Collect a bundle of your hair from the bathroom or your hairbrush. This article has been viewed 223,710 times. Here's how to make a homemade, squirrel-deterring bird feeder: Attach each end of a wire to trees or posts. It can detect movement from up to 30 feet away, so position it within that distance to their usual entry points to make the most of the squirrel repellent sound device. You can suspend it on a wire instead of sticking it on the ground. Animal welfare laws and basic humanity dictate that these products should not be used in the traditional way for squirrels. Cinnamon Squirrels hate the smell of cinnamon, especially strong-smelling cinnamon oil and ground cinnamon. Chicken wire is an excellent tool for keeping pests away from our trees and garden beds. Mix equal parts cold water and white vinegar in a pot. But exterminators will not b permanently get rid of squirrels without many repeated (and expensive) visits. For homeowners who have no moral qualms about it, hunting squirrels may be a possibility. Permanent results almost always require ongoing efforts by the homeowner. The buffet of delicious grains, seeds, nuts, and fruits are hard to resist. In the wild, squirrels mostly eat plant material. If you are really, really tired of squirrels, don't plant any trees. Install a motion activated sprinkler Squirrels are naturally jumpy creatures. Clean up any fallen seeds and fruits, and store birdseed indoors in airtight containers to prevent squirrels from getting a whiff of the food source. Some good options include hot peppers, garlic, and citrus fruits. You may also consider installing squirrel spikes along your roofs perimeter to keep them away. Gardeners can fence in vulnerable planting areas with wire fencing of no more than 1-inch mesh and at least 30 inches high. When the squirrel munches on the food source, they get an unpleasant bite that keeps them from returning. Squirrels seem like harmless animals because they arent aggressive and often dont look like theyre doing anything suspicious. 2 Use a squirrel-resistant feeder if you are budget minded. Plants squirrels hate include fritillaries, geraniums, hyacinth, galanthus, lily-of-the-valley, mint, and daffodils. This thwarts any squirrels that think they can get in by digging under the fence. Puncture a hole in the bottom of three or four clean, empty 1 liter soda bottles. The hot pepper and vinegar irritate the squirrels by both taste and smell. Squirrels in the Garden A sudden movement or a sudden sound is enough to make them run away. Place the paper bowls around areas of your home with squirrel activity like the attic, around flower pots, and near garden beds. Install a squirrel guard on the pole holding up your birdfeeder, or else buy one that is squirrel-proof. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Making sure your garden or bird feeder area is clean and tidy will discourage squirrels from hanging around. Studies show that squirrels can hear sounds over a frequency range that is more than twice as wide as ours. Stop these rascals from being regular guests at your feeders with a few simple changes and precautions. Mousetraps are one of the more violent pest control products, but when used correctly, they can be used to repel squirrels without hurting them. 3. Havahart is a famous brand, and the squirrel trap lures the animals in with food. Once the spray is boiling, remove it from the heat and cool to room temperature before pouring the repellent into a spray bottle. Squirrel Symbolism & Meaning (+Totem, Spirit & Omens), 5 Best Squirrel Feeders in 2022 (Keep em Away from Bird Feeders), 15 Tips on How to Get Rid of Bees Fast [Humanely]. The decoy squirrel feeder should have the most squirrel-enticing buffet of food ever. This is also a good way of getting rid of ground squirrels that like to make their homes by digging up soil rather than hang out in the trees. It may cut down on garden thievery too. If you cant find any, brush your dog or cat and save their hair. But exactly what do squirrels hate about mulch? Prior to the cats hanging around the squirrels ate the wiring hub on my Pathfinder. When you have a fair amount, spread the hair around the areas of your home and yard that receive the most squirrel activity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1. Having pet dogs or cats are excellent natural deterrents for squirrels. Buy It: Here's one on Amazon.com for $45.99. Keeping squirrels away from your garden and house is imperative to the upkeep and quality of your property. No spam! Remove flower pots if necessary because the soil is loose and easy for the squirrels to dig up and hide nuts in. Squirrels gravitate to any property where their needs for food, water, and shelter are met. Fido occasionally comes with his own set of problems in the garden, but pets that spend a lot of time outside may be able to scare squirrels off. Ornithologist. Understanding this fundamental difference will help you determine the best approach to deter squirrels while not harming the birds. Another option is to put the bird seed in a squirrel-proof feeder that has a weight-activated perch. I was also unable to feed the birds because the squirrels would get to the food no matter what kind of feeder I was using. Here are some effective ways to repel squirrels without deterring birds: Use squirrel-proof bird feeders that have a weight-activated mechanism to close off the food source when a squirrel tries to grab onto it. If you cannot find predator urine, your house cat might be the solution to the problem. Squirrels, in particular, are known to be skilled and persistent animals that can create havoc if they get into your bird feeders or garden. Try to make sure the post is away from areas the squirrels could access it from above, like long tree branches or fence edges. "I know that I have all of the tools to make a bird feeder, and the candy cane is a good idea for making the. By using these simple methods, homeowners can successfully repel squirrels without deterring birds from visiting their gardens and bird feeders. Although poison isnt the most friendly way to get rid of squirrels, it is sometimes necessary if the problem gets too crazy. This treatment keeps nibbling rodents (squirrels, chipmunks, mice) at bay, along with birds and wood turtles, who love to snack on low-hanging fruit. They can set traps, perform landscape modifications to make your yard less squirrel-friendly, and offer advice on how to repel squirrels. Dispose of garbage regularly using a sealed container and keep food in airtight containers. To scare away squirrels, you don't need much. Check your property for open tubs of water and either empty them or put a lid on. When the squirrels grasp it, their weight pulls it all the way back down! If various faux predators make squirrels nervous, a real predator can positively terrify them. If you willingly accept the presence of a fox, a hawk, or a harmless snake in your garden, you will find that squirrels usually go elsewhere to ply their mischief. You must make it as easy as possible for these critters to choose the decoy over your house. Squirrels have been known to stick their tongues out to lap up droplets. You can wrap a slinky around a bird feeder pole to prevent small animals from climbing it. Oils, seeds, and meat are combined to form a peanut butter-like consistency. Add a squirrel baffle or a cone-shaped guard to the pole or hanging wire of the bird feeder to prevent squirrels from climbing up to the bird feeder. One issue with live-trapping is that you're then faced with transporting and releasing the squirrel. One of the easiest to find are spices. The scurrying sound of squirrels in the attic may drive you crazy, but the real danger lies in their tendency to chew on wires. There are three classifications of squirrels, including large tree squirrels, pine squirrels, and flying squirrels. 1 Use squirrel-proof feeders. Squirrels can be a thorn in the side of gardeners and bird-enthusiasts alike, but with a little bit of effort, you can effectively repel them without harming our feathered friends. Bowl-shaped baffles can go on top of the feeder pole to keep out squirrels, but these baffles dont do so well keeping out other critters, like raccoons. Consider mixing safflower seeds into the mix to create a bitter flavor that squirrels dont enjoy. If you dont have a cat or dog, there are other ways to fool these animals into thinking that predators of squirrels live in your home. He has traveled to over 100 countries to study birds. And a motion-activated sprinkler does this perfectly. Since installing squirrel baffle I see far fewer birds at my feeder. Trick squirrels into thinking your produce isn't a tasty treat after all by dusting a few of the fruits in the hot mixture, too. Birds can still get the seed out but the squirrels wont be able to reach it. The sensor scans the surroundings at a 110-degree angle, but this can be adjusted if you want a narrower range. Make a habit of shooing squirrels away whenever they appear in your yard. Expert Interview. Even though squirrels make their way into our gardens, its easy to combat their entry by planting things that squirrels hate. 1. Scare them away. I also do sprinkle birdseed on the ground and the squirrels normally don't touch it because they have their own. Add a few hefty drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle full of water. You might be thinking, Wait a second. Remember: Squirrels are master acrobats, so short fencing around the base of the plants won't do. Instead, use squirrel traps to catch them without contact. Cut small pieces of netting and wrap it around coloring fruits. You might think squirrels love all things green. Rats and squirrels are both rodents. If you want to protect your trees, you can add a raw egg to the tabasco-water mixture. Getting rid of nuisance squirrels made easy.. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Deter-Squirrels-from-Bird-Feeders-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Deter-Squirrels-from-Bird-Feeders-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Deter-Squirrels-from-Bird-Feeders-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1621189-v4-728px-Deter-Squirrels-from-Bird-Feeders-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"