How to Get Rid of Squirrels

People adore squirrels for their fluffy bodies, innocent faces and hops. You can watch them endlessly and enjoy their fun-filled activities. But they can be a nuisance and cause damage, once they get access to the house or the garden. They easily find their way into the house through small holes, especially gable vents. Even if the holes are small, these little critters can chew and enter the attics, chimneys and soffits. Once inside the house, squirrels can throw tantrums by scurrying here and there, collecting nesting materials, etc. They can carry ticks and fleas, which can be passed on to your pests. They can chew on the electric wires and cause fire hazards. Even their droppings and urine can attract other animals and pose a health threat, apart from producing the foul smell. Squirrels can enter your garden and feed on the bulbs and buds.

How to Get Rid of Squirrels?
It is very disheartening to realize that these wonderful little creatures can be a big nuisance and also cause damage to your house. Actually, some people view squirrels as pests and adopt pest control methods to get rid of squirrels. Even though poisoning is one of the methods of pest control, it is not advisable in case of squirrels. Dead squirrels in the attic can spread infections. There is also a chance that the other squirrels may feed on the carcass of the dead ones. Such a carcass can poison your pets too, if they feed on it. So it is better to avoid the option of poisoning. The following are some of the methods that can be adopted for getting rid of squirrels.

Preventive Measures
Take a good look at the exterior of the house. Look for holes that are big enough for the squirrels to enter. Cover these holes with wire mesh and use steel wool to fill the smaller ones. Install a cover for the chimney too. Shut all the entry points, which are prone to the entry of squirrels. Use steel products as coverings, as squirrels cannot chew this material. Another preventive measure is to cut all the tree branches that rest on the roof or are near the house. These branches can act like bridges that help the squirrels gain access to the house. It is always better to keep these branches at a safe distance of around fifteen feet from the house. Use squirrel-proof bird feeders, or feed the squirrels to prevent them from stealing the bird food. It has been observed that squirrels detest the taste of safflower seeds, which is commonly used as bird food. Another important preventive measure is proper sanitation. Keep the house and the compound clean and remove any waste food instantly. Also ensure that the lid of the garbage bin is tightly covered.

Squirrel Repellents
There are many commercial squirrel repellents available in the market, which can be used to get rid of squirrels. It has also been observed that predator urine or ground chili pepper can repel squirrels. You can also prepare some homemade squirrel repellents with easily available household materials. One of the common ingredients of squirrel repellents is cayenne pepper. It is believed that the smell of cayenne pepper irritates squirrels and they keep away from the place where the repellent is sprayed or sprinkled. You have to spray the repellent frequently, especially during the rainy season, to keep these critters away. These products may become ineffective once these critters get accustomed to it.

Trapping Squirrels
Trapping squirrels is another method to get rid of these little creatures. Usually, small and sturdy steel cages are used for this purpose. Large cages are avoided as the squirrels can run around inside, bang against the walls and end up getting injured. You can even use some bait, like peanut butter applied on a piece of bread or biscuit, to attract the squirrels into the cage. You can relocate the squirrels to some faraway place, which is uninhabited by humans. Repeat the process, until you catch all the squirrels in your house and ensure that their entry points are sealed.

Some people use strobe lights in their attic to keep squirrels away. Squirrels get annoyed by this light and avoid entry to such places. A wide range of strobe lights are available in the market. People who are clueless about how to get rid of squirrels, can adopt the above said measures and repel them easily and safely.