How to Attract Squirrels: The Ultimate Guide

As an avid nature lover and squirrel enthusiast, I’m often asked how to lure these adorable rodents into backyards and gardens. So, how to attract squirrels?

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share foolproof tips to transform your outdoor space into a squirrel paradise. You’ll learn the best foods, shelters, and environments to entice squirrels to visit and stay. I’ll also cover common mistakes to avoid, so you don’t accidentally repel the squirrels you’re trying to attract.

Provide Tasty Treats Squirrels Can’t Resist

The most straightforward way to lure squirrels is by offering their favorite foods. Scatter nuts, seeds, fruits, and veggies around trees, fence posts, decks, and other areas squirrels frequent.

Here are the top foods squirrels love:

• Nuts – Acorns, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, chestnuts, almonds. Squirrels especially adore walnuts and acorns.
• Seeds – Sunflower, pumpkin, corn kernels, millet.
• Fruits – Apples, oranges, pears, berries, melons.
• Vegetables – Broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, mushrooms, corn on the cob.

Avoid peanuts, which contain a natural toxin harmful to squirrels when eaten in large quantities. Also skip dried corn, offering little nutritional value.

Here are some nice squirrel-feeding products for you:

For added fun, tie ears of corn, pinecones coated with peanut butter, or cob corn to tree branches within reach of squirrels. They’ll engage in entertaining acrobatics while munching!

Use Feeders for Convenience

For a hands-off approach, install squirrel feeders stocked with irresistible treats. Platform, hopper, and tube feeders work well, preferably with metal components the squirrels can’t chew through.

Fill feeders with nutritious options like walnuts, sunflower seeds, corn, dried fruits, and vegetables. Refill when empty to encourage repeat visits. Position feeders near trees or structures so squirrels have quick escape routes from predators.

Avoid “squirrel-proof” bird feeders since these are designed to restrict squirrel access. Also, place separate squirrel and bird feeders far apart to prevent territorial disputes.

Provide Fresh Water

Squirrels need water to stay hydrated, especially on hot days. Providing water sources like bird baths, fountains, or bowls gives squirrels a reason to frequent your yard. Fountains with running water are ideal, but any small, shallow container works. Change water daily and scrub containers to prevent mold and mosquitoes. Position water near feeding areas, so squirrels can easily find it.

You can provide water to the squirrels using a bird bath like the one below:

Offer Shelter and Nesting Sites

In addition to food and water, squirrels seek shelters and nesting sites to raise young and take cover from extreme weather and predators.

Provide Natural Cover

Place logs, stumps, wood piles, stacked bricks or stones around your property. Squirrels dart through and hide in these structures when nervous or sensing threats. Dense shrubs, tall grasses, and landscape plants also offer protection.

Evergreen trees provide year-round shelter. Leafy deciduous trees give summer shade and fall nesting cavities when leaves are shed.

Install Squirrel Boxes

Put up wooden nesting boxes with 1-2 inch diameter entry holes mounted 10 feet high on trees, poles, or fence posts. Place nesting material inside like leaves, twigs, grass to encourage use. Cedar and cypress resist weather and insect damage.

Instead of custom boxes, you can also install modified birdhouses. Just enlarge the entry hole to at least 1.5 inches so squirrels can get inside.

Leave Dead Trees (Safely)

Fallen trees with holes and hollows provide ideal squirrel homes. Leave dead, non-hazardous trees on your property for squirrels to inhabit. Or create homemade structures by drilling cavities into tree stumps or large logs.

Check with an arborist first to ensure the dead tree isn’t at risk of falling and damaging your home. Safety must come first.

Build a Drey

A drey is the classic spherical squirrel nest built high in trees. Help squirrels by constructing and installing your own dreys made from woven twigs, leaves, grass, moss, feathers and bark. Place them near trunk forks, at least 8 feet off the ground.

Create a Squirrel-Friendly Habitat

Beyond directly providing food, water and shelter, you can transform your entire yard into squirrel nirvana. Here are key landscaping tips to attract squirrels.

Plant Nut-Producing Trees

What could be better than having your own nut grove? Plant oak, hickory, beech, pecan and walnut trees. Chestnut, pine, and maple trees are other excellent choices.

Select trees well-suited for your climate and space constraints. For small yards, opt for dwarf varieties.

Add Climbing Structures

Squirrels are agile climbers naturally drawn to height. Install climbing poles, ropes, vines, branches, ramps, and platforms on trees, fences, or posts. Rough surfaces allow them to grip easily.

Old firewood logs stacked pyramid-style make great climbing structures too. Position climbing features near feeders, nests, and hiding spots.

Incorporate Natural Elements

Incorporate logs, stumps, boulders, and evergreens into landscape design. Groupings of rocks, driftwood, and overturned trees create fun playgrounds for curious squirrels to explore.

Leave dead leaves and wood debris. Squirrels sniff out insects and fungi thriving in the decaying matter. Maintain brush piles as cover too.

Provide Continuous Greenery

Plant shrubs, bushes, wildflowers, grasses, vines – anything providing continuous greenery from roots to tips. This shields squirrels as they travel between feeding, nesting and lookout areas.

Berry bushes give food too! Opt for native plants already adapted to local conditions.

Avoid These Common Squirrel-Repelling Mistakes

When trying to attract squirrels, it’s just as important to avoid these pitfalls that scare them away:

Don’t Leave Pets Outside Unsupervised

Squirrels evade yards with loose dogs, cats, or other predators. Leaving pets to roam freely, especially during prime squirrel activity periods at dawn and dusk, prevents timid squirrels from visiting.

If pets must be outside, monitor them closely. Squirrels won’t stick around if pets are constantly disturbing or endangering them.

Never Let Squirrel Food Run Out

Ensure feeders and food sources never stay empty for long. Squirrels will abandon unreliable food supplies and not return. Store backup nuts, seeds, and corn cobs to refill when low. Check feeders daily.

Don’t Allow Overgrown Yards

Letting your yard become overgrown with tall, dense vegetation may seem inviting to squirrels. But it actually puts them at greater risk from lurking predators. Keep lawns trimmed, and prune vegetation, and thin dense growth to allow quick squirrel movements.

Never Leave Trash Around

Leaving trash like empty seed bags, fruit peels, nutshells or discarded food can attract undesirable pests like rats. Only litter-free yards keep squirrels comfortable visiting.

Always promptly dispose of any waste in secure, enclosed bins out of reach of squirrels and other wildlife.

Use Special Techniques to Interact With Squirrels

Once squirrels start routinely visiting your yard, you can engage with them on a deeper level. Here are my top tips for interacting with your new squirrel buddies:

Make Yourself Known Slowly

Squirrels by nature are skittish, so introduce yourself gradually. Start by spending quiet time reading or relaxing where squirrels can grow used to your presence at a safe distance. Resist getting too close too quickly.

Use Food to Gain Trust

Slowly move closer while continuing to provide yummy treats. Let the squirrels observe you placing walnuts or seeds near their feeding and nesting spots. Once squirrels associate you with food, they’ll overcome some wariness.

Avoid Direct Eye Contact

Staring directly at squirrels is seen as aggressive. Avert your eyes and turn your body slightly away. Take brief glances from the corners of your eyes to avoid seeming confrontational.

Make Calming Noises

Talk or hum gently to help squirrels recognize your friendly intentions. Some experts even recommend clicking your teeth together to mimic the sound of a squirrel chewing on nuts.

Attempt Hand Feeding

For tame squirrels, place small treats like unshelled peanuts in your open palm and wait for them to take it from your hand. Go slowly, not moving toward the squirrel. Stop if they seem stressed.

Use Natural Squirrel Calls

Mimic clicking squirrel feeding noises by gently tapping together rocks, coins or other small objects. Start softly then gradually increase the volume to pique their curiosity. Squirrels may come to investigate the familiar sound.

Be Patient When Attracting Squirrels

With the right habitat and ample food tempting them, squirrels should arrive at your yard in no time. But have patience and let them gradually acclimate to their new surroundings.

Avoid loud noises or sudden movements that startle them. Sit quietly and enjoy watching their cute antics. With time and care, squirrels will feel at home thanks to your squirrel-friendly haven.

Conclusion

In conclusion, how to attract squirrels? Attracting squirrels requires providing enticing treats, shelter, and an inviting environment. But the payoff of having happy squirrels enliven your yard is priceless. Use these proven tips to lure squirrels to your property.

Just be sure to follow responsible wildlife feeding practices. Monitor pets, keep areas clean, and take precautions to avoid damage from less desirable critters too. With a bit of planning, you’ll soon enjoy an active squirrel population that brings you close to nature.