Can Squirrels Eat Rabbit Food? The 68 Correct Answer

<< Return to Squirrel Help & Education or Shop Squirrel Products Are you looking for a healthy, easy-to-feed diet for your squirrel? Exotic Nutrition's Deluxe Squirrel Diet is the recommended pellet diet for captive squirrels. It's precisely calculated with the right amount of protein and vitamins your squirrel needs to thrive. This diet consists of quality ingredients such as walnuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried fruits and vegetables, and high-protein pellets. Is your picky squirrel not getting used to a healthy pellet diet? Squirrel Complete by Exotic Nutrition is an all natural diet of tree nuts, vegetables, berries, seeds and squirrel blocks for added nutrition and dental health. This is a great option for providing picky squirrels with complete nutrition without sacrificing flavor. This diet includes premium ingredients like walnuts, pecans, almonds, and peanuts that your pet will love! Nuts are beneficial because they provide chewing exercise for squirrels. They also provide natural proteins and essential fatty acids, both important dietary components for healthy squirrels. Vegetables and seeds are common in herbivores' diets. Because squirrels are primarily herbivores, Squirrel Complete uses sweet potatoes, corn, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, apples and rosehips to recreate natural flavors. Animal protein is incorporated into this diet in the form of dried insects such as crickets, mealworms and black soldier fly larvae. Squirrels in the wild typically consume a range of insect species as protein sources. Vitamins and minerals are added to this diet in the squirrel pellet ingredients to form a complete and balanced diet. If your squirrel is more reluctant to eat the pellets or clocks, it is recommended that an additional vitamin or mineral such as Exotic Nutrition's Squirrel Booster (multivitamin) and/or Squirrel-Cal (calcium supplement) be included in their diet. Natural sunlight for 1 hour per day in an outdoor cage or porch during the warm months will provide vitamin D and help your squirrel stay healthy. Another option is to use an open window, securely shielded with aluminum shielding or hardware cloth. Indoors, a full spectrum light (FSL) for 8 hours per day is the best option. Although it does not provide vitamin D, it is believed to have other health benefits. Shop our deluxe standing sun lamp with UVA/UVB lighting. Squirrels are rodents and unlike human teeth, rodent teeth grow continuously. Squirrels need safe and healthy toys or treats to chew on to keep their growing teeth groomed. The pellets in Squirrel Complete help with dental care, but it's also recommended to use apple sticks, chew toys, and a pumice block to aid in teeth grinding during use. Shop our chew toys. Read more about unsafe foods for squirrels here: Unsafe Foods for Squirrels If your squirrel is resistant to eating pellets or rodent blocks, we recommend withholding fresh food, nuts, treats, and other delicacies until your squirrel adjusts to having healthy pellets as a major part of their diet. Make sure the pellet diet is the only food provided to you, otherwise you will fill up on the other food provided to you and never have a reason to try new things. The biggest mistake we hear from owners is that their squirrels don't get used to pellets right away, so they just offer a different food. Realistically, when used to fresh food, nuts, treats, and other delicacies, squirrels will take time to acclimate to pellets. While these foods are fine, they do not contain all of the necessary and accurately calculated proteins, fats, or other vitamins and minerals your squirrel needs to thrive. It's similar to convincing a child to eat their veggies after letting them eat non-nutritious foods for months. If they don't eat the new pellets at first, don't give them nuts or anything else because a diet that's too high in fat can lead to obesity and fussy eating. Transitioning to a healthy pellet diet can take time, but patience and trust in food are key. When introducing a pellet diet for the first time, we recommend feeding 100% pellets for 5 days with no other food options or treats. Even a tiny piece of nut can discourage them from eating the pellets, believing that if they stop eating they will eventually be offered more nuts. We hear of successful conversions from many satisfied owners, who all say they persevered when their squirrels turned their heads away from pellets for the first few days, and finally got around to trying the new diet once they were hungry enough. Squirrels are intelligent animals, they never starve. Owners should never feel guilty about just offering a diet for this short amount of time, it is one of the healthiest diet options you can offer your squirrels and you can always go back to offering nuts and other variety once your squirrels have shown they can do will eat the pellets. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for more information about squirrels? Browse our article archive: << Return to Squirrel Help & Education or Shop Squirrel Products

Even bird watchers are quick to discover that birds aren’t the only small creatures roaming the yard. Love them or hate them, squirrels can often crash the party and subsist on food meant for the birds. Whether you’re luring them away from bird feeders or trying to bring more wildlife into the yard, laying out food specifically for the squirrels can be a good game plan for those who want to do both squirrel and bird watching.

become a squirrel watcher

Bird watchers take great delight in observing the fun little behaviors that birds can exhibit. But what about squirrels? The truth is that squirrels can also be a great source of amusement, providing hours of entertainment from the comfort of your home. Whether they’re wagging their tails in anger, making death-defying leaps from branch to branch, or simply testing their acrobatics along power lines, many people find squirrels just as fascinating to watch as birds. Feeding squirrels in the garden has become very popular.

The art of distraction: keeping squirrels away from feeders

Another reason people put squirrel food in their yard is to keep squirrels away from bird feeders. Instead of building an intricate contraption out of a branch to keep the bird feeder out of squirrel reach, many people choose to take a more strategic approach: place squirrel food in a different part of the yard. This distraction is sometimes successful in preventing birdhouses from being disturbed by hungry (or curious!) squirrels. By inviting squirrels and birds to feed in two separate areas of the yard, people are more likely to enjoy both animals.

What do squirrels eat?

So what should you offer the squirrels to eat? In general, squirrels eat a mix of seeds, nuts, corn, fruits, leaves, mushrooms, and bark. Eating a variety of these items can help them get a balanced food source. Even a few of these things, like sunflower seeds and peanuts, will satisfy most squirrels. Some home and garden supply centers sell prepackaged bags of squirrel food, usually a mix of larger nuts and seeds. Research nuts and seeds native to your area to provide an even more potent food source. For example, hazelnuts are common in northern states and can provide a natural food source for squirrels in that region.

See also: Why you should fill your bird feeder with nuts and berries

It is important to always state animal raw materials instead of food-grade seeds and nuts. In other words, salted or roasted sunflower seeds are a big no-no, just as flavored or honey-roasted peanuts are reserved for humans rather than wild animals. The excess salt, spice and flavor of these products can really upset a squirrel’s digestion and do more harm than good.

Never hand feed squirrels

As tempting as it may be, humans should never attempt to hand-feed wild animals. You should also not train squirrels to take food directly from their hands. Animals can carry a variety of bacteria, mites, fleas, and other germs that can be easily transmitted to humans through close interactions such as hand-feeding. In addition, hand-feeding squirrels can make them lose their fear of humans. This can put trusting squirrels in dangerous and problematic situations, e.g. B. when approaching traffic or directly into the rafters of a house.

An open invitation

It’s important to note that there’s a lot of overlap when it comes to foraging in the wild. Squirrels aren’t the only ones who love to feast on readily available fruits and nuts that are free to grab. This means that some of the food sources intended for squirrels may also attract other wildlife such as raccoons, deer, possums and rabbits. Keep this in mind when setting up a feeding area for the squirrels. Consider how this may affect the environment, including the plants in the garden and the attitudes of local residents.

All in all, feeding squirrels can be a great way to give the birds that visit backyard feeders a little peace of mind. It also invites a new form of entertainment to be enjoyed from the window. Just make sure you’re using appropriate food sources and consider the implications of feeding the squirrels in your yard before committing to it.

When squirrels roam your yard, your home and that of your neighbors can become a rent-free home for the animals. Squirrels can either sneak straight into your attic or eat their way in and ultimately do a lot of damage. They could also be hiding in your shed, especially if you rarely visit the premises. Squirrels like attics and undisturbed areas in general, and they especially love closed areas in winter because of the warmth. If their food source is also right outside the door, that’s an even greater reason to move on. The problem is compounded when the squirrel population in your area spirals out of control because this food has attracted so many.

Squirrels recognize people they see as a source of food – particularly those people who have offered squirrel food or nuts in the past. These intelligent rodents do have excellent memories, and because humans have invaded their habitats, squirrels have become accustomed to human behavior. In fact, squirrels are usually less afraid of humans than other animals.

Squirrels don’t just recognize humans; They can also be trained to come for food if it is offered regularly. However, that doesn’t mean you should offer food consistently. Squirrels are still unpredictable animals with surprising strength and speed, and their sharp claws and natural behavior make them poor companions for humans.

How good is a squirrel’s memory?

Quite a few researchers were surprised at what squirrels can do. These rodents actually use a fairly complex “language” with each other, containing multiple sounds expressing a range of ideas.

At the University of Exeter, scientists engaged gray squirrels to solve a tricky problem to find a tasty hazelnut. Almost two years later, the squirrels remembered how to solve the problem and made it through a maze in record time. In other words, the squirrels were not only able to solve the problem, but also remembered the solution after 22 months.

In addition to having great memories, squirrels are smart enough to fool other squirrels and foragers who are after their food. One study found that when squirrels worry about animals stealing their food, they actually pretend to dig and hide their nuts — and then later actually hide them privately. They then remember (mostly) at a later date where to find their nuts.

In addition to searching for the buried nuts, squirrels organize their stored food into “chunks”. In other words, a squirrel will bury acorns in one place, hazelnuts in another, and so on. Dubbed scatter hoarding, this technique requires a lot of brain power between organizing, hoarding, and retrieving the location of buried food.

Squirrels’ intelligence and memory make it easy for them to determine whether humans are friends or foes and to remember what they’ve learned about their surroundings.

Squirrel Behavior with Humans

Squirrels rarely approach humans to engage with them, but in urban areas they have become comfortable with the understanding that humans are not typically threatening. According to one study, squirrels notice whether or not their human neighbors are on a footpath and react accordingly. When people were on the footpath the squirrels ignored them, but when the people turned and looked at the squirrels and started approaching them, the squirrels quickly ran away.

There are several documented cases of orphaned squirrels being raised by humans and then released into the wild in most cases. Squirrels born in the wild may not be particularly friendly, but they seem to remember their human hosts. In some cases, they even return to reconnect with their human saviors.

Squirrels are also more than willing to return to a food source again and again. And they are known to be willing to do anything to get to a common food source like a bird feeder.

Should humans feed squirrels?

This question often tears wildlife experts and enthusiasts alike apart. In general the answer is no, you should avoid feeding squirrels – or at least keep feeding to a minimum.

There are a number of reasons to refrain from becoming a food source for these rodents. First, human food (“human” food) may not provide adequate nutrition for squirrels. Also, thanks to their impressive memories, squirrels can become overly trusting and therefore dependent on people who later stop handing out food. In this scenario, squirrels will have a hard time readjusting and feeding again.

As wild animals, squirrels are always at risk of biting or clawing people, including accidentally, and especially if they get too comfortable and snatch food from their hosts. Another risk is that squirrels, like all wild rodents, can carry diseases that can be harmful to humans and pets. And feeders — while effective at protecting people from direct contact with squirrels — can potentially make squirrels more vulnerable to hazards like cats and cars if placed too close to the house.

Despite this list, curious animal lovers are still trying their luck at providing food for wildlife. When feeding squirrels (against our better judgment), only lay out uncooked, unsalted nuts and shredded vegetables, and never hand-feed.

Finally, if you find a baby squirrel in a nest, leave it alone – its mother is probably out looking for food. If a parent does not return, notify your local wildlife center. Don’t try to turn baby squirrels into pets – no matter how cute they are.

gray_squirrel.JPG

Squirrels in the garden can provide hours of entertainment, but they can also become quite stubborn and annoying once they learn to snatch food from bird feeders. And maybe it’s wise to think twice before exhibiting food specially for the little rascals.

(Marci Degman)

Like many kids growing up, I was naturally curious about the wildlife in my family’s backyard, from salamanders in the stairwell to possums in the shed. I especially liked the squirrels that crossed the back fence line every day and generally considered them “pets” and smuggled them Cheerios and other snacks behind my mom’s back.

Fast forward to my adulthood as a conservationist and the question of whether to feed squirrels unfortunately represents an adorable way for kids to connect with nature against some harsh scientific realities.

This Douglas (brown) squirrel, native to the Pacific Northwest, has made a home in the conifers in the garden of Argus garden columnist Marci Degman, who lives near Gales Creek.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the western gray, Douglas, American red, and northern flying squirrels are all native to Oregon. However, there are also two non-native species of concern in the state: the eastern gray squirrel and eastern fox squirrel. As a Midwesterner, my “pet” was most likely one of those animals that are now fairly common in the more urban areas of Multnomah and Washington counties as well.

So what’s the problem with these non-native squirrels? Research into their full effects is ongoing, but we already know that these eastern squirrels cause problems for native squirrels, outperforming them in many ways. Eastern squirrels reproduce quickly, adapt well to the local environment, consume more diverse foods, and are highly tolerant of human activity.

One would think that feeding squirrels would help offset these disadvantages for native squirrels, but unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case. Native squirrels have a diet that is attuned to our natural native food sources, and being smaller than eastern squirrels, they are likely to be intimidated by squirrel feeding. Unfortunately, feeding the squirrels can only result in feeding the invaders.

Even without intruders, there are risks associated with feeding wildlife. Feeding squirrels can cause them to lose their natural fear of humans, and that doesn’t bode well for either side of the equation. The instinct to avoid humans helps squirrels avoid the dangers posed by humans, and because squirrels avoid us, it prevents unwanted squirrel-human interactions like bites.

When squirrels expect food and it isn’t offered, they can become aggressive in their search for it. Many people who feed birds report having this problem with resident squirrels. There are many creative suggestions on how to deter squirrels from your bird feeder, but ultimately you must consider removing the bird feeders from your yard to discourage bad behavior from the squirrels.

So what is a backyard naturalist supposed to do? You can still have fun identifying and observing native squirrels in your yard, and you can encourage them to visit in less direct ways.

• Encourage squirrels in your area by planting native trees and shrubs that produce berries and nuts and leaving scraps of wood lying around for nesting material.

• Protect squirrels by preventing entry into your home through loose or rotten sideboards or clapboards and caulking around dryer vents and other openings.

• Don’t try to catch or remove a squirrel yourself – it’s not worth the risk of rabies or other diseases and it’s against the law. Contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for suggestions on how to deal with pesky squirrels.

• As a family, learn what the native and non-native squirrels look like and look out for them from an indoor window with binoculars or while hiking in the trees. Squirrels are particularly active in the morning hours and can sometimes be quite noisy calling to each other.

Although the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District does not directly address squirrel complaints or issues, we are happy to answer questions about any natural resource concerns in Washington County and direct you to the best resources available to resolve issues.

— Jennifer Nelson is the outreach coordinator for the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District.

The squirrels in my yard will eat just about anything. I recently started wondering, “Do squirrels eat cat food?” I wanted to make sure they weren’t eating all the cat food I was feeding my cat. I’ll share everything I found just in case you were wondering what squirrels eat.

Do squirrels eat cat food?

Squirrels love pretty much any kind of kibble, mostly because they have sharp incisors that help them eat nuts and other foods. There are no vegetables in the cat food, but they love dry cat food. Just because they eat cat food doesn’t mean it’s good for them.

If you want them to stop eating cat food, you can use a feeder at the top of a tree to feed the squirrels.

Most squirrels won’t bother eating protein cat food if they have access to seeds, nuts, and other types of food. They are survivors and will eat anything they can get their paws on.

These scavengers will eat dog food, ferret food, or any other pet food, and not all of it is good for them.

Can baby squirrels eat cat food?

Baby squirrels require a special diet until they are at least 6 weeks old. At the age of 6 weeks you can start introducing them to solid food. They won’t be very good at chewing, so it’s best to feed them squirrel blocks.

You should avoid giving squirrels cat food until they are at least 10-12 weeks old.

Do squirrels eat wet cat food?

Squirrels prefer to eat dry, solid cat food.

They prefer solid dry cat food, but if they only have access to wet food, they will consume it. Wet cat food contains taurine, which is found in animal muscle meat.

This food is a great source of protein for your cat, but not for your backyard squirrels.

If you want to protect your backyard wildlife, the best way to discourage them from eating your cat’s food is to make sure they have food in the squirrel feeder.

If they find food, they probably won’t eat animal food.

Cat Food Ingredients and Is It Good for Squirrels?

Each cat food contains different types of ingredients, but some of the common ingredients you’ll find on the label are:

Turkey meal, duck and/or chicken (primary protein sources)

by-products

soy protein

taurine

eggs

wheat gluten or cornmeal gluten

Squirrels cannot digest cellulose and rely on food high in protein, fat and carbohydrates. Squirrels are primarily herbivores and nuts are an excellent source of protein for all types of squirrels.

The funny thing is, squirrels aren’t the only ones who enjoy eating cat food. You will find that birds and other animals love to eat it too. It’s not uncommon for squirrels to steal cat food.

Cat food can be dangerous for squirrels

As I mentioned above, squirrels cannot digest cellulose. Several types of inexpensive plant fibers are added to canned pet food and processed kibble. These include flaxseed, fruit pectin, oats, grain hulls, beet pulp, buckwheat and other grain hulls.

The cellulose helps control weight issues, diabetes and hairballs in cats. While this is great for cats, it can harm your squirrels in the backyard.

Best food for squirrels

Okay, now that you know that cat food can harm your back squirrels, your next question is what should you feed them? I totally get that as I also love feeding my bushy friends. So I’m going to share what I feed my squirrels and where we get their food from.

We feed our backyard squirrels a critter mix we get from Amazon. We’ve also noticed that they love to eat candy corn squirrel trunks and make awesome treats for them.

However, the most important thing when it comes to feeding squirrels. You must also let them forage for their own food. There’s nothing wrong with feeding them when their food supply is scarce, like in winter.

When feeding your backyard squirrels, you want to make sure you’re feeding them the right foods that will provide them with the nutrients their little bodies need.

Related articles on foods squirrels love to eat

Are peanuts good for squirrels?

Can squirrels eat cheese?

Can squirrels eat dog food?

References and further reading

Squirrel Sanctuary – What Do Squirrels Eat?

Healthy Pets – Dr. Becker – Prevents your pet from absorbing nutrients – and you won’t believe how trendy it is

Top secret tips for feeding squirrels in your backyard

updated

There are many species of squirrels found across America including red squirrels, ground squirrels, gray squirrels, fox squirrels, flying squirrels, black squirrels, striped squirrels and many more. Squirrels belong to the Sciuridae family of mammals and are closely related to chipmunks, prairie dogs and woodchucks. What do squirrels eat? Well, squirrels just eat a lot of things. Squirrels are not picky eaters. If you’ve spent time observing the eating habits of common squirrels, this is clear. Squirrels have natural appetites for many of the native fruits, flowers, vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, trees, plants and insects in their habitat. But there are not many limits to the eating habits of squirrels. They’ll be curious to taste just about anything, and in fact have grown fond of many foods they probably shouldn’t be eating, such as: B. the children’s favorite snacks and cereals. Squirrels are outgoing when it comes to food. If you’re interested in providing food for squirrels, check out our article on squirrel feeders.

After expanding their taste buds, they’ve adopted some strange new eating habits as humans and squirrels share more and more space. In addition to the usual suspects: acorns, pecans, berries, and vegetables, squirrels will take on scraps of food that are discarded in parks or elsewhere. Things like sandwiches, stale lunch meat, burger scraps are just a few things squirrels can nibble on. With the tenacity to steal treats meant for other animals, like Fido’s dog food, Kitty-Cat’s kibble, and the bird seed you, well, the birds spend on, squirrels seem to get more than their fair share. Below is a mixed bag of snacks squirrels love to eat:

What do squirrels eat?

Squirrels love to eat fruit. If you happen to live near a fruit tree or fruit bushes and vines, you’ve most likely noticed squirrels happily munching and hoarding these delicious treats for themselves. Squirrels can easily climb fruit trees to snatch their fruit. Squirrels will consume crops from a variety of fruit trees including but not limited to pears, grapes, apples, kiwis, avocados, peaches, nectarines, figs, plums, mangoes and citrus fruits. Squirrels will also eat any berries they can get their hands on, such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, mulberries, and more. Squirrels also love bananas, watermelons, cantaloupe (generally any melon), and cherries! The benefit of eating fruit for squirrels is that it gives them a big sugar rush and provides plenty of energy to keep crawling around looking for more treats.

vegetables

Squirrels eat a variety of vegetables, and gardeners know this all too well. If a squirrel comes across leafy greens like lettuce, chard, kale, spinach, or arugula, they will eat them. Squirrels will also eat other tasty vegetables such as tomatoes, radishes, corn, squash, beans, corn, peas, root vegetables, greens (like beet greens and the greens of root vegetables), okra, eggplant, Brussels sprouts, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, celery, Cauliflower, cabbage, leeks – basically anything they can get their hungry paws on!

Grain

Many backyard squirrel watchers feed squirrels grain. Squirrels naturally love the seeds and nuts found in most cereals. Chex, Cheerios, Cap’n Crunch, grated wheat, corn flakes, grape seeds – squirrels devour these treats. An added benefit of many cereals for squirrels is that they are usually loaded with sugar, which gives the squirrel an energy boost to stay busy finding more food to eat and stash away for later. Unnaturally sugary cereal isn’t exactly Mother Nature’s idea of ​​a perfect squirrel snack, but the squirrel has a pretty carefree attitude about what it stuffs into its bottomless belly.

Cheese

Of course, a squirrel wouldn’t normally encounter cheese in a natural environment, but with humans leaving all sorts of savory treats and throwing away kitchen scraps when eating al fresco, squirrels have developed a distinct taste for cheese. Squirrels are not picky about cheese. They’ll eagerly munch on cheddar, swiss, provolone, mozzarella, and anything else that comes their way. Sure, they’ll even eat you cheesy leftover pizza when it’s available! Squirrels are also not fussy about how they consume their cheese, whether it’s in a discarded grilled cheese sandwich, leftover cheese and cracker sandwiches, or if it’s just a piece of slightly moldy cheese left on a compost heap in one residential area is disposed of. A good chunk of cheese can give a squirrel an extra bit of fat to use for leaner times, e.g. B. in the winter months can store.

nuts

Squirrels absolutely love nuts. Nuts over nuts if you will! If you live near a nut tree, chances are you’ll quickly spot a busy squirrel scurrying about in the branches, carrying a nut or two – or more – to save for later. If you’re hoping to eat these nuts yourself, you may get annoyed at the squirrel’s busy, greedy habits. In this case you may need to install something to discourage the squirrel from hoarding your nut crop, e.g. B. a sheet of metal wrapped around the tree trunk to prevent the squirrel from climbing on it. On the other hand, squirrel activity can be good for tree species, as squirrels help spread seeds far and wide, which helps ensure the growth and survival chances of certain tree species. Nuts can be one of the most naturally desired foods for squirrels. Squirrels eat nuts and also store them in caches for later eating. What do squirrels eat in relation to one of their favorite foods? Squirrels gather and happily eat pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, acorns, cashews, chestnuts, hickory nuts, pine cone nuts, and macadamia nuts. Nuts are an optimal source of fat and protein for all types of squirrels.

birdseed

Most backyard birders naturally keep an ample supply of bird seed in their yards for birds. But another animal that will fill up on a hearty meal of birdseed is the common squirrel. Even when birds are present, a squirrel doesn’t hesitate to join in the birdseed action, filling its bellies with that readily available snack that humans are only too happy to provide. Of course, bird seed contains a mix of some of the squirrel’s favorite edibles, like seeds, grains, and nuts.

insects

When fruits and nuts are not readily available, a squirrel will turn to small insects to meet its protein needs. Some insects devoured by squirrels are caterpillars, larvae, winged beetles, grasshoppers, injured butterflies, and crickets to name a few.

Mushrooms

Squirrels are foragers and love to forage for mushrooms. In more natural environments like forests, squirrels will find a variety of great fungi, depending on the climate. Some popular mushrooms are oak truffle, truffle, oyster mushroom and more. In fact, squirrels sometimes leave mushrooms and mushrooms out to dry in order to eat them at a later date. Squirrels also eat lichen, the smaller fungi that tend to grow on the bark of many, especially mature trees, in moist areas.

eggs

When other food sources are hard to find, a squirrel may have to take what it can get. This sometimes includes stealing eggs from other animals or even eggs from your chicken coop. When needed, squirrels can hunt robin eggs, blackbird eggs and more. Even when necessary, squirrels will not stop eating hatchlings, young chicks, young birds and the carcasses of unfortunate chicks that have fallen from their nests.

plant material

Squirrels will seek out and eat roots, leaves, grass, plant stems, and anything else with sufficient nutritional value for them. Squirrels tend to opt for the most tender and/or young stems and branches of plants, soft twigs and supple bark. Soft spikes of new growth, newly unfolded leaves, shoots and succulent flower buds are also sure to catch the attention of a passing squirrel scanning the land for an opportunity to feed. Mentioned above was the love of the squirrel species for nuts and bird seeds, so of course they also like to eat seeds of plants, such as sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, poppy seeds and any other seeds available. If it’s surprising at this point, squirrels will eat your prized poppies, they’ll eat your hibiscus flowers, your passion flower petals, and those plant bulbs you were hoping would break the ground in spring.

dog and cat food

Omnivore that they are, squirrels have picked up some odd eating habits along the way and won’t hesitate to pack away a few dozen dog or cat foods and will most likely come back for more if they find an established spot where it’s readily available. The hungry, opportunistic squirrel can even have the audacity to snack on canned cat food or canned dog food, even though it’s not good for them.

scrap and waste

The next time you take out the trash or leave the leftovers of your weekend picnic in the dumpster at the park, maybe remember that later, along with other scavengers, a hungry squirrel will be rummaging around and frostily tasting you leftover birthday cake or sandwich crusts. There’s no denying that squirrels are excellent at recycling and composting our sometimes excessive food waste. On the other hand, certain processed, sugary, and unnatural foods can affect squirrel digestion and health.

Is there anything you don’t eat?

At this point, you might be wondering if there’s anything squirrels won’t eat! Is nothing certain, nothing sacred? Luckily, there are a few things they just don’t prefer. Raw onions, for example, and raw garlic. They certainly don’t like hot peppers — like jalapeños, serrano peppers, Anaheim peppers, those spicy varieties that grow from bushes are logically passed over. In fact, pepper spray is often used as a deterrent in gardens to deter squirrels from eating valuable vegetables and fruits. Garlic spray is also used as a deterrent for hungry, cheeky squirrels. Dogs and cats with a tendency to hunt also keep at least some of the squirrels in check. Besides what they don’t like, there are also things that squirrels shouldn’t eat; for example, dairy, chocolate, junk food, candy, highly processed foods they find in trash cans, and even many of the foods they love like sugary cereal would not normally be eaten by a squirrel in a perfect world. However, a squirrel is a hardworking animal and because it is so hardworking, lots of fuel is a must. Squirrels are the ultimate foodies, enjoying a healthy helping of fruits and vegetables, nuts and grains when available, and making do with more questionable foods when needed. Especially in rough times, the hungry squirrel won’t sniff at the stale pizza crust or the discarded avocado skin. So next time you see a busy animal scurrying around town or in the yard and wonder what exactly do squirrels eat? Well, pretty much everything.

Every now and then you might see a squirrel stealing an egg from a bird’s nest. It can seem strange since most of us think it only eats nuts and fruits. You may be wondering can squirrels eat eggs? If so, should I feed them boiled or boiled eggs?

Can squirrels eat eggs?

Yes. Squirrels are omnivores, which means they can digest both plant and animal foods. So they eat whatever is most readily available in their natural habitat – or whatever they can find in and around trees. These include nuts, fruits, mushrooms, insects and eggs. There have even been reports of large squirrels catching baby snakes.

Why do squirrels eat eggs?

A squirrel needs protein, fat, and vitamins and minerals like calcium. Eggs can fill many of these calorie needs and are easy for squirrels to find. Once the mother bird leaves her nest, she can sneak inside, grab an egg, and then scurry away before being attacked.

Squirrels have also been known to steal from chicken coops. You can even chew through the wood to get the eggs. This is especially true in areas where they cannot find any other food source. Many forests have been cut down to make way for buildings or farmland, so there are no nuts or fruits for them to eat.

Squirrels can also have higher food requirements in the spring after months of feeding on stored fat and their quickly depleting rations. Eating eggs is one of the quickest ways to regain weight as they are high in protein and fat.

If Squirrels Eat Eggs, Will They Affect Bird Populations?

This is a real problem in areas where bird numbers are declining. Some researchers from the British Trust for Ornithology and Natural England looked at how gray squirrels affected 38 species of birds in the country.

They found that while squirrels do eat eggs and even birds on occasion, they do not do so in large quantities — and if given a choice, would prefer fruit and nuts. Eggs are simply part of their diet.

Some squirrels will even eat young birds if they are hungry enough.

And if you think about it, even a hungry squirrel only needs about a pound of food a week. That’s not enough to affect a bird’s population.

Can squirrels eat boiled eggs?

Living in parks or near cities, squirrels have adapted to the human diet and will happily nibble on anything they can find: leftover sandwiches, pastries, and the leftover scrambled eggs from someone’s breakfast.

It’s part of their scavenging instinct, and since they’re omnivores, they can theoretically digest any food they find.

However, boiled eggs (or other human food) are not always healthy for a squirrel because of the high oil and salt content or any spices that may upset their stomach.

If you have a pet squirrel or would like to feed the squirrels you see in the park, it is best to bring a raw egg or offer fresh fruit and nuts. These are closer to their natural habitat and what they would eat in the wild.

Can squirrels eat raw eggs?

Squirrels can eat raw eggs and will only eat raw eggs when they cannot find other food sources. If you put a raw egg at their feeding station, they probably won’t eat it. Instead, they will be tempted to steal a hen’s egg before eating one that you have placed at the feeder for them.

Do squirrels eat poultry eggs?

Squirrels are foragers and will eat just about anything. Yes, they eat all kinds of poultry eggs from quail, bird, chicken, geese, duck, emus, turkey etc.

Do Eggs Provide Nutritional Value for Squirrels?

Yes, both bird and chicken eggs are convenient for squirrels and contain more protein than other foods like cashews, peanuts, pecans, etc.

Like us, protein is essential to a squirrel diet to help build body tissue and regenerate cells, so don’t be surprised if squirrels eat poultry eggs.

Below is the nutritional value of poultry eggs that squirrels may steal.

Nutrient Unit Turkey Quail Goose Ostrich Emu Duck Chicken Protein grams 13.68 13.05 13.87 12.2 12.9 12.81 12.56 Iron, Fe mg 4.1 3.65 3.64 2.51 2.41 3.85 1, 75 phosphorus, p mg 170 226 196.71 19 198.12 220 198 Potasium, K MG 170 226 196.71 198.12 220 198 Potasium, K MG 170 226 208 196.71 198.12 220 Potasium, K MG 170 226 22222. 138 Thiamine mg 0.11 0.13 0.147 0.15 0.15 0.156 0.04 Water G 72.5 74.35 70.43 75.1 71.8 70.83 76.15 Calcium, Ca mg 99 64 60 64 .7 63.9 64 56 Magnesium mg 12 13111111111 13.92 12.5 17 17 12.5 17 12.5 17 12.5 17 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.12. Cu mg 0.062 0.062 0.062 0.54 0.43 0.062 0.072

(Source)

Last word

Squirrels like to eat poultry eggs. However, you should avoid feeding them boiled, boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs. Human food is not a natural part of a squirrel’s diet.

While boiled eggs are good for humans, they can be harmful to squirrels, especially when salt and other seasonings have been added.

When feeding squirrels in your yard, stick to feeding them foods they can find in their natural environment. You can of course buy some wild squirrel food to put in their bird feeders, especially when food supply is scarce.

Related Articles

Like bird watching, spotting squirrels is a lot easier when you know what foods to give them to get them into your yard. If you enjoy doing both, feeding the squirrels has the added benefit of keeping them away from your bird feeder.

Peanut butter seems like a good option for feeding squirrels since they clearly love to eat nuts, but can they eat them? Even if they like peanut butter, is it a safe food option?

Can squirrels eat peanut butter? Yes, it is NOT toxic and they love it. Peanut butter contains heart-healthy fats and is a good source of protein that is beneficial for both humans and animals.

Read on to find out why squirrels can eat peanut butter and how they should be fed it.

Why do squirrels love peanut butter?

Squirrels are not picky eaters and there isn’t much they won’t eat. A lot of people on forums say that squirrels love to eat peanut butter and go crazy over it.

It’s not hard to believe, after all these critters love the taste of peanuts! It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter. (Source)

Additionally, peanut butter is packed with nutrients and vitamins that are beneficial to these rodents.

Peanut Butter Nutrition Facts

Nutrients Quantity Calories 1517 Protein 64.7 grams Starch 12.4 grams Sugars 23.8 grams Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids 201 mg Total Omega-6 Fatty Acids 36329 mg Iron 4.8 mg Fluoride 8.0 mcg Magnesium 397 mg Vitamin E 23.2 mg Vitamin B6 1.4 mg Riboflavin 0.3 mg Folate 191 mcg Zinc 7.5 mg Copper 1.2 mg Potassium 1674 mg

(Source)

Is Peanut Butter Safe for Squirrels?

When fed in moderation, peanut butter can be a great snack for both captive and wild squirrels. Too much can lead to consuming too much fat, sodium, and calories.

Unlike humans, squirrels don’t care if they eat too many calories. But fat squirrels have a harder time escaping predators or simply surviving in the wild.

Do squirrels eat peanut butter?

Yes they will and once they know where to get it they will keep coming back for more. That’s why some people use it in their traps because they know squirrels are crazy about it.

What is the best peanut butter for squirrels?

Squirrels love peanut butter, so people use it to attract them.

When feeding the squirrels in your yard, consider feeding them the most nutritious brands that are packed with nutrients they need.

Here are some of the best peanut butters on the market that are perfect for you and those critters.

Crazy Richards Natural Creamy Peanut Butter

Teddy Natural Peanut Butter: Super Chunky

365 Everyday Value Organic Creamy Peanut Butter

Smart Balance Rich Roast Chunky Peanut Butter

The best peanut butters to feed squirrels are those that are low in salt, sugar, and fat. When feeding peanut butter to our squirrels, we stick to the xylitol-free brands.

I’m sure xylitol has no effect on squirrels since they can eat poisonous mushrooms. I couldn’t find anything online that says whether or not xylitol is safe for squirrels.

What about other nut butters?

Today there are nut butters of all kinds and creamy spreads such as Cashew butter, almond butter, hazelnut butter, sunflower seed butter, coconut butter, etc.

Squirrels will happily eat any type of nut butter. You would rather eat peanut butter because it is made from real peanuts.

How do I feed squirrels peanut butter?

Luckily, squirrels can eat peanut butter. In fact, most squirrels seem to love it, and when you give a squirrel peanut butter, they become a fast friend.

While raw peanuts can be harmful to squirrels because these peanuts contain a fungal toxin that is harmful to a squirrel’s liver, peanut butter is processed to the point that any fungal toxin has been removed.

However, it is important to consider a few factors before giving peanut butter to a squirrel as it is not a particularly nutritious food option for them. Here are the things to remember.

Use unsalted peanut butter

Regular brands of peanut butter typically contain between fifty and seventy-five milligrams of salt. While that’s not a lot of salt for one person, it’s enough salt to overwhelm a squirrel’s kidneys, even if they’re constantly ingesting generous amounts of peanut butter.

The accumulation of salt in a squirrel’s kidneys often leads to kidney failure and death.

Luckily, natural peanut butter doesn’t contain salt, and natural forms can generally be purchased at local grocery stores for just an extra dollar. Most natural peanut butters have “natural” in the brand name somewhere.

Limit how much you feed them

As mentioned earlier, although most squirrels love peanut butter, it is not a nutritious food for them. Even natural peanut butter, the only kind they should eat, lacks the nutrients they need, such as: B. Calcium.

Peanut butter can be harmful to squirrels when given large amounts because it prevents them from eating other foods like fruits, seeds, or vegetables that contain the nutrients they need to thrive.

Therefore, you should only give peanut butter to squirrels in moderation. Many squirrel lovers recommend only giving squirrels peanut butter once a week, and they should never give more than about 1/2 spoonful.

Can baby squirrels eat peanut butter?

No, once you’ve found a baby squirrel, you should only feed it Esbilac powder, which is a puppy milk replacer. Once the squirrel is 8-10 weeks old, it is old enough to eat solid food.

At this point you can offer them small cubes of bread spread with some peanut butter and soaked in milk. Squirrels can eat bread as long as it is fed in moderation.

This is similar to a peanut butter sandwich you would eat, but a lot smaller.

Conclusion

All squirrels love peanut butter. You should avoid making peanuts a part of your daily diet as they can rely on you as a source of nutrition. A squirrel’s diet consists of a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, plants, vegetables, etc.

This easy squirrel chow recipe will delight nature lovers who enjoy watching the silly antics of these hardworking woodland creatures. Squirrels are omnivores and eat both plants and animals. However, they prefer to get the majority of their diet from nuts, seeds, berries, and fruits. This no-melt, all-season squirrel tallow recipe is easy to make and use with a variety of tallow-style squirrel foods.

We all loved the acorn-possessed Scrat in Ice Age. But acorns aren’t the only food these little rodents enjoy. They like to eat fruits, vegetables and nuts.

This article aims to answer some questions about squirrels’ feeding habits, whether they like bananas, and more.

Can squirrels eat bananas?

Squirrels are not picky eaters. They love nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and just about anything that humans give. Speaking of bananas, squirrels love to eat them. Eating fruit, including bananas, gives them that much-needed sugar boost and the energy to crawl around.

Although bananas are high in vitamins and minerals, it’s not good for the squirrels. Bananas contain more sugar than a small animal like the squirrel can handle; Too much sugar can cause health problems in squirrels.

If you give your squirrel a banana, it should be in moderation – one or two slices a day.

Nutritional value of a banana

Bananas are best known for being a good source of carbohydrates and potassium. As bananas ripen, some of the fiber turns into sugar, meaning a yellow banana with brown spots has more sugar and less fiber than a green banana of the same size.

Bananas have three natural sources of sugar: sucrose, fructose, and glucose. It provides 10x more calories than an apple.

Bananas are fairly low in fat and protein, at less than 1.5 grams per medium-sized banana.

Bananas also contain fiber (a medium-sized banana contains about 3g) which helps with digestive health.

Vitamins C, D, and E in bananas have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting powers.

β-carotene and vitamin A in bananas help improve vision and fight anaemia.

Bananas are a particularly good source of minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

All of these nutrients are beneficial to squirrels. However, as we have already seen, eating too many bananas is not good for squirrels. If you have squirrels as pets, choose a varied diet to keep them healthy and happy.

Do squirrels eat banana peels?

Squirrels love bananas, but banana peels are not part of their natural diet.

Peels are edible and full of nutrients; Eating shells is beneficial for squirrels. However, banana peels contain more cellulose, a substance that neither humans nor animals can digest. Sheep, horses, and goats are the only animals that can break down cellulose because they have gut bacteria that produce cellulase, an enzyme that can digest cellulose.

Banana peels also contain high amounts of pesticides (exception: organic bananas). When consumed, pesticides can negatively affect squirrels – ranging from hormonal changes to infertility, behavioral changes to death.

In summary, eating a banana peel is unlikely to harm the squirrel – but it won’t taste as good as the fruit. So there is little chance that the squirrel will eat the shell.

Do squirrels eat banana chips?

Certain types of squirrels – especially the red and gray ones – appreciate variety in their diet and enjoy eating dried fruit, including banana chips. According to experts, banana chips can be part of a squirrel’s diet, but only occasionally.

Banana chips taste like sweet candy for a reason — they’re high in sugar (more than the actual fruit), including added sugar used to make the chips sweeter. An ounce of banana chips contains about 147 calories — about the same as a medium-sized banana. Chips also contain high amounts of saturated fat and low amounts of nutrients compared to a banana.

If your pet squirrel is a banana fanatic, it’s better off eating a fresh banana than chips.

Can squirrels eat banana bread?

The answer is “it depends”.

Store-bought banana bread is more of a cake than a loaf. It’s processed, high in sugar, artificial flavoring, and most importantly, not nutritious or nutrient dense. That means they’re not good for squirrels.

Now consider a homemade banana bread made with whole foods and less sugar. Plus, it’s less processed and more nutritious than the store-bought version.

So whether squirrels can eat banana bread or not depends on what you give them. An occasional slice of fresh homemade banana bread is a perfect option for adding variety to your pet’s diet.

Do squirrels eat banana leaves?

Like all wild animals, squirrels are opportunistic, will try just about anything they think is edible. And they love banana leaves. Half-eaten banana leaves with missing fruit and flowers are an indication that gray squirrels, striped squirrels, and fox squirrels are feeding in your yard.

How do you protect your banana trees from a squirrel?

When those annoying critters get on our last nerve, we do everything we can to get rid of them once and for all. This isn’t always practical, however, as some are protected species and harming them can get you behind bars.

Some effective and less harmful ways to protect banana trees are:

Climbing deterrent: If the reward is tasty bananas, even young squirrels will find the motivation to climb the tree. Loosely wrapping metal edging or using baffles will prevent them from damaging the plantain.

: If the reward is delicious bananas, even little squirrels will find motivation to climb the tree. Loosely wrapping metal edging or using baffles will prevent them from damaging the plantain. Squirrel Repellents: Hot pepper repellents are sometimes effective. You can also try home remedies with garlic, vinegar, and peppermint oil. Be careful when using chemicals or cleaning products as they may harm children or pets.

: Hot pepper repellents are sometimes effective. You can also try home remedies with garlic, vinegar, and peppermint oil. Be careful when using chemicals or cleaning products as they may harm children or pets. Noise Makers and Sprinklers: Motion-activated sprinklers, spooky baits, fake predators, ultrasonic noisemakers, etc. can help scare squirrels away.

: Motion-activated sprinklers, spooky lures, fake predators, ultrasonic firecrackers, etc. can help scare away squirrels. Fluttering Flags: This is a simple preventive measure that is not dangerous to other animals.

: It is a simple preventive measure that is not dangerous to other animals. Plant plants with a strong aroma: Nasturtium, marigolds and mustard have a strong aroma. Plant them in your garden to keep the squirrels away.

: Nasturtium, marigold and mustard have a strong aroma. Plant them in your garden to keep the squirrels away. Get help from your dog: A dog is a great squirrel hunter. Consider letting your furry friend help you if nothing works.

Can flying squirrels eat bananas?

Flying squirrels make adorable pets because they’re super social and it’s fairly easy to take care of their dietary needs. Pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts, acorns, berries, broccoli, white clover flowers, corn, sweet potatoes, portabello mushrooms, etc. are some of a flying squirrel’s favorite foods. They also love fresh fruit, including bananas.

Because of their small size — 8 to 10 inches long — a balanced diet is more important to flyers than other squirrel species. Flying squirrels are more prone to nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disorders, so it is advisable to reduce the sugary, high-carbohydrate diet and include more protein foods.

Since the sugar content in bananas is surprisingly higher for tiny flying squirrels, it’s recommended that they be given smaller slices once or twice a week.

Can Baby Squirrels Eat Bananas?

Baby squirrels have complex nutritional needs. They need breast milk or formula until they are 7 or 8 weeks old. By the 6th week, it will be ready to nibble on solid foods such as apples, kale, sweet potatoes, nuts, fresh fruit, etc. You can also feed small amounts of bananas as long as the animal doesn’t experience side reactions or sugar spikes.

What other food is good for squirrels?

Most of us think that squirrels only eat nuts and seeds, but that’s not the case. They’ll eat just about anything – fruits, vegetables, bugs, plants – you name it and a squirrel will eat it.

So what are her favorite foods?

Below is an abbreviated list, but it’s a good place to start if you’re looking to provide a balanced supply of food for the pets in your yard.

1. Fruits and berries

Fruits are the squirrel’s favorite food. The unprocessed sugars in fruits and berries give them a natural boost of energy. But as with all food groups, it is better to aim for a balanced diet, too much fruit can prevent you from absorbing calcium. So keep fruit to a minimum.

Squirrels enjoy eating apples, pears, bananas, plums, peaches, kiwis, avocados, nectarines, mangoes, melons and figs.

When we talk about her favorite berries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, mulberries, and elderberries top the list.

2. Vegetables

Vegetables provide nutrients not normally found in other foods. Squirrels have no problem scouring the backyards for kale, tomatoes, beets, beans, eggplant, Brussels sprouts, collards, celery, asparagus, spinach, and lettuce. They also love digging up root vegetables.

3. Nuts

It’s child’s play. Protein-rich nuts are indeed the squirrel’s favorite food. Nuts in the shell are rich in fatty acids and protein. The fat helps the squirrels build up fat reserves for the nutrient-poor winter.

Squirrels are expert climbers and their hands are perfect for removing hard shells. Nuts they usually bring home include acorns, peanuts, almonds, pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and macadamias.

4. Cereals and Grains

Squirrels love the grains and nuts in cereal. Since grains are loaded with nutrients and sugars to keep their energy levels in check. Some of her favorites are grated wheat, cornflakes, and grape nuts. However, these are not the first food choices for squirrels; They only eat when food is scarce.

5. Insects

When nuts and fruits are scarce, squirrels feed on caterpillars, larvae, winged beetles, grasshoppers, injured butterflies, and crickets.

6. Mushrooms and mushrooms

In wilder and more natural environments, squirrels like to forage for mushrooms and mushrooms. Some popular mushrooms are oyster mushrooms, truffles, acron truffles, lichens, etc.

7. Plant Materials

Squirrels also love to seek out parts of plants that have nutritional value. These include soft branches, grasses, roots, leaves, succulent flower buds, tulip bulbs and more.

8. Eggs

When food is not readily available, squirrels tend to steal eggs from bird nests. Red and gray squirrels often steal robin and blackbird eggs.

References:

https://www.henryspets.com/content/healthydietjan2014print.pdf

https://www.avianandanimal.com/feeding-your-pet-squirrel.html

https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2

You now know what ground squirrels look like. You’ve also seen that a ground squirrel problem should be dealt with immediately, especially since these pests can cause a lot of damage to your property.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of ground squirrels, there are a variety of ways you can go about it.

Some people don’t feel comfortable killing squirrels, and that’s okay.

There are methods you can use to eliminate them without killing them. For those who don’t like chemicals, there are natural/organic methods to eliminate these rodents.

Let’s look at the methods that don’t involve directly killing the squirrels before moving on to the more gruesome ones.

1. noise

Ground squirrels may be annoying and unruly, but something makes them flee from noise. Just like rats scurry around at the slightest sound. Ground squirrels also move as far away from the noise as possible.

Now it would be time consuming for you to sit on your lawn and make noise to scare away ground squirrels. What you can do is buy some vibrating stakes and an ultrasonic repeller.

Vibrating piles are small devices, usually powered by solar energy. They are sold in packs of four, six, or eight. You don’t have to kill anything, and the squirrels will surely leave your “noisy” garden alone.

The Thanos® Solar Sonic Ground Squirrel Repellent uses sonic pulse waves to penetrate the soil and create a particularly unpleasant sound for burrowing pests, including ground squirrels.

They will no longer invade your garden, ruining lawns and destroying flower beds.

2. water

Water is an effective way to get rid of ground squirrels without killing them. All you have to do is connect a hose to a water source like a faucet.

Make sure the water comes out with enough pressure, as that pressure will penetrate deep into the burrows to scare the squirrel away. Position your hose at the entrance to the burrow and let in a stream of water.

Within minutes you will see the wet squirrels running out of their burrows. After chasing them off, you can use any of the things we listed in the last part of this article to fill in their holes.

3. Smelly Fish

Squirrels don’t like the smell of stale fish because of its strong odor. You can take advantage of this by planting stale fish around your property.

While this isn’t practical every day, you can combine it with another method or use it from time to time. The squirrels will run as soon as they see the smelly fish.

4. Certain plants

There are certain plants that ground squirrels don’t even want to touch. Plants like mint, daffodil and crown imperial are repulsive to them. Plant these “squirrel-repelling” plants in your garden and watch as squirrels would avoid them.

You can also plant them near spots where you notice ground squirrels invading your garden. These plants serve as a natural hedge for your space.

5. Castor Oil

Castor oil is a natural pesticide that is useful for controlling ground squirrels. The castor oil works by repelling the squirrels with its scent.

To use castor oil in your garden, mix 1/2 cup of it with 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent. Then mix this solution in half a gallon of water. The mixture can be used anywhere on your lawn or in your garden as it is not harmful to plants.

5. Fencing

Fencing is not a method of eliminating squirrels, but rather a way of controlling ground squirrels.

Fencing uses mesh or hardware to secure your plants or areas you don’t want squirrels to enter.

The fence material needs to reach at least 7 inches into the ground to prevent ground squirrels from borrowing their way to the other side of the fence.

Although this method could be expensive, it is suitable for gardens as it prevents other pests from ruining your garden as well.

Get a Dog Fido occasionally has his own problems in the garden, but pets who spend a lot of time outside can scare off squirrels.

Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper Some gardeners swear by sprinkling a mixture of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika, or other combinations of spicy spices around the base of the plants. Trick squirrels into thinking your produce isn’t a treat after all by sprinkling some of the fruit into the hot mixture as well.

Don’t Feed Them Cute as they may be, feeding squirrels creates an open invitation for them to come into your yard.

Set up a buffet Alternatively, some have had success leaving treats for squirrels in a secluded area away from the garden. If you have space, you can also try setting up a “sacrificial garden” – a separate garden where the animals can graze as they please without damaging your main crops.

Mulching If you’ve noticed squirrels digging in your pots or stealing your bulbs, mulching can help — make sure you use a heavy mulch like rocks or decorative rocks ​​or grass.

Use Netting or Fencing If squirrels get between you and your plants, it may be time to put up a fence. Cover your edible plants with netting to discourage squirrels (and birds) from snacking.

Nets in Action Protect ripening fruit by wrapping it in plastic bird netting. This treatment keeps gnawing rodents (squirrels, chipmunks, mice) at bay, as well as birds and forest turtles that like to nibble on low-hanging fruit. Cut small pieces of netting and wrap them around coloring fruit. Keep pieces of netting in the garden attached to tomato supports.

Get involved Remember, squirrels are master acrobats, so a short fence around the base of the plants won’t do. Atlanta gardener Carmen Collins built this screened room to keep squirrels and other critters away from her prized plants. See also: Stylish Screen House

Spray Them Motion Activated Sprinkler Systems are available and can detect everything from squirrels to deer, eliminating the need for chemical intervention or adding physical barriers such as fences. Buy: Here’s one on Amazon.com for $45.99

Don’t Plant Trees If you’re really, really sick of squirrels, don’t plant trees. Squirrels can jump several meters from branch to branch and are also able to jump down from even the tallest trees without leaving a scratch.

Build a Greenhouse If you have the money, installing a greenhouse could be a worthwhile endeavor. Grow edible plants like strawberries locked in the greenhouse where squirrels can’t get to them.

Rake the Garden Keeping your lawn tidy not only makes it look beautiful, but picking up fallen nuts, berries, and other garden debris can be snack-worthy for squirrels, meaning you’re not having an all-you-can-eat – Lay out the welcome mat. It can also curb garden theft.

Planting Mint Mint’s invading your garden can come in handy: squirrels tend to avoid the strong smell of peppermint plants. Try planting mint pots around the edges of your vegetable garden to keep the thieves away.

Seal Trash Cans In addition to removing any nuts and berries that might fall to the ground and provide a snack for squirrels, also make sure trash cans have tight lids and are covered at night. Here’s a cedar shed for your trash cans on Amazon.com.

Lightbulbs Squirrels hate squirrels that eat your lightbulbs? Try planting daffodils, snowdrops, leeks, and hyacinths. Daffodils contain a toxin that makes them inedible, and squirrels don’t seem to like the taste of these other spring onions. If digging seems to be the bigger problem, try creating a protective barrier of chicken wire or hardware cloth after planting. You can also try laying jagged gravel or rock over the bulbs, which squirrels don’t like digging into.

Though cute from afar, squirrels can be surprisingly destructive — especially when they set their sights on your home or yard. Squirrels mate and have offspring twice a year, which means you could be dealing with a wild family of 2-4 squirrel kits more often than you’d like.

Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use as a source of food and shelter. You can repel squirrels with smells they hate like capsaicin, white vinegar, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, cinnamon, predator urine, garlic, tea towels, Irish spring soap and rosemary.

Read on to learn more about what scents you can use to keep squirrels out of your home and garden. You will be surprised how many of these options are in your kitchen right now!

Just to add – if you shop through links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What damage can squirrels do?

There are quite a few different types of squirrels, but they all seem to love fir and pine trees.

If you have a stand of both tree species nearby, you are most likely in close proximity to these densely populated rodents. Unfortunately, they might see this as an open invitation to your home and dinner!

The main concern with squirrel damage is structural damage.

Squirrels have long, slender bodies that easily fit into small spaces. Their dexterous hands — somewhat similar to our hands — have fingers that aren’t technically fingers, but still allow them to grab what they want.

Here’s start to finish on how squirrels can get into your home and cause harm:

Siding: Whether or not the siding is already damaged, squirrels will continue to chew on the siding once it’s inside. The holes they create are large enough to allow moisture in, which can lead to rot or water damage.

Isolation: Once out of the siding, squirrels make their way into isolation where they are more than happy to nest. If you’ve ever had a squirrel infestation, you’ve probably heard them banging around in the walls.

: Once out of the siding, squirrels get into the isolation where they like to nest. If you’ve ever had a squirrel infestation, you’ve probably heard them banging around in the walls. Wiring: These rodents are curious enough that there’s nothing to stop them chewing on the wiring in your walls themselves. Chewing also helps squirrels maintain their dental health as their teeth continue to grow throughout their lives.

Outside the home, squirrels are pests of gardens and bird areas. They dig up the earth, chew up vegetables, rob fruit trees and raid birdhouses.

Oh, and squirrels can even eat your grass seed. More about this here.

For such small animals, they are surprisingly destructive!

Squirrels stay away from capsaicin

Not surprisingly, squirrels hate spicy and/or hot smells. The capsaicin found in hot peppers is an irritant, which is why people get sniffles, sweating, and watery eyes when they eat spicy foods.

The smell alone is enough to keep squirrels out of unwanted areas. Both white pepper, black pepper, and chili powder are great options for sources of capsaicin

Black pepper tends to be hotter than white pepper, but either will work and can be purchased at any grocery store. Chili powder consists of powdered chillies, of which there are countless varieties.

Pepper and chilli powder don’t just keep squirrels away; They are also used as natural insecticides, so making a pepper or chili powder spray is a great idea for your garden.

You can either make your own spray or get a ready-made product that contains capsaicin

Squirrels who come across areas sprinkled with pepper and chilli powder don’t want to hang around for too long!

Squirrels hate white vinegar

The easiest and most natural way to get rid of squirrels is to make your own sprays. This is a pretty simple process! You need a simple spray bottle, e.g. B. the durable plastic spray bottles from R2 Goods.

Homemade sprays are not only easy to make but also incredibly affordable. You probably already have most of the ingredients at home.

The great thing about this spray is that you can also add any essential oils you like. See below why peppermint oil is a great choice!

Keep in mind that vinegar, while natural and beneficial in many ways, is acidic and can damage sensitive plants. When using this spray in your garden, keep a close eye on the plants to ensure they remain healthy and undamaged.

You should make sure you dilute the white vinegar as well, as pure vinegar will damage your plants. You should spray something that can absorb the vinegar and place it near your plants. Reapply if necessary!

Also, make sure you don’t use apple cider vinegar to repel squirrels. The sweetness in apple cider vinegar can attract flies.

Peppermint oil naturally repels squirrels

Aside from having a variety of health benefits, essential oils have been shown to keep pests away from your home and garden.

Peppermint essential oil in particular is hated by squirrels. For them, the smell is overwhelming and they will avoid it as much as possible.

There are two ways to use peppermint in your home or garden: as a spray or soaked in cotton balls or cloths.

Sprays are the obvious choice for keeping pests out of gardens, but cotton balls and cloths are a great option to prop up holes where the rodents may have found their way into your home. Dip rags or cotton balls directly into the peppermint oil and use them to plug unwanted openings.

In the garden, peppermint oil should be diluted for everyday use. Add 20 drops of the essential oil for every 16 ounces of water. There’s no need to add vinegar or soap – but be sure to keep an eye on your garden and treat as needed if pests return.

If you’re not ready to make your own essential oil spray, products like Mighty Mint’s Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray are easy to find online and work just as well as chemical products.

Coffee grounds naturally deter squirrels

If you’ve composted your already used coffee grounds or just simply thrown them away, you now have a natural solution to repel squirrels.

Yes, squirrels hate the smell and feel of used coffee grounds. While there is no scientific evidence that coffee grounds repel squirrels, the fact is that used coffee grounds are an unfamiliar smell to squirrels and may signal that humans are around.

You can also use coffee grounds as an all-natural fertiliser! Used coffee grounds are great for your garden. Plus, this is one of my favorite methods for coffee drinkers because you really don’t need to buy anything else. Just empty your coffee filter at your garden!

For more effectiveness, drink more coffee. lol

Cinnamon keeps squirrels away

Oh yes, cinnamon! If you’ve ever accidentally put a large spoonful of cinnamon on your face, you know how spicy it can be. In small amounts, cinnamon is a delicious spice. However, it is a spice!

Cinnamon, especially ground cinnamon, repels squirrels. This is because, in larger doses, cinnamon can infuriate a squirrel’s sinuses. To use cinnamon to repel squirrels, sprinkle a large amount around the area you’re trying to keep squirrels away from

Ultimately, this method needs to be done in bulk to be effective. Because this is a ground-only scent, the wind can blow the cinnamon away. Also, you need to apply every 4-7 days.

You can also use diluted cinnamon oil, combine it with a few drops of peppermint oil, spray and soak a rag, and tie it to a tree or post near your yard, tree, or area you want to protect. This combination has a good chance of keeping squirrels away.

Predator urine drives squirrels away

While we want to keep it natural in the home and garden, some scents just aren’t worth going natural.

For example predator scents.

Coyote and fox urine will repel squirrels for obvious reasons. They will do anything to avoid their natural predators and the thought of these two animals roaming around frequently will keep them away from your yard and home.

The easiest way to get this fragrance is to find a commercial manufacturer. They’re surprisingly easy to find at outdoor stores or online. For example, American Heritage carries natural coyote urine in a 16 ounce bottle at a very affordable price.

All it takes is a few shakes or sprays around the area you want to protect, and squirrels will take the cue right away.

If you’re interested, take a look at our guide to the best coyote pees here.

Squirrels avoid garlic

In addition to the options listed above, there’s another common kitchen item that will help you repel squirrels: garlic.

Do you have garlic in your kitchen right now? Well, good news for you is that you can now start repelling squirrels. The reason squirrels avoid garlic is the pungent smell it offers. When used correctly, garlic can drown out the scent of other plants in the garden, leading squirrels to think that only garlic reigns supreme.

You should finely crush the garlic cloves and spread them in a concentrated area near the plants you want to repel. Keep in mind that after a day or two the smell will dissipate and you will need to reapply the garlic.

Another viable option is to use Colton’s Naturals Small Animal Repellent, which has a base of garlic oil, peppermint oil, pepper oil, vinegar, and water. All the scents squirrels hate!

Squirrels hate the smell of dryer sheets

Gray squirrel eating hazelnuts

Did you know that dryer sheets have been touted as natural insect and rodent repellents for a long time? Orchard farmers in particular used to tie drying cloths along their game fence to keep deer out.

Additionally, dryer sheets are one of the smells that mice, another rodent, also hate.

The reason using dryer sheets as a squirrel repellent is one of my favorite methods is simply because you already have dryer sheets in your house! Even better, if they don’t work for you, then you really haven’t wasted anything trying to find out this result.

To keep squirrels away with dryer sheets, tie a good handful near the area you want to keep squirrels away from! Your attic, on a fence, or near your yard are acceptable areas.

If you have a mint scented dryer sheet or other scented dryer sheet that is one of the scents that squirrels hate on this list, that’s a bonus. Otherwise, Bounce Dryer Sheets have been shown to work quite well for repelling squirrels due to their unique aroma.

Irish Spring Soap can repel squirrels

Finally, aromatic soaps have notes in their scent that can repel certain animals. Irish Spring Soap, with its woody aroma, can actually repel squirrels much like it repels raccoons.

If you want to read more about this, you can use the same tactic in an article we wrote about using Irish Spring Soap to repel raccoons by reading here.

Rosemary drives away squirrels

Rosemary can actually repel squirrels. Quite simply, squirrels just don’t like the smell of rosemary. You must be able to get a strong rosemary scent to repel squirrels. Otherwise, a hint of rosemary scent isn’t enough to keep squirrels away.

You can make your own rosemary spray using rosemary essential oil and dilute the scent properly with water and a carrier oil. There are many recipes available online if you go this route!

Where to use repellents

Although squirrels are generally destructive, there are a few key areas they like to frequent where you should use these scents when needed.

Attic: Due to the need for ventilation, attics are easily accessible to squirrels and other pests. It doesn’t take much, if any, chewing for them to find a way in and start nesting.

Due to the need for ventilation, attics are easily accessible to squirrels and other pests. It doesn’t take much, if any, chewing for them to find a way in and start nesting. Disguise: Squirrels are good at finding openings, and will use any spot where the disguise doesn’t quite overlap or is starting to wear out.

Squirrels are good at finding openings, and will use any spot where the paneling doesn’t quite overlap or is beginning to wear away. Gardens: They may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of garden pests, but squirrels are notorious for digging up gardens for seeds and vegetables. It is in their nature to dig and store, and to them a garden is a supermarket. Keep an eye out for small piles of disturbed soil and areas they seem to keep coming back to.

Alternative ways to ward off squirrels

Squirrels are so prominent these days that the idea of ​​catching and releasing them seems ridiculous. If you get rid of one family, another will appear and take its place. Your best bet is management and deterrence.

have a pet

Because they are prey animals, squirrels are incredibly alert to predators in the area. While they often outsmart humans, dogs and cats pose a greater threat to these cunning rodents, who regard them as natural predators.

It takes a very agile dog and a very stealthy cat to actually catch and hurt a squirrel. While that shouldn’t be your goal, having a pet or two at home that roams the yard occasionally is enough to keep squirrels on the border.

Keep up to date with house maintenance

Owning a home means endless to-do lists, and it’s easy to put some tasks at the top and others at the bottom. But keeping up with routine housekeeping — at least checking common problem areas — can help keep squirrels at bay.

Here are some tips and tricks to make your home squirrel-proof:

Weekly Checks: To keep squirrels out of your home, it can be as simple as walking the grounds once a week and checking the structure once a week. Are there any open holes or areas a rodent could slip through? Are there signs that they are poking around certain locations looking for a nesting site?

: Keeping squirrels out of your home can be as simple as walking the grounds once a week and checking the structure once a week. Focus on the siding: The siding is one of the main ways squirrels sneak in, as it’s easy for them to chew a hole. Once inside, they’ll start nesting – so make sure you’re familiar with the condition of the outside of your home.

: Siding is one of the main ways squirrels sneak up on it, as it’s easy for them to chew a hole. Once inside, they’ll start nesting – so make sure you’re familiar with the condition of the outside of your home. Block Entrances: If you notice places where they might or have already entered, get to work to make those areas inaccessible. You (or a professional, if you’re more comfortable with that choice) can easily plug holes, install grilles, and repair trim as needed.

Welcome wild animals

An abundance of squirrels is a sign of an unbalanced ecosystem. Although predators like foxes may seem intimidating at first, they work wonders when it comes to keeping squirrel populations under control.

Learn to live in harmony with the wildlife around your home, and they’ll take care of the rest. Once a coyote makes its rounds through the neighborhood, you’ll find that the squirrel population decreases drastically.

Whatever you do, don’t feed predators or try to lure them in. They are still wild animals and should be treated as such.

Sit back, sip a coffee and watch nature take its natural course.

Grow a garden

We get it, you may not have the space to grow a sprawling garden that naturally includes squirrel-repelling plants. When you’re in a tight spot, you probably want to focus on the flowers and vegetables you love the most.

Unfortunately, squirrels are just as comfortable in residential areas as they are in rural areas, and they move so quickly that most of the time they don’t view humans as a threat.

If you can find a little space to grow some extra plants, here’s what you might benefit from, since squirrels naturally avoid them:

Daffodils – easy to find! These bright yellow bulbs can be dug up or bought and transferred. They don’t take up much space and are native to many areas.

– easy to find! These bright yellow bulbs can be dug up or bought and transferred. They don’t take up much space and are native to many areas. Hyacinth – A fragrant flower with dense clusters of pastel colored blooms

– a fragrant flower with dense clusters of pastel colored blooms geraniums – these are definitely subject to the gardener’s taste. Geraniums don’t smell nice to either squirrels or humans, but their flower clusters come in a variety of attractive colors and can be kept and cared for in hanging baskets.

– these are definitely subject to the taste of the gardener. Geraniums don’t smell nice to either squirrels or humans, but their flower clusters come in a variety of attractive colors and can be kept and cared for in hanging baskets. Allium – You may not have heard of these plants before, but once you have seen them they are hard to forget. Allium grows on tall stalks and forms a spherical raceme of purple flowers. They cover a wide variety of plants and vegetables, including onions, leeks, shallots, and more. A great addition to any home garden.

The above plants are relatively easy to find and inexpensive. Planting them directly in the ground or in planters in the area you want squirrels to avoid can go a long way in keeping the rodents out of your garden or home.

Call the pros

If all else fails, contact your local pest or rodent control company to see how they can help. They may be able to give you pointers as to what exactly is attracting squirrels to your home and yard and what to do next if you are unable to fight them yourself.

It’s important to remember not to touch or handle squirrels yourself and to protect yourself from bites. A better option is to contact a professional. Check out our nationwide pest control locator to get in touch with a wildlife expert near you in seconds. Using our partner network helps support pestpointers.com!

If you continue house maintenance and come across a family or colony of squirrels, wait for them to leave the area before proceeding to block entrances and use the deterrents mentioned above.

If you’re interested, here are some other ways squirrels can damage your home.

Last words on squirrel control

Luckily, there are a variety of scents that will keep squirrels away and under control. While these tree-dwelling creatures are cute to behold as they play among the branches, they can cause frightening amounts of damage to homes and gardens.

Most of the fragrances listed above can be found in most home pantries or supermarkets. Pay attention to the following:

Apple Cider Vinegar

Black or white pepper

chilli powder

Peppermint oil

Also, anything hot or spicy that can be turned into a DIY spray is a great option. Hot sauce and garlic are good examples.

Place scents as needed and note when squirrel activity seems to be increasing. At this point, you may need to spray or soak a cloth with the scent again.

If you’re looking for something heavier, seek out some predator urine. Although it sounds unsavory, squirrels are prey animals and will do anything to avoid areas where predators appear to be active.

Put on some gloves and sprinkle some urine around your garden or house.

The most important advice we can give when it comes to squirrel invasions is to pay attention!

The signs are there and usually obvious, but you should regularly check the outside of your home to make sure they haven’t gotten anywhere.

If you have a particularly bad squirrel population, take additional steps, such as: Like finding a furry friend, growing plants that squirrels naturally hate, or calling in the experts when the task gets overwhelming.

references

Carey, AB (2000). Effects of new forest management strategies on red squirrel populations. Ecological Applications, 10(1), 248-257.

Fitzgerald, M. (1983). Capsaicin and sensory neurons – an overview. pain, 15(1-4), 109-130.

Nevraumont, Peter N. (1998). Equilibrium: Humanity and the Biodiversity Crisis. Princeton Press.

Stroud, Dennis C. (1983). An assessment of burrow demolition as a method of controlling ground squirrels. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

They may have bright eyes and bushy tails, but squirrels are among the most widespread rodents around the world. They whiz across our lawns, scurry up our trees, and eventually claw their way into the attics and crawl spaces of our home until we have a full infestation. As a homeowner, learning how to get rid of squirrels in your home is essential to the structure and integrity of your home.

Trying to keep squirrels away from houses and other structures is no easy task. They invade houses, eat vegetation and eventually destroy the landscaping. This is only the beginning of the damage.

If they are lucky enough to get inside through a broken chimney cap or damaged soffits, they build nests and the numbers of squirrels multiply.

Soon they eat their way through sidings, eaves, insulation and cables. If you suspect a squirrel problem, it’s time to learn how to scare squirrels away from your home.

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What are squirrels?

Squirrels are nimble rodents found on every continent except Antarctica. There are over 200 species of squirrels, which are divided into three types: flying squirrels, ground squirrels and tree squirrels.

Despite the many squirrels out there, gray squirrels and red squirrels are the most common in North America. Squirrels are closely related to chipmunks, groundhogs, and prairie dogs.

They vary in size and weigh from ten grams to four pounds. These rodents are incredibly territorial and will usually become aggressive when defending baby squirrels.

Although a squirrel attack doesn’t seem to be an immediate cause for concern, some have rabies and transmit diseases. Dealing with wild animals of any kind is never as easy as it seems.

While pest control isn’t always necessary to keep squirrels out of your home, it’s always an option when squirrel removal becomes too difficult.

How to get rid of squirrels in your house

Figuring out how to scare squirrels away from your home is essential to maintaining the quality of your home and property. One animal alone does serious damage, and the longer you ignore the problem, the worse the damage gets.

Signs of a squirrel infestation include strange noises, animal droppings, chewed or damaged entry points around the home and in the insulation, strong odors, and increased squirrel activity.

Always keep an eye on your branches and yard and take note of how many are hanging around your property throughout the day. If you can prevent squirrels from eating plants near your home, they will be more likely to look elsewhere for food than to attempt to enter the home.

How to keep squirrels out of the house

It’s impossible to get rid of squirrels in your home if you continue to provide them with reliable food sources. Bird seed, trash cans, and compost bins are all food sources that give squirrels easy access to a free meal.

Buying a squirrel baffle is one way to make eating more of a challenge for them if you still love having birds on your property.

Baffles are also an excellent DIY raccoon repellent. Use a baffle on the post to keep squirrels away from the bird feeder. Baffles are cone-shaped discs that are placed on either the top or bottom of birdhouses to make access more difficult for squirrels, raccoons and chipmunks.

Another strategy to consider when dealing with their food sources is to mix safflower seeds into the seed mix. The safflower seeds taste bitter and are a natural deterrent to squirrels.

In addition to bird seed, make sure trash cans have a lid that closes tightly before putting them outside. Remove fallen acorns, nuts and fruit from the ground. The less food there is, the less likely they are to hang around and become a problem.

How to scare squirrels away from your home

It’s a lot easier to keep the squirrel population in check if you give them something to fear. Domestic cats and dogs are seen as predators of squirrels and benefit us on an emotional level as well.

If you prefer to keep your home fur-free, there are other animal options to indicate the presence of predators. Plastic owl decoys are easy to place around your property and warn squirrels.

Rauurin is also available at hardware and outdoor supply stores and can be easily sprayed around your home.

Set up a squirrel trap

Squirrel traps are one of the most humane ways to catch a squirrel and release it somewhere far from your home. A live trap is often made of wire mesh with a one-way door.

Placing peanut butter in the traps will lure the squirrels inside. The door closes behind them, preventing them from escaping or chewing their way out.

Once indoors, it’s easy to take the cage traps five to ten miles from your home and release them in a field or safe spot where they will be welcome to find a new home.

Make a DIY Squirrel Repellent

Figuring out how to scare squirrels out of your home seems obvious once you know what they don’t like. It’s also an easy way to get rid of chipmunks for good. All you need are a few ingredients that you probably already have stockpiled at home.

tb1234 Homemade Squirrel and Rodent Repellent Cayenne Pepper

White vinegar or apple cider vinegar

water

Spray Bottle TB1234

Fill a plastic spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and cold water. Add a few teaspoons of powdered cayenne pepper and put the cap back on the bottle.

Shake the bottle to mix everything thoroughly. Walk around your home and spray the repellent in areas where you notice activity. With this method, you may have to crawl into the attic and spray the places where they nest and live.

Getting rid of squirrels in the attic

In case you haven’t noticed, squirrels are very sensitive to strong smells. Mothballs are a solution to keep squirrels out of your home, garden beds and landscape. This unpleasant odor is also one of the scents that repel chipmunks and a variety of other rodents that can become garden pests.

Mothballs contain two main components – naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene. Both of these chemicals release pungent fumes into the air. The fumes are not only effective at killing moth larvae.

These fumes are very irritating to squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs and other common pests that we notice in the garden. Place some mothballs in your attic and around your property where you suspect the squirrels will be entering your home.

poison squirrels

Poison isn’t the most humane option, but some people prefer to kill the squirrels to keep them from coming back. It won’t necessarily deter more people from entering your home in the future, but it’s a way of solving the problem for now.

TB1234 Squirrel Poison Peanut Butter

paper cups

Aspirin tb1234

To get rid of squirrels on the roof or elsewhere in the house, crush a few aspirin pills into a powder and mix them in the paper cups with the peanut butter. Divide the peanut butter into several different bowls and place them in activity areas of your home.

The squirrels can’t resist the smell of peanut butter, and once they take the bite, the aspirin begins to poison them.

After a few days, check where you placed the trays in your home and remove any fallen pests that didn’t make it outside.

Lock down entry points

The squirrels are invading somewhere on the outside of your house and it’s up to you to find out where. Blocking off all entrances to the inside of your home is the only way to keep them out.

This is a task to add to your regular routine so they don’t slip under your nose again in the future. Go around your house with some caulk, caulking any cracks, crevices, and holes they might slip through.

Don’t underestimate the tiny holes they squeeze into. It’s safer to patch up even the smallest of holes than to take a risk.

Purchase of motion-activated products

Technology keeps getting more and more impressive, and it’s in your best interest to use it to your advantage. There are hundreds of motion activated sprinklers and lights that can scare away squirrels crawling around at night.

Motion-activated strobe lights are also a popular choice for people with squirrel infestations. Set strobe lights at nest sites, which will go out and scare away the squirrels, making it less than ideal for them to return.

Trying to figure out how to scare squirrels out of your house might not be as easy as calling pest control, but there are humane options that work if you give it some time.

Getting rid of squirrels both inside and outside of your home is vital as they will do more harm than good.

They might fool some people with their petite bodies and fluffy tails, but squirrels are a real nuisance and to keep them from your property you’ll have to outsmart them and make your property the most uncomfortable house on the block.

If you have a runaway squirrel problem, it’s time to either call the exterminator or incorporate these options to remove squirrels and drive them away for good.

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