Living With Squirrel Neighbors

How Can I Prevent Squirrels From Chewing the Outside of My House?

Squirrels need to chew to wear down their constantly growing teeth. Sometimes, this habit is misdirected to something not chewable. Yucky tastes are going to be your best friend in preventing squirrels from chewing on your house. There are multiple commercial products available, including things like capsaicin. If you catch the squirrel in the act, you can also make loud noises or squirt them with a little bit of water. It won’t take long for the squirrel to find somewhere more enjoyable to wear down their teeth.

How Can I Safely Remove Squirrels From My Attic?

Squirrels often reside inside homes and sheds during nesting season to stay warm during the winter months.

First, you need to locate where the squirrels are entering. This may be through a chimney or hole in the roof. Once located, you must wait for the babies to become independent and leave the nest before taking action. Spring babies will leave the nest in late spring before fall nesting season begins. After all squirrels have left the nest, seal the opening or use a chimney cap to prevent problems in the future. If you accidentally shut babies in with their mother on the outside, she may significantly damage your home trying to get back in. If keeping squirrels inside the structure is impossible, you can safely collect the babies and attempt to reunite them with mom outside using our strategies here.

If the squirrels are in the structure during the winter months (October-February), you can use noise and unpleasant scents to scare them. Remove items and material that may be used for bedding and any possible food sources. Once the squirrels are gone, fix the opening to prevent other animals from moving inside.

How Can I Stop Squirrels From Digging in My Yard or Garden?

Squirrels bury nuts and other food to survive the winter. The shallow holes they dig will not damage your lawn or flowerbed and are mainly just cosmetic issues. If absolutely necessary, you can sprinkle cayenne pepper or products that contain capiscum in areas where you want to deter digging.