As someone who has studied and interacted with squirrels for many years, I can confidently answer the question: do squirrels eat mint? The short answer is no. Squirrels hate mint.

Do Squirrels Eat Mint?

Squirrels are diurnal animals, primarily known for their tendency to hoard food sources such as nuts and acorns for the winter. Though squirrels may be exposed to the aroma of mint due to its prevalence in gardens and other natural spaces, consuming mint plants is not part of the regular diet of this species. As herbivores, squirrels primarily feed on plant material such as seeds, fruits, and fungi.

What Is A Squirrel’s Diet?

The exact diet of a squirrel depends on the availability of resources in an area. Generally speaking, squirrels feed on a variety of plant material such as buds, flowers, mushrooms, lichens, nuts, fruits and vegetables. They also eat insects and small invertebrates. Depending on the season, they may also consume bird eggs or baby birds.

Buds
Flowers
Mushrooms
Lichens
Nuts
Fruits and vegetables
Insects
Small invertebrates

What Problems Can Squirrel Cause?

Squirrels can be both helpful and harmful in the garden. On one hand, they are excellent pollinators due to their love for sweet nectar found in flowers. On the other hand, if left to their own devices these critters can cause a lot of damage by eating fruits and vegetables from your garden or chewing away at woodwork like gazebos or trees.

They can also cause problems by digging up bulbs or spreading dangerous diseases through their urine and droppings. Additionally, they can become a nuisance when they start rummaging through garbage cans or attacking pet food bowls.

How To Stop Squirrels From Eating Your Plants

Here’s how you can keep squirrels away from your garden!

Mow Your Lawn

Keep your lawn mowed and neat. This will not only make it difficult for squirrels to hide, but also make it less inviting as an area for them to spend their time.

Remove Food Sources

Squirrels often come into our yards in search of food. Make sure that any bird feeders or garbage cans are kept closed and clean up spilled food from outdoor meals promptly.

Install Motion Or Timer Activated Sprinklers

Motion activated sprinklers can scare away squirrels as soon as they enter the area.
Timer-activated sprinklers typically go off at regular intervals throughout the day and provide a gentle reminder that this is not a welcoming environment for animals.

Install Fencing Or Netting

As physical barriers, installing fencing or netting can provide a long-term solution. Be sure to choose a material that is thick enough, so squirrels cannot chew through it or slip underneath.

Keep Your Garden Clean

Regularly remove any dead plant material from around your garden. This will help deter squirrels from trying to eat your plants, as they prefer fresh foliage over dead matter.

Try Natural Prevention

Plant mint: Planting mint around trees and gardens that squirrels like to frequent can repeal them because of its strong smell and taste.
Grease objects: Greasing up objects such as bird feeders with petroleum jelly can make them unappealing to both squirrels and birds.

Remove Garbage

Remove all sources of garbage from your garden and yard. Squirrels often hunt for food sources in the form of leftover scraps, so by properly disposing of your waste you can reduce the chance of them finding their way into your garden.

Use Blood Meal

Adding blood meal around mint plants acts as a deterrent against unwanted pests due to its offensive odor. Note that while this may work in keeping away other insects, it is not necessarily effective against squirrels.

Try Squirrel Repellents

If you’ve been plagued by pesky squirrels feasting on your mint plants, there are a few tried and true methods for protecting your prized herbs. Try out these handy squirrel repellents to keep the furry critters away:

Call A Pest Control

In extreme cases, you may want to contact a pest control professional who specializes in dealing with nuisance wildlife species such as squirrels. They have access to different repellents that may be more successful than standard home remedies.

Natural Squirrel Repellents

Natural squirrel repellents can be an effective and low-cost way to keep squirrels at bay. Grease garden objects with petroleum jelly, plant mint around the areas they frequent and use motion sensor sprinklers to scare them off. Cats, dogs and other animals can also help to deter them – but make sure they don’t get too close!

FAQ

What is the most disliked thing by squirrels?

Squirrels seem to really detest strong fragrances and odors. Albums, such as garlic, scallions, and onions, create a powerful smell that squirrels try to avoid. Similarly, daffodils have an intense aroma, as well as a distasteful flavor which repel animals like squirrels, rabbits and deer.

Furthermore, plants such as mint can be used to scare away pesky critters. The sharp fragrance of these plants wards off any squirrels hoping to come near the plant or snag some food hidden in the leaves.

What plant can be used to deter squirrels?

There are a variety of plants that can be used to keep squirrels away. Albums, such as garlic, scallions and onions, have strong odors that can repel the animals. Daffodils, with their bright colors and pungent aroma, are also known to deter squirrels, rabbits, and deer.

Mint is an effective deterrent for squirrels due to its strong odor. The aromatic leaves help keep them away from food sources. Additionally, lavender or rosemary produce an unpleasant fragrance to small animals that discourages them from invading gardens.

What odors cause squirrels to dislike them?

Squirrels find strong odors to be unappealing, such as those from albums like garlic, scallions, onions and mint. Daffodils also produce an unpalatable taste and fragrant odor which can repel squirrels, rabbits and deer.

What plants can be used to deter squirrels?

If you are looking for plants that can keep pesky squirrels away, there are a few options to consider. Albums such as garlic, scallions, and onions can emit strong odors that deter animals like squirrels and rabbits. Additionally, daffodils have an unpleasant taste and pungent aroma that may discourage the critters from coming near your property. Lastly, mint is a type of gallium that produces a robust smell that will repel curious squirrels.

What can I use to deter squirrels from coming onto the ground?

To deter squirrels from your yard, you could use a combination of plants and natural remedies. Scatter pungent plants around your yard such as garlic, scallions and onions. Plant daffodils or other flowers with a strong scent that taste unpleasant to animals like rabbits and deer. Another option is mint, which has a strong smell that repels squirrels. You can also use natural repellents such as cayenne pepper, vinegar and mothballs.

What type of shrubs do squirrels avoid eating?

There are a number of shrubs that squirrels tend to avoid. These include daffodils, albums such as garlic and onions, and various species of mint. The strong odors and unpalatable tastes of these plants naturally repel the rodents. Additionally, thorny shrubs like barberry, hawthorn, roses, or other thorn-bearing plants can act as physical barriers against squirrels.

Does the smell of mint repel squirrels?

Mint is known to be an effective repellent against squirrels. Its strong smell acts as a deterrent, making squirrels steer clear of areas where it is present. Mint’s unique scent and taste can help keep unwanted pests away from gardens, yards, and other outdoor living spaces. Additionally, mint is safe for humans and animals, so there are no risks associated with using this natural squirrel repellent. In conclusion, yes, mint does help keep squirrels away!

Conclusion

So, do squirrels eat mint? The answer is no. While a squirrel may sometimes get curious and take a nibble of a mint plant, it is not part of their regular diet. In fact, mint plants are likely to act as a deterrent to these furry creatures, who prefer other types of food sources with higher nutritional content.

If you’re looking for effective ways of keeping the squirrels out of your garden, planting some mint and surrounding the plants with a fence or netting can be an excellent solution. This way, you can enjoy the pleasant smell of the mint without worrying about any creatures coming in to take advantage of your hard work!