Bait and Trap. If you're dealing with a squirrel infestation inside your attic, basement, or crawl spaces, one of the easiest ways to get rid of them is to use baiting and trapping methods. Most squirrel traps allow you to catch and release the squirrels, but there are also spring traps that will kill them.
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.
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.
Get them out.
You can also try putting a bright light in the attic and leaving it on, playing a radio around the clock or putting rags soaked with cider vinegar in the attic (squirrels don't like the smell). Or you can just wait until you're sure all the squirrels have left, which they usually do during the day.
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.
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.
Irish spring soap is an effective deterrent for keeping squirrels away from your delicious fruits and vegetables. With their keen sense of smell, the squirrels will catch a whiff of the strong Irish Spring scent and steer clear of your precious garden.
They're said to dislike the scent of coffee grounds and peppermint, or you could make up your own recipe with vinegar, garlic and onions or peppermint oil to spray in the garden. Chilli flakes and pepper might put them off, so try a sprinkling of these – it's often used to keep squirrels off bird feeders.
If you are looking to kill squirrels, anticoagulant or acute toxin bait traps will accomplish that. They are a far cry from natural squirrel repellent, but they are a way to keep squirrels out of the garden. Just set up the traps and leave them alone. Timing is important for when you set them up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Indeed, cars are probably the most significant source of mortality for most squirrel populations.
Poisoning Squirrels Is Illegal
Poisoning Squirrels may be illegal depending on where you live. In Texas, poisoning squirrels is illegal as squirrels are considered game and may end up being ingested by humans.
First off, there is no registered or effective poison for squirrels. Many people attempt to use rat poison, but squirrels will almost never eat rat poison. And if they do, they don't usually die. And if they do die, then they're going to die in the attic or walls most likely, and cause a terrible odor as they rot.
Fake owls, foxes and hawks may deter squirrels from venturing too close to your property.
There are many foods that squirrels can't eat, such as chocolate, sugary snacks, and processed foods. These foods can be harmful to the squirrels and can cause health problems. Instead, try feeding the squirrels foods that are safe for them, such as nuts, seeds, and fruits.
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.
Epsom salt
Sprinkle Epsom salts onto your trash can lid or around the areas that pests like to burrow into or dig around. Epsom salts will deter most any pests, including raccoons, mice, and squirrels among others.”
A study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health found that Pine Sol did not have any significant effect on squirrel behavior. The study concluded that Pine Sol may not be an effective method for keeping squirrels away.
Squirrels hate both the feeling and sight of aluminum foil.