Squirrels and possums love to eat Christmas lights, and I think sometimes, they eat them right close to the…very close to the sockets because they think they’re nuts or tasty treats. The fastest way to get rid of squirrels is to stop providing for their needs. While they're cute, they can also be destructive to your property, and they can run birds off from your bird feeder. You may need to attach more than one wire. Get a trap or Ro-Pel, capsaicin or hot pepper oil with sticky topical applications for trunks and limbs. Once on your roof, they'll often look for ways to get in, and soon enough, you'll have an infestation. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Some squirrels learn to outsmart this trick, though. Spray apples with a hot pepper sauce mixture once the fruit begins to come in. Sprinkle a small amount of cayenne pepper over area. Mint is also an odor squirrels don't like. You can wrap pieces of flashing at least 2 feet wide around the trunks of the trees with the top at least 5 feet above the ground. How can I stop squirrels from chewing my patio furniture seats? Leave the sock in a bowl of ammonia until the sock has become completely saturated. It is just their nature We have chipmunks and can not do anything about THEM, we have tried everything, so now we just plan around them, if we want to plant something, etc. How do you deter rodents like squirrels from getting into buildings? Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Spray capsaicin, a natural extract of hot peppers, on … Tips for Keeping Squirrels from Eating Your Apple Trees. You can even mulch around individual bulbs you've just planted as long as you leave a small area for the bulb to grow. That means to spoil their taste, and change their smell. The springs allow the tree to grow while keeping the metal band in place. You can use homemade sprays with garlic or strong citrus oils, or sprinkle hot cayenne pepper on the leaves as well as the surrounding soil. It curves down from the feeder, making it difficult for the squirrel to climb up a pole. Overall, you don’t want a ton of squirrels hanging around your property. "Using tree collars. If your trees are relatively isolated from neighboring trees that you don’t own, consider wrapping the trunks with aluminum flashing at least 18 inches high. How can I keep squirrels off my hummingbird feeders? This is a guide about keeping squirrels out if fruit trees. Most methods work in some way but which are the most effective and which method will keep squirrels from eating your bird food? Create a barrier with these flowers, and the squirrels won't want to pass through it. Another cool way to use the hot sauce is to mix it with birdseed to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Place traps near the squirrels' burrow entrance or the tree where you see the most squirrel activity. However, part of the cap is made from a wire cage, so the smoke will still be able to get out. Also, sprinkle some cayenne pepper on your plants so they taste bad if squirrels try to eat them. If you leave the squirrels in the attic when you close up the holes, you could end up with an awful smell. You can pull it up again once you've had a few hard rains. Answer + 6. Deter squirrels from eating your vegetables by sprinkling the ground with cayenne pepper. Place a metal band around the tree 6 feet off the ground to stop squirrels from being able to climb it, according to Colorado State University. You can follow the instructions that are listed in the article above. Another way to keep squirrels off your roof is to trim the vegetation in the area. Squirrel control for a few rather isolated trees is as simple as placing metal flashing (available at any building supply or hardware store) 18 inches wide around the trunk about 5 … If a squirrel can use a branch to get over to your home, they'll do it. Trim Surrounding Trees. Use moth balls. Support wikiHow by Stop squirrels from eating your garden plants by giving them something else to eat. If you know where the squirrel's nest is, hang extra near the nest. When done in excess, this can cause stress for your trees and result in damage, and possibly death. Standard Pest Control also specializes in ant, bed bug, cockroach, fly, and rodent control. Place the flashing at least 4 feet off the ground so they can’t jump over it. Stopping the squirrels from eating the fruit on your trees will help ensure a good harvest. When the bark is removed from the tree it makes the tree vulnerable to parasites and microorganisms that can enter the tree. A relatively easy way to keep squirrels out of your potted plants is to make them as unappealing as possible. Squirrels (and other wild animals) will eat basically anything that comes their way because they’re so used to having to scavenge for food. A simple metal collar 2 feet (0.6 m.) wide around the trunk of a tree prevents entry to the canopy of the fruit tree too. Squirrels will also eat the leaves of plants. Sadly, younger trees and saplings won’t develop if stripped of their bark. Homeowners, however, often consider them pests. A common reason squirrels will jump onto your house in the first place is to escape from predators. Spray freely on your rose, rhododendron and camellia buds. Put a dab of peanut butter inside the cage - that will attract plenty of squirrels. An indoor/outdoor cat will also have squirrels thinking twice about visiting your yard. How do I keep squirrels out of flower pots? The Evergreen Animal Protective League advises against trapping squirrels because new animals will simply move in and begin breeding, ultimately increasing the number of squirrels. Sprinkle the natural repellent around the perimeter of your yard and throughout your garden. How do I keep a squirrel from eating the wiring on my car? Looks like I … You can also lay chicken wire over the soil that you weight down with rocks. Tie the sock to a tree with a piece of string or twine. Squirrels are known for their persistence and craftiness. Put a layer of river rock on top of the pot soil. Keeping Squirrels out of the House Fill in any holes in the attic to keep squirrels from getting inside. Fasten the band in the back by attaching the wire on one end to springs on the other end. I have an apple tree in my yard that is being decimated by deer at the bottom and squirrels at the top. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg\/v4-460px-Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg\/aid3729365-v4-728px-Keep-Squirrels-Away-Step-18.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"