Many rural homes love watching tree squirrels for enjoyment and entertainment. However, these animals may also be problematic if they invade your farm or yard.
They can eat various foods, including newly planted seeds, flower bulbs, tomatoes, sweet corn, and other vegetables. They scatter seeds and scare birds when they are around.
How to spot squirrel ruins damage
Many farmers take steps to prevent squirrels from destroying their plants. Discover the signs of a squirrel infestation and how to identify squirrel damage before taking drastic measures. Here are some warning indications that you have squirrels on your farm.
- The absence of bird seeds
Squirrels eat a variety of rodents and other small animals. They will check out anything that might provide them with food, including the seeds in bird feeders.
Sunflower seeds are popular in bird feed, and squirrels love to snack on them. Squirrels will eat anything that falls to the ground. However, they will also use all necessary means to climb into the bird feeder.
- Missing crops
If you lose crops often, it could be because a squirrel is eating them before you can gather them. Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes, and other vegetables and fruits are not immune to this problem. There is still time to use repellents if you see animals nibbling on the crops or leaves.
- Disturbance of mulch or soil
Squirrels like to dig up the mulch or soil in garden pots or beds, so this could be a sign of an infestation. The roots need to be protected, and one of the many natural ways to keep squirrels away should be used.
Getting rid of squirrels from your farm
A wide variety of all-natural and humane squirrel control options are available. Effective and non-toxic methods that do not involve injuring the squirrels themselves include the following:
Covering the garden
You can keep squirrels out of your garden by erecting a chicken wire barrier, bird netting, or row covers. All three strategies will keep squirrels out of the garden without sacrificing the benefits of simple watering or direct sunlight.
Using motion-detector sprinklers
Squirrels are infamously shy creatures. Rather than letting a squirrel dig up your garden, set up some sprinklers with motion detectors to scare it away if it gets too close. If this has happened several times, the squirrel will likely stop returning.
Adding hot peppers
Squirrels avoid hot peppers because of the capsaicin. They find it offensive in flavor and aroma. The presence of chili pepper, hot sauce, or cayenne pepper flakes on top of the soil serves as an effective natural squirrel deterrent. Instead, you could cultivate hot chili peppers; the squirrels would be wise to leave those alone.
Try using a store-bought repellant
A squirrel’s natural enemies include foxes, snakes, weasels, hawks, owls, raccoons, and more.
Additionally, their urine is used in a commercially available repellent spray. Use the repellant on a daily basis to spray the garden area and keep the squirrels away.
Flowers that deter squirrels are a good idea to plant
Marigolds, snowdrops, daffodils, and hyacinths are all allium plants, and squirrels have a natural aversion to them. Avoid planting flowers that might attract squirrels, such as geranium flowers, crocuses or tulips.
Get a distraction
Putting out garden snakes or owls made of resin or plastic to scare away squirrels is another effective method. Ensure that you move the decoys daily and add noisemakers to them.
Have plenty of peppermint oil on hand
Even though peppermint oil is safe for both plants and squirrels, it will keep rodents from eating your plants. Dot the plant’s soil and leaves with some of the essential oil.
You can also rub peppermint oil and petroleum jelly onto plant stems to deter squirrels.
What is the best thing to keep squirrels away?
- Build a greenhouse
It’s a good idea to build a greenhouse that squirrels can’t get into if you enjoy growing many vegetables vulnerable to damage from them.
Maintain constant greenhouse security by always locking the doors. It will keep birds and other pests away from your plants as well.
- Maintain a tidy yard
Keeping your yard clean is the best way to keep squirrels and other unwanted visitors away, like reptiles that could be dangerous.
Squirrels will not consume any of the fallen fruits and nuts if you remove them from the ground. Maintaining a clean garden helps keep unwanted pests away. It also enhances the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space.
- Have a dog
Dogs who enjoy playing in the garden may be useful for warding off unwanted visitors like squirrels. Squirrels are an easy target, and the dogs’ relentless pursuits can drive them away from your property.
What do ground squirrels hate the most?
If you’ve ever spent time around squirrels, you know they can be annoying. They hurry about, emptying bird feeders and hoarding nuts for the coming cold season.
These infamous beasts are one step ahead when obtaining and devouring food. So, what is it that they despise the most?
In a nutshell, the odor of vinegar, pepper, citronella oil, or cinnamon oil is ideal. Peppermint plants and several predators all make squirrels very uncomfortable.
What naturally repels squirrels?
One of the most successful ways to discourage squirrels from settling in one’s yard is to make it unpleasant for them to do so.
All-natural options that can help keep squirrels away.
Getting rid of standing water
The removal of any pools of water is an additional method for deterring squirrels. Standing water not only attracts them because of their thirst but also because they can use it as a location to cool off during the summer.
Hence, if you want to discourage these furry little pests from hanging around your yard, you should get rid of any standing water that’s older than one day.
Sealing entryways and cracks
When you seal up the holes and crevices, they won’t be able to enter. This way, they cannot find a simple way inside your house, and you can rest assured that they will remain permanently outside.
Spices and herbs
Squirrels do not like spices and herbs. They find the aroma to be offensive, much like Irish Spring soap. To deter squirrels, you can use any of the following methods:
- Lemongrass
- Cloves
- Garlic
- Onion
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
Use sprays made from essential oils, spices, and herbs for plants where squirrels are common.
Scarecrows
A traditional way to keep birds and other pests from doing damage to fields and gardens is to put up these straw-filled statues. You may not have known that you may also use them to frighten away squirrels.
It’s common knowledge that squirrels will dig up your flower bulbs and destroy your bird feeders. However, a scarecrow placed strategically can deter them.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV, or apple cider vinegar, is an ideal remedy for various household issues. Also, its potent smell deters squirrels, keeping them away from your bird feeders, plants, and other locations where they can cause damage. Fill a spray bottle with it to treat the affected areas.
Get rid of food sources
If you want to stop them in their tracks, you have to starve them first. In any other case, you’ll be chasing these creatures forever.
So what is it that squirrels enjoy munching on? It appears to be all of them. Nonetheless, fruits, vegetables, and seeds top the list of their preferred foods. They will also try to get at the birdseed in your bird feeder.
Does Irish Spring soap keep squirrels away?
To a squirrel, Irish Spring Soap smells like a combination of rotten eggs and dead bodies. Grated Irish Spring Soap can be spread around the garden and yard’s perimeter.
You can also attach soap cubes to the tops of stakes driven into the ground around the yard. It serves as a deterrent against them. That’s a line they’ll never get across.
Keeping squirrels out of your yard is only possible with the help of Irish Spring Soap. For squirrels, the smell of Irish Spring Soap is the most repulsive odor in the world.
Irish Spring soap, both in grated and cube form, is an excellent idea for successfully deterring squirrels.
For the first approach, cut cube bars of Irish Spring soap to the size of half-inch cubes. Stick them to the tips of stakes and set the stakes at various locations in your yard or potted plants. Cubes can be stored in fabric pouches secured with drawstrings and hung from the stakes.
One other option is to grate a bar of soap. Gather the shavings and spread them out on the garden’s soil. Squirrels can be kept at bay by constructing a barrier around your garden, but this may not be necessary.
Safe from squirrel garden raids
Without this knowledge, it might be challenging to rid your home of squirrels. Your home and yard will be safer if you know how to get rid of them and keep them away. In addition, you’ll know that your actions are kind and environmentally responsible.
If you’ve exhausted these avenues and still have squirrel problems, it may be time to call in the pros. They know how to get rid of squirrels and may be able to show you where they might be getting in. You can do your part to preserve local ecosystems by caring for your garden and the wildlife in your backyard.