Do ultrasonic repellers work for squirrels?

Author: Miss Elyssa Corkery  |  Last update: Thursday, November 20, 2025

These sound waves create an environment that is uncomfortable for squirrels, encouraging them to vacate the area. An ultrasonic pest repeller for squirrels is an effective and humane solution for keeping these critters away from your property.

Do ultrasonic squirrel repellents really work?

In summary, ultrasonic pest repellers emit high-frequency sounds that manufacturers claim reduce household pest infestation, but laboratory tests have shown that the majority of such devices do not work as advertised, in violation of FTC guidelines.

What is the most effective squirrel deterrent?

Use Strong Odors

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.

What is the best device to get rid of squirrels?

For outdoor squirrel control, the Yard Gard and Solar Yard Gard are electronic ultrasonic repellents that use sounds out of the range of human hearing to irritate pest animals, repelling them from your property.

Are squirrels affected by ultrasound?

Squirrels, like many rodents, have a keen sense of hearing. They can detect high-frequency sounds, which supports the idea that ultrasonic devices might be bothersome to them. However, the effectiveness of such devices in repelling squirrels remains controversial and largely debated.

Do Electronic Pest Repellers Work?

Do squirrels remember places?

The retrieval accuracy of the squirrels under these conditions indicates that while grey squirrels can locate buried nuts by their odour, they can also remember the individual locations of nuts they have buried.

What is the biggest threat to squirrels?

While most of these predators eat adult and young squirrels, raccoons and gray rat snakes prefer to prey on nestlings. However, the truth is that humans represent the greatest threat to gray squirrels. Untold numbers are killed by vehicles racing down our highways.

What is the fastest way to get rid of squirrels?

How To Get Rid Of Squirrels In The Yard
  1. Place ultrasonic devices in your yard. These emit high-frequency sounds that are unpleasant to squirrels but inaudible to humans.
  2. Install motion-activated sprinklers to startle and deter squirrels when they enter your yard.
  3. Live traps can be used to catch and relocate squirrels.

What scent will keep squirrels away?

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.

How do farmers keep squirrels away?

The only true way to keep squirrels out of the garden is physical barriers. We use bird netting over hoops, which keeps squirrels out but still allows bees to pollinate.

Do dryer sheets repel squirrels?

According to Precision Pest & Wildlife Removal, squirrels dislike strong scents, including natural and synthetic fragrances. Because dryer sheets have a high amount of strong fragrance, they could be effective for keeping squirrels away from your yard.

Does Irish Spring soap repel squirrels?

Irish Spring soap is one of many homemade solutions people use to repel squirrels. While it may work for some, other homemade solutions, like cayenne pepper or vinegar sprays, can also be effective. However, like Irish Spring, these methods often provide only temporary relief.

What food is poisonous to squirrels?

Avocado skin and seed are toxic. Consumption can lead to breathing difficulties and heart-related issues. 3. Onions and Garlic: Onions and garlic, in any form, can be harmful to squirrels as they can cause damage to their red blood cells, leading to anemia.

What is the best natural deterrent for squirrels?

Repellent Granules: Repellent granules contain natural ingredients, such as cinnamon or cloves, that are unpleasant to squirrels and will discourage them from feeding in the area. Consider spreading cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, or pepper flakes around your blooming plants to deter these critters.

What are the side effects of ultrasonic pest repellers?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), exposure to ultrasonic pest repellers over time can cause the following symptoms:
  • Sleep Disturbances.
  • Tinnitus.
  • Headaches and Migraines.
  • Dizziness and Fainting.

Does Vicks Vapor Rub repel squirrels?

If you're tired of squirrels breaking into your bird feeders and stealing all the bird food, try using some Vicks VapoRub to alleviate your woes. Squirrels are repelled by the scent of the ointment, so spreading it around the area where you have the feeder may deter the squirrels.

What do squirrels hate most?

Squirrels are not fans of anything spicy, so the most effective homemade squirrel repellent for garden use consists of Cayenne pepper or other peppers (even hot sauce) mixed into some water with a couple of drops of dish soap in a spray bottle.

What is the best squirrel repellent device?

The best squirrel repellent on the market would be a combination of different devices and measures. This could include motion-activated sprinklers and ultrasonic repellers such as Predator Guard's PestAway Animal Repeller or PestAway Mouse, Mole, and Squirrel Repeller.

How long do coffee grounds keep squirrels away?

Coffee grounds will keep squirrels away from your garden because they do not like the smell. Simply sprinkle some fresh grounds on the soil surrounding your plants every two weeks. You can also try spraying your plants with a hot pepper spray for the same effect.

How do I get rid of squirrels legally?

6 Legal Squirrel Removal Tips
  1. Remove any food sources. Make sure to keep any pet food inside your home and tightly seal any outdoor garbage bins. ...
  2. Keep your attic tidy. ...
  3. Plant flowers squirrels hate. ...
  4. Remove entry points. ...
  5. Buy squirrel-proof bird feeders. ...
  6. Let your pets outside.

Do fake owls keep squirrels away?

While fake owls can temporarily deter squirrels, they are not foolproof solutions for long-term pest control.

Will spraying vinegar keep squirrels away?

The pungent smell of pure apple cider vinegar repels the squirrels. ACV is readily available and can be sprayed directly on the plants and flower pots without harming them. Spray it as often as needed to keep the little creatures at bay.

What preys on squirrels at night?

Owls also pose a significant threat to squirrels, particularly at night. Great horned owls are adept hunters and can silently approach their prey under the cover of darkness. Their acute sense of hearing and exceptional night vision make them effective nocturnal predators.

Do squirrels see humans as threats?

Although the animals seem to have little fear of humans, he said he theorized they should still act in accordance with optimal foraging theory and remain, “sensitive to cues that inform them about levels of risk, allowing them to reduce costs by not overreacting to innocuous stimuli.”

Where do squirrels sleep?

Ground squirrels live on or in the ground and not in trees. Gray squirrels, however, sleep in tree nests during the winter and only venture out during the morning and evening. Instead of hibernating, they rely on sheltered nests or dens in trees, fat reserves, and stored food to survive the long, cold winter.

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