How to Keep Squirrels Away from Your House 

In the wild, squirrels play an important environmental role and are often referred to as one of nature’s essential gardeners1. These members of the Sciuridae family, which includes other small and medium-sized rodents, spread nuts and seeds with their playful activities. When left buried and forgotten, these elements grow into new plants and trees2, replenishing nature and contributing to a healthy ecosystem. They even have their own holiday, National Squirrel Appreciation Day, which falls on January 21. 

Despite their many benefits, squirrels can pose a risk to human health and safety and the structural integrity of your home. Catseye Pest Control has helped homeowners learn how to keep squirrels away from their homes for decades and understands the challenges of human-squirrel interactions.  

Explore the importance of squirrel-proofing your home and garden and get tips on how to deter these inquisitive critters below.  

Introduction to Squirrel Deterrence 

Like any wild animals, squirrels love to scamper around in nature, and it may not be possible to completely prevent them from scampering around your property. However, it is within your power to make your home less attractive to them as a living space. In turn, you can take steps to reduce their negative impact, which can range from minor annoyances like knocked-over bird feeders to serious issues like health risks345.  

Why Keeping Squirrels Away Matters 

With their bushy tails and climbing hijinks, squirrels can be a lot of fun to watch in the wild. However, when they decide to set up shop on your property, they can cause significant damage. From digging up your garden to chewing holes in siding to gnawing on wires, squirrel activities can turn into more than just a nuisance.  

Common Issues Caused by Squirrels 

Notoriously, squirrels love raiding easy access birdfeeders. Although it can be aggravating, this habit is the least of the trouble squirrels can cause. Other common challenges associated with squirrels in the house include: 

• Gnawed electrical wires (indoors and out) can cause electrical fires.  
• Chewed insulation can hamper homes’ energy efficiency and send energy costs soaring. 
• Structural damage could include gnawed siding, walls, beams, and other architectural elements. 
• Loss of garden crops could result from squirrels foraging. 
• Urine and droppings cause germ-filled messes, particularly indoors. 
• Potential contamination of surfaces could spread diseases like tularemia, plague, and typhus6. 
• Spread of secondary pests like mites, ticks, and parasites is dangerous for inhabitants. 

Understanding Squirrel Behavior 

When you understand how squirrels typically behave and what attracts them, you can better deter them and keep them away from your home and garden. In the wild, they can live as long as six years and often choose sheltered areas like hollow tree trunks to build their nests7. However, they can also be very opportunistic and take advantage of readily available food, water, and shelter.  

Additionally, squirrels tend to be social8. That means if you have one squirrel nesting in your home, you may very well have several others living there, as well. 

What Attracts Squirrels to Homes and Gardens? 

Outdoors, the scent of food, including fruits, vegetables, and plants like daisies and tulips, can be a powerful lure9. Birdfeeders and fallen seeds and nuts also attract these rambunctious rodents, as do water sources and the allure of safe shelters, including overgrown lawns and shrubbery.  

Squirrel Feeding and Nesting Habits 

Squirrels eat more than just nuts and seeds. These fluffy-tailed home invaders also eat fungi, fruits, small insects, young snakes, eggs, insects, and caterpillars. To protect their food sources, they often bury their food to ensure they have nourishment once the weather turns cold. They typically nest in tree branches and cavities during warm weather. However, once the temperatures dip, they often start moving indoors to get warm and cozy for the winter10. 

Natural Deterrents and Repellents 

Squirrels have a keen sense of smell, which can work in your favor when employing natural repellents. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that squirrel repellent methods are a temporary fix. Keeping squirrels away permanently will require a layered approach and professional expertise11.  

Using Plant-Based Repellents 

Using plants, powders, and sprays made with scents that squirrels hate can help keep them away. For example, you can use ground cinnamon or fresh garlic around gardens, property perimeters, and bird feeders. Sprinkling mothballs, which contain naphthalene, or strongly scented laundry products can send squirrels scurrying. However, once the scent fades or gets rained away, they are likely to return. 

Benefits of Predator Scents 

Squirrels use their keen sense of smell as part of their strategy to evade predators. Homeowners can use that to their advantage by applying products that mimic the odor of predators’ urine. Predator scents effectively warn the rodents to stay away from the property. 

DIY Squirrel Deterrent Recipes 

Ready to try your hand at a homemade squirrel deterrent? Make a DIY spray by combining the strong scents of pepper, cinnamon, garlic, and apple cider vinegar and spray it in squirrel hotspots. Another popular DIY solution combines water with cayenne and a few drops of dishwashing liquid12. 

Physical Barriers and Modifications 

Although natural remedies and DIY deterrents may provide temporary relief from squirrel activity, strategic modifications can have lasting effects. For example, you might consider installing rodent and wildlife exclusion systems like Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems for targeted or whole-home protection that incorporates a rigid, chemical-free barrier. Sealing entry points, being mindful about gardens and feeders, and using fencing to your advantage can also help keep squirrels away.  

Securing Entry Points to Attics and Basements 

Trim shrubs and tree branches away from your home and thin out any dense shrubbery near the foundation to help eliminate easy access. Routinely inspect the perimeter of your home and seal up any holes that squirrels may be using to enter and exit — but only do so after removing the squirrels from inside13.  

Squirrel-Proofing Bird Feeders and Gardens 

Buying squirrel-resistant feeders is a step in the right direction, but it’s only one of the many strategies you can use. Other ways to hamper squirrel activity include the following1415: 

• Move feeders at least 10 feet from the closest spot they could jump from to gain access. 
• Add baffles or a slinky to bird feeder poles to discourage squirrels from climbing up them. 
• Swap your birdseed to a blend that includes safflower seed and milk thistle, which are less appetizing to squirrels. 
• Try hanging a bar of strongly scented soap like Irish Spring near feeders and gardens to help repel squirrels and other foraging rodents. 
• Sprinkle cayenne pepper or chili pepper flakes on the ground in the garden or in bird seed. 
• Add row covers or bird netting to gardens to protect your crops without hampering sun exposure. 
• Install motion-activated sprinklers, which will startle curious invaders and encourage them to stay away. 

Using Fencing and Netting Effectively 

Row covers and netting can protect crops. Metal fencing, which should be buried a minimum of six inches into the ground, can also help keep squirrels out of protected areas16. 

Habitat Modification to Discourage Squirrels 

Taking a proactive approach is critical to preventing squirrels from moving into your space. Three easy ways to do so include eliminating food sources, tidying up the landscape, and securing garbage and compost.  

Removing Food Sources 

Squirrels will take advantage of easy access. Picking up fallen fruit, seeds, and nuts and taking care to ensure food items are stored properly can help mitigate the risk17.  

Altering the Landscape to Reduce Attraction 

Keeping landscaping trimmed and tidy can reduce potential shelters and nesting sites. Additionally, planting natural repellents like marigolds, daffodils, peppermint, and mustard can help make your property less attractive18.  

Tips for Garbage and Compost Management 

Unsecured garbage and compost piles can be like an all-you-can-eat buffet, not only for squirrels but also for other rodents and wildlife. Choose wildlife-proof receptacles with tight fitting lids and place compost bins on a cement pad to eliminate burrowing nuisances19.  

When to Get Professional Help for Squirrel Removal 

Modifying habitats and relying on DIY deterrents won’t always get the job done. These agile creatures play a beneficial role in the environment and pose a risk if they defend themselves by biting or scratching you. Don’t try to eradicate a squirrel problem on your own. Instead, lean on professionals who can inspect your property, assess the situation, and devise the most effective removal, sanitation, and prevention program for lasting success.  

Contact Catseye today to partner with industry leaders with the expertise needed to remove squirrels from your home and prevent them from returning.  

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