things for squirrels, install a cone or dome designed for this purpose. Trim Surrounding Trees Another way to keep squirrels off your roof is to trim the vegetation in the area. Take measures to keep squirrels from stealing the birdseed from your feeders. Easy Winter Preparation Checklist for Your Home, How to Get a Trapped Hummingbird Out of the House Safely, 11 Tips for Protecting Your Home From Freezing Temperatures, How to Prevent Squirrels From Digging Up Your Bulbs. Install feeders out of squirrels’ reach: at least 1.5 m above the ground and at least 3 m from any jumping-off point. Most of these ideas are going to be very practical for all homeowners to make use of. 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. Set the trap near the wall the squirrels are chewing, with a clump of peanut butter or nuts inside. How do I keep squirrels from digging up flower seed? But they can not jump from a long distance. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. In rooms inhabited by humans, a squirrel wants to get out. Cover up any holes with steel mesh. Lisa Jo Lupo has 25 years of experience working in and writing about pest control. Keep squirrels out of your attic by making sure that tree limbs are not within 10 feet of your house. Use deer repellent around the perimeter of the patio or deck as well as on the edge of the back wall and any rain spouts that the squirrels could potentially climb on. Well, first off, make up a plan of action so that your pest control strategy is consistent and effective. If a squirrel can use a branch to get over to your home, they'll do it. So, make it easy for the squirrel to find the exit. Keep reading to learn how you can effectively keep squirrels out of your shed. Make sure there are no branches near the feeder that the squirrel can jump from. If the squirrel is in an upper-level room, open only the windows that are above grass and trees. Once you’ve managed to oust the squirrels from your attic you need to get to work shoring the place up. the blanket-wrapped squirrel outside, close the door to your house, open it onto the ground away from you, and let it make its escape. The only drawback is that it needs to be repeated whenever it rains or sprinklers are used. I'll report back when I have tried this tip on my fruit and hazelnut trees. Take the trapped squirrels to an uninhibited area away from your house and release. Most of the time, the squirrels use the overhanging trees to let them come into your house. If the squirrels are entering your house and you haven’t discovered how they are getting in, consider purchasing a strobe light specifically made for repelling squirrels. You'll need to sprinkle it on again after it rains. Set the trap on the floor near the squirrel (but don't get too close), and leave it alone for a few hours. Squirrels do not like the vinegar smell, so they are likely to leave. Inspect and Maintain Your Roof Regularly Squirrels prefer den sites that are well above ground. Carry the blanket-wrapped squirrel outside, close the door to your house, open it onto the ground away from you, and let it make its escape. How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Home. And, you can soak rags in cider vinegar and set them around the attic. The second thing to know is that you can get the squirrel out humanely. We suggest that you should take the following steps: 1. This is a guide about keeping squirrels from chewing on a house. Slowly approach the squirrel, then quickly drop the blanket on it and roll it up. Once on the roof, they can chew the siding and enter your attic. Spray it on stacked boxes, clothes, pots and pans and every crevice in … Start with the area outside your house. By using our site, you agree to our. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Spray the area with a squirrel repellent to repel squirrels. Then you should inspect your house in order to find the holes through which old animals get inside. So long as you’re willing to put in a small amount of work, it shouldn’t be hard to get these squirrels out of your shed and keep … Squirrels are not rats. Put a dab of peanut butter inside the cage - that will attract plenty of squirrels. If you don't want to wait, it's best to hire a professional who can safely relocate the family. Don't roll it too tight or push too hard, so as not to squeeze or injure it. Is there a squirrel in your house? Joshua is licensed by the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) for termite control. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. 3 - If they are getting in the house, identify and fix all open holes leading into the house. Bait a large humane trap with peanut butter. How do I keep a squirrel from eating the wiring on my car? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Some squirrels learn to outsmart this trick, though. How do I keep squirrels from chewing on the wires in my car? Yes, the repellers should keep squirrels and other pests from creating more nests up there, but you shouldn’t leave the … ", "Recipe and exact amounts to deter squirrels.". You can also carefully attach a long, thick rope (at least 3/4 inch thickness) to the top of the chimney, and drop it down. Tulips and crocus are particularly vulnerable. Daniela Duncan / Moment Open / Getty Images. Then, leave the room yourself, and let the squirrel find its way out. The grease makes it hard for the squirrels to climb the pole and they will decide getting to the bird seed isn’t worth trying the effort. Remove any pets from the room where the squirrel is running or hiding. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 118,277 times. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Squirrels are known for their persistence and craftiness. Make loud noises at the fireplace to scare the squirrel up the chimney and encourage it back out to the roof. Using a cooking oil like Crisco, coat the entire pole to help keep squirrels from climbing the pole. Get strategic with your gardening. While the light doesn’t hurt the squirrels, it collectively bothers their sight, encouraging most of them to find a new home. A common reason squirrels will jump onto your house in the first place is to escape from predators. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. It is easier to chase squirrels away from your backyard rather than from the attic or any other space indoors, where rodents usually nest. These are available commercially. Also, be sure that your chimney guard is in proper working condition. How do I keep squirrels out of flower pots? How can I stop squirrels from chewing my patio furniture seats? Plug any holes in your eaves or roof! It protects your garden from the tiny pests while watering your plants in an effortless way. Protect bulbs growing in pots by covering them with a layer of chicken wire or metal mesh. To keep squirrels away, try planting marigolds, nasturtiums, mint, or mustard in your yard, which squirrels don't like the smell of. Bang on the floor, walls or rafters; talk or yell loudly; bang pans; or turn on a radio, television, or other ongoing music or sound and leave it playing day and night. Pour some apple cider vinegar into a bottle and generously spray it in and around your attic to eliminate squirrels in your attic. Squirrels cannot stand acidic and pungent smells. You can pull it up again once you've had a few hard rains. Cover Wires and Cables The final step takes a little more work, but afterward, your home will be a fortress no squirrel can access. Cover chimneys with chimney caps. They may do this naturally in a few weeks when they are old enough to move around with the mother. Plus, they may eat plants you're trying to grow for yourself. They often use predator's urine in them. Cut back branches that lead to your roof. Keep your garden neat and rake up any berries, nuts, and seeds that have fallen regularly. Standard Pest Control also specializes in ant, bed bug, cockroach, fly, and rodent control. https://morningchores.com/how-to-get-rid-of-squirrels/, https://newengland.com/today/living/pests/squirrels-bird-feeders/, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20707164/keep-squirrels-away-from-birdfeeder/, https://newengland.com/today/seasons/fall/keep-squirrels-away-from-fall-bulbs/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. 0. What works to keep away larger pests can actually work just fine for getting rid of squirrels, too. However, part of the cap is made from a wire cage, so the smoke will still be able to get out. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. For keeping chipmunks out of your garden and house, make sure you bury the fence at least a foot underground to keep them from being able to dig under it. Birds will not be affected in the same way. It is best to wait until the babies grow enough to leave. Clean away the fallen nuts and fruits that squirrels like eating. Keep any tree limbs near your house, especially those at your roof line cut back at least 6 feet from the edge of your home. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The roof edge, where ice and water tend to gather, is a particularly vulnerable point due to rot. Generally, this is how squirrels like to get on your home. [1] X Research source You can find these at most garden stores, as well as online. How can I stop squirrels from chewing on my Japanese maple tree? But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Squirrels chew holes above gutters and the corners of trim to get into your home. If squirrels are bothering your bird feeders, rub shortening or petroleum jelly on the pole so they can't climb it. When squirrels get into homes, the entry point is most often found on the roof. Usually there is one or two holes or gaps. How do you deter rodents like squirrels from getting into buildings? There are 26 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. To keep squirrels from getting under your house or in the garden, use 1-by-1-inch mesh wire or chicken wire to deter squirrels from finding their way under your deck and into your garden. Close all doors of that room that open into other parts of the house. So make sure that the gap in between the tree branch and the roof must be off 8 … If you don't want to do this yourself, hire a contractor or repair person to do it. While they're cute, they can also be destructive to your property, and they can run birds off from your bird feeder. 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