Does petroleum jelly keep squirrels away?

Author: Kiarra Grady DVM  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 1, 2025

There are also some things that you should NOT do to prevent squirrels from climbing such poles. Let me begin with what NOT to do. Many people use products such as Vaseline, WB-40, axle grease or another greasy or oily products, with the idea that this provides a slippery barrier that the squirrel can't get past.

Does Vaseline keep squirrels away?

Please do not grease your poles to keep squirrels away from your bird food. Whether it's vaseline, WD-40, axle grease, vegetable oil, or another greasy or oily products greasing poles can be very harmful to birds and squirrels.

What smell do squirrels hate the most?

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 5 7 9 rule for squirrels?

Remember the 5-7-9 rule. The mighty squirrel can jump… ever notice that? In order to make them physically less accessible, feeders must be placed 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet from a bush or fence and must be 9 feet from an overhanging limb.

What is the best thing to keep squirrels away?

Rodent-chasing dogs and motion-activated noisemakers, such as garden spinners, pinwheels, and aluminum pie tins, all make good squirrel deterrents. In addition, if you're watering your lawn anyway, consider using a motion-detecting sprinkler to increase the scare factor.

Will Vaseline keep squirrels off bird feeder?

What is the best homemade squirrel repellent?

There are several effective homemade squirrel repellents. One popular option is to create a strong-smelling mixture using vinegar, ammonia, or essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or citrus. Soak cotton balls in these scents and place them in areas where squirrels are active or use them to block entry points.

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.

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.

What time do squirrels stop coming out?

They Sleep At Night

They have the same schedule as humans. You're most likely to see them during dawn or dusk as they usually arrive and depart at certain times. While it's dark, squirrels are unlikely to make a racket. They go around spending the entire day seeking nuts and scrambling up and down trees.

How do you deal with nuisance squirrels?

Remove/rake up food sources, such as nuts, berries, fruits, and acorns. Secure all trash cans with tight lids and bungee cords. It helps to rinse them out occasionally to remove the attracting odors. If you have a bird feeder, buy a squirrel proof feeder or equip it with a baffle.

Do dryer sheets repel squirrels?

Dryer sheets are often used to make clothes smell fresh and clean. They also work great for repelling squirrels! The strong scent of dryer sheets will keep squirrels away. You can place them around your property or add them to a bag and hang them in areas where squirrels are active.

Do squirrels hate Irish Spring soap?

Its strong, pungent aroma is unpleasant to many animals, including squirrels, making it a popular choice for natural pest control.

What don't squirrels like to walk on?

Adhesive materials: Polybutenes. Polybutenes create a sticky lubricant that can deter squirrels from scaling railings and buildings. As they walk across the material, their feet may become stuck, which could cause so much irritation that they don't return.

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.

Does WD-40 repel squirrels?

WD40 Can Deter Squirrels From Chewing

Squirrels don't like the oily taste that's soaked into the wood and should move on to something else.

What fake animals keep squirrels away?

Fake owls are marketed as effective deterrents against squirrels due to their resemblance to natural predators. The idea is that squirrels, seeing what appears to be a predator, will avoid the area for fear of being attacked.

What is the most effective squirrel repellent?

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.

What time do squirrels go to bed?

As soon as the sun starts to go down, those squirrels run off to their nests so they can care for their babies and go to sleep for the night. Different types of squirrels in specific seasons and various areas of the world may also sleep during the day to conserve energy.

What month are squirrels out the most?

As we mentioned, regardless of the moon phase, squirrels are typically active throughout the day. This is especially true during the fall and spring months when they actively search for food after exhausting their winter food stores.

How do I keep squirrels away permanently?

Tips to help keep squirrels away from your yard
  1. Don't feed them. If you feed them, they will come. ...
  2. Remove what attracts them. Regularly rake your yard to remove fallen fruit, nuts, and seeds, and use garbage cans with secure lids to deter squirrels.
  3. Spray them. ...
  4. Exclude them. ...
  5. Repel them. ...
  6. Plant flowers squirrels hate.

Do coffee grounds deter squirrels?

The taste and smell of coffee is pleasing for many, but squirrels disagree. Coffee grounds are a natural repellent for squirrels, and they're easy to mix in with your soil. Instead of discarding your leftover coffee grounds, sprinkle them around the surface soil in your potted plant.

Will mothballs keep squirrels away?

Outdoors. Mothballs are occasionally thrown in gardens and lawns to keep away pets and other animals. However, mothballs are ineffective in repelling wildlife in outdoor areas such as rats, mice, squirrels, bats, snakes, or other wildlife.

Are cheerios bad for squirrels?

Cereal. Next, avoid feeding breakfast cereals to squirrels or other wildlife in your backyard. Cereals may also have too much salt and sugar and cause some discomfort for squirrels, even the so-called healthy options with nuts and fibre. Additionally, these items have no nutritional value to a squirrel's diet.

What eats 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.

What pesticide kills squirrels?

Zinc phosphide* is an acute toxicant that can also be use to control ground squirrels. It kills ground squirrels after a single feeding, so it can reduce numbers more quickly than anticoagulants. However, zinc phosphide* has a distinctive odor and taste that many ground squirrels seem to avoid.

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