If you’re dealing with pesky creatures in your garden and are looking at how to get rid of squirrels in your yard, then you’ve come to the right place! I’m a squirrel enthusiast that has been observing and dealing with them for many years. In this blog post, I will explain the most effective ways to keep squirrels out of your garden!
how to get rid of squirrels in your yard?
Removing vegetation that squirrels are attracted to is an efficient way to manage the population in your yard. It is important to either limit, remove, or protect sources of food and water, including plants, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and bird feeders. Additionally, sealing off entrances to possible nesting areas around the home can be beneficial in preventing squirrels from entering. Finally, installing mesh guards over the trunks of trees can help protect ornamental plantings from their sharp claws.
But there’s more, so, here are the best ways to protect your yard from squirrels:
1. Installing Squirrel-Proof Fences & net
Installing a fence and net can help keep ground squirrels away from your yard. Make sure the fence is tall enough (at least four feet) and that it is dug deep into the ground to prevent digging. Use durable materials such as metal, vinyl, or wire mesh, and regularly inspect for signs of damage. Place materials like cayenne pepper or industrial-grade grease on top of the fence to deter squirrels from climbing over it.
Alternatively, cover with squirrel-proof netting your precious plants, so that squirrels can’t get to them.
Here are the best physical barriers you can use:
2. Use Repellants
Squirrels are a common pest problem in yards. To keep them away, many homeowners use scent repellents. These products typically contain natural ingredients like garlic, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil, which help ward off the animals by releasing strong odors. Additionally, some repellents also include chemicals that can disrupt ground squirrels’ sense of smell. This can be an effective way to keep the critters from entering your property in the first place.
Here’s one of the most effective mint repellents for squirrels:
3. Companion planting
Companion planting involves interplanting crops to either attract beneficial insects or repel pests. Marigolds, garlic, and alliums are effective at repelling squirrels, so consider planting those alongside your produce.
4. Ultrasonic Deterrent Devices
Ultrasound technology can emit high-frequency noises that squirrels find unbearable, causing them to flee from your garden. Just make sure the device is placed close enough to the garden to be effective.
Here’s the best motion-activated ultrasonic repellent for squirrels. This device is also solar-powered, so you don’t have to worry about batteries!
5. Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Set up motion-activated sprinklers to scare off squirrels with bursts of water. This also saves you from having to water your garden as frequently.
6. Keeping Yards Clean of Squirrel Attractants
To keep your yard clear of food sources that could attract squirrels, pick up fallen fruit or nuts daily and make sure surfaces, where food is prepared, remain clean.
Avoid leaving pet food out where it may become accessible to wild animals, including squirrels.
Keeping bird feeders away from trees or other structures which may provide easy access for their climbing needs is helpful. Or even better, use squirrel-proof bird feeders like the one below:
You should also make sure any human food scraps are disposed of properly and securely stored in containers with tightly closed lids. If possible, store grain products in airtight containers off the ground and away from walls so that they are inaccessible to small critters.
You should also avoid feeding wild animals as giving snacks to one type will attract many more species looking for an easy meal.
7. Introduce Decoy Predators
Introducing faux predators is a great way to drive away pesky ground squirrels. To do so, strategically place decoys such as fake owls, hawks, and snakes around your yard. These can fool any foraging squirrels into thinking their natural predators are in the area, helping keep them away.
Here’s one of the best decoy owls on the market that I hand-picked for you:
8. Feeding and watering squirrels
Providing squirrels with food and water can help deter them from digging up your garden in search of sustenance. Consider setting up a squirrel feeding station away from your garden.
Here’s a super cute feeding station you can youse:
9. Get a dog or cat
Dogs and cats are natural predators and will keep squirrels away from your garden. Just make sure to supervise their interactions to ensure your pets and squirrels stay safe.
Encourage Natural Predators
Encouraging natural predators is a great way to get rid of squirrels in your yard. Predators like hawks and owls are excellent hunters and can help reduce the ground squirrel population. Be sure to keep these predators away from children and pets.
10. Limit Shelter
Limiting access to possible nesting areas helps prevent infestations. Pointy branches need to be trimmed back so they don’t provide any possibilities for nests and torn screens need mending right away. Even if it might not guarantee successful results it’ll make it much more difficult for an animal who wants to enter your house.
Our professional pest control team can help get rid of ground squirrels through the use of EPA-approved rodent control products. We make sure to always apply the products according to their labels for best results.
12. Harass Squirrels When They Appear
If you’re having trouble with squirrels in your yard, there are a few simple steps you can take to discourage them from entering. Harassing the squirrels is an effective way to make them uncomfortable and cause them to flee. Try clapping your hands or stomping your feet when they appear. You can also try spraying the squirrels with water from a hose or sprinkler to make them uncomfortable.
Tips for Harassment
There are a few ways to effectively harass pesky ground squirrels in your yard. First, invest in motion-activated sprinklers or scare rats – both of which can keep critters on their toes. Second, use loud noises like alarms and horns to scare them away. Finally, if your property has ground squirrel burrows or nests, create a barrier out of rocks or other materials to prevent them from entering. These methods should reduce the number of unwanted visitors quickly!
12. Maintaining Proper Landscaping
Maintaining proper landscaping is one of the easiest ways to get rid of ground squirrels. To discourage these critters from living in your yard, trim vegetation and keep grass short. In addition, make sure to clean up any organic debris like fallen fruit, nuts, or birdseed, as well as seal off access points in your home.
13. Practice Live-Trapping
If all else fails, set up a humane trap to relocate squirrels to a different location. Make sure to check your local laws regarding trapping and relocating wildlife.
Live trapping is a humane way to rid your yard of ground squirrels. It is recommended for smaller squirrel numbers and can be an effective solution to mild infestations. Live traps work by enticing the animals with bait until they enter and the door then locks behind them. To attract ground squirrels and increase their chances of success, use bait such as sunflower seeds, nutmeats, or peanut butter.
It’s important to check traps regularly – daily if possible – so captured animals don’t suffer from exposure. Once caught, remove the animal from the trap, take it away from your yard and release it in an area suitable for its habitat. Be sure to wear gloves while handling live traps as they can transmit disease.
Live-Trapping Strategies
- Choose the right size trap for the task at hand. Smaller or larger traps may not be effective.
- Position traps in areas where you have seen signs of activity.
- Make sure the bait you are using is fresh and appealing.
- Check traps regularly and promptly remove any captured animals.
What Attracts Squirrels to Your Yard and Home?
Squirrels are adept climbers, so the prospect of tall trees abundant with food sources present a veritable playground for these rodents. They also require access to water and some way to protect themselves from the elements – an ideal combination that can be found in many yards and homes. To fend off competition or predators, squirrels make use of tunnels, cavities, and dens, which can be built easily with their sharp claws. Gardens full of succulent fruits, nuts, seeds, and other organic matter only sweeten the deal for these crafty creatures.
When faced with open spaces between trees and shrubs, especially in human-made landscapes like city parks or yards, ground squirrels will happily burrow holes in search of shelter and seek out small insects as part of their diet. Since they reproduce quickly (having up to 9 babies each season) and feed on pest insects, their populations can increase exponentially if left unchecked.
Signs You Have a Squirrel Problem
If you have noticed any of the following signs around your home or yard, then chances are you may have a problem with squirrels:
- Holes dug around plants or flower beds
- Nests made from twigs in attics or garages
- Entire gardens cleared overnight
- Noises coming from walls or ceilings
It is hard to rid your property of squirrels without professional help. But there are certain steps that you can take yourself before resorting to outside help.
Advantages of Professional Assistance
Professionals can effectively tackle ground squirrel infestations quickly and in the most efficient way possible. They have the expertise, knowledge and experience to identify potential problems and develop action plans that are tailored to each individual situation. Professional pest management teams use EPA-approved rodent control products and can apply them in accordance with all label directions. This ensures that your home is safe from any harm caused by ground squirrels. Additionally, professional assistance eliminates the risk of DIY misapplication of products or accidentally causing injury or death to other small animals.
Benefits of Doing It Yourself
The benefits of tackling ground squirrel infestations yourself include cost savings and prevention of further damage. DIY solutions can be a great way to quickly reduce the number of pests in your yard. You can use traditional methods such as traps, fencing, and repellents, or newer methods like laser technology or sonic alerts. Taking an active role in pest control also allows you to keep track of the progress of your efforts, monitor the health and safety of your family, and ensure that the problem does not return.
FAQ
How can I remove squirrels quickly?
The quickest way to get rid of squirrels is to introduce noise and motion into your yard. Motion-activated noisemakers such as spinners and pinwheels, along with a motion-detecting sprinkler, will help scare them away. Consider getting a rodent-chasing dog or cat to keep the population in check. Plant plants they don’t like in your garden to deter them further.
What smell will deter squirrels from entering an area?
Scents that serve as deterrents for squirrels include strong-smelling fragrances such as peppermint, garlic and chili. Acrid smells like mothballs and ammonia can also be effective in keeping the animals away. Placing these pungent aromas near the garden or anywhere else where squirrels are present may provide a much-needed reprieve from their destruction.
Conclusion
By implementing these steps, you can get rid of squirrels in your yard. Removing potential food and water sources will help to limit the population and sealing off entrances to nesting areas will keep them from entering. Finally, by installing mesh guards around trees, you’ll be able to protect ornamental plantings from their sharp claws.
With these strategies, managing a squirrel population in your backyard should be much easier. So take the necessary steps to reduce their nuisance in the garden and enjoy your outdoor space without fear of any unwanted visitors!
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