Most people rush for chemicals when they're trying to get rid of pests. So they might use mothballs, bleach, or poison. These are all smells that squirrels hate, but they can also be toxic for kids, pets, and the environment. Vinegar is a safer option because it's organic but still pungent.
Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint. Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels.
Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, or pepper flakes around your plants when they are ready to bloom. Peppers have “capsaicin” which squirrels hate, so it's a natural squirrel deterrent. Or, make a pepper spray; you can mix dried pepper with apple cider vinegar.
When you use ammonia — putting it down as soaked rags — you have absolutely zero control over what animals (or people) go near it. We do not recommend using ammonia as a repellent for any wild animal, particularly squirrels.
The acetic acid in the vinegar has a strong and unpleasant odor which can repel squirrels from your yard or garden. You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar; make sure to dilute it with water before spraying it around areas where squirrels are known to visit.
Some of the other common rodents include squirrels, hamsters, gophers, and others. Does Pine Sol deter rodents? As will most cleaners, Pine-Sol contains properties that may deter rodents and other types of pests; however, this is not a viable solution as a pest control measure.
One of their most feared predators is the common fox. While you don't have to get a pet fox to keep squirrels out of your yard, you can create the illusion of a fox nearby. Fox urine can be purchased at almost any hunting and fishing supply store and is an excellent squirrel deterrent.
Adding aluminum foil to the base of your plants can scare squirrels away. Squirrels hate both the feeling and sight of aluminum foil. The shiny glare from the foil is usually enough to scare off any squirrels, but if any brave squirrels do approach your plants, don't worry!
Now that we know more about them, we'll discuss the scents they hate! The scents on this list are: Peppermint Oil, Capsaicin, Coffee Grounds, White Vinegar, Garlic, Cinnamon, Predator Urine, Irish Springs Soap, Dryer Sheets, and Rosemary.
Mothballs are an effective way to keep squirrels out of flower pots. They contain chemical substances that release pungent smells that squirrels hate. All you need do is place a few mothballs around the areas squirrels visit often and inside your flower pots to set up a smart odor barrier.
What if the squirrel doesn't back away from the bad smell and chooses to persist instead? You'll end up with a dead squirrel. Both ammonia and mothballs give off gases that are harmful to health in high doses.
As for nuisance squirrels, it may be useful for safe and humane wildlife abatement. You see, there is a theory that squirrels are afraid of the color red, and therefore, steer clear of anything resembling the crimson hue.
Squirrels have strong noses and are not fans of pungent aromas like coffee, peppermint, apple cider vinegar, and soap. For an easy, low-cost solution, sprinkle leftover grounds in your garden, spritz vinegar on your vegetation, place soap shavings around your patio, and rub peppermint oil on your furniture.
Squirrel bait poison is made from chemicals called rodenticides. It kills everything from rats and squirrels to woodchucks. These chemicals are toxic for pets, children, and other small animals, so be sure that you keep poison for squirrels out of reach of children.
Irish spring soap is an effective deterrent for keeping squirrels away from your delicious fruits and vegetables.
Hillock said things like human or pet hair, soap, and other household products are not likely to be effective in keeping squirrels away.
Coffee grounds are effective at repelling squirrels and chipmunks, as they don't like the smell. Try sprinkling used coffee grounds around the border of your garden to keep your crops and flowers safe! Add a few drops of water to the ground to secure the grinds in place and help heighten the smell.
Among aerial predators, the red-tailed hawk appears to be the most common bird that targets squirrels. Weasels, coyotes, badgers, foxes, and bobcats are some of the most common mammalian predators for squirrels.
Used in small amounts, cinnamon gives many dishes a delicious flavor. However, it is still a spice, and squirrels can't tolerate the smell. You can use cinnamon essential oil to deter squirrels by sprinkling a few drops onto a rag and tying the cloth to a tree at the edge of your property.
Squirrel Behavior With Humans
Squirrels rarely come up to people to engage with them, but in urban areas, they have warmed up to the understanding that humans are not usually threatening. According to one study, squirrels take note of whether their human neighbors are on a footpath or not, and respond accordingly.
As for preventing the squirrels from entering your home, consider creating a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Lysol and 3 ounces of Epsom salts, diluted in a quart of water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle and apply it to wood shingles or door frames.
A: We do not recommend mixing any Pine-Sol® product with other cleaning products or chemicals. Mixing cleaners can result in the release of hazardous gases.
Human urine does repel squirrels. It can be used to keep the animals away from certain areas, like a vegetable garden or patch of flowers. Simply pour some urine around the area you want to protect. To reduce the smell and better fertilize your plants, dilute the urine in 10 parts water.