Squirrels are busy creatures: It’s fun to watch them bounce through the trees and run around the yard — until they dig up your newly planted grass or decimate your vegetable garden. Then they’re not so cute.
If you want to stop squirrels from digging in your yard, remove food sources that attract them to your property, use repellants to deter them, or use chicken wire or other material to keep them off sensitive plants and property. And if all else fails, you can trap them, although their squirrel posse will probably flood back into the yard.
Remove food sources
The best way to keep squirrels (or other critters) out of your yard? Don’t feed them, says Jessica Merkling, an urban wildlife biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Bird feeders, in particular, are like magnets for squirrels.
“I know a lot of people like to see birds,” Merkling says, “but if you’re having issues with squirrels, I really recommend taking down any food, including feeders.”
Birds are messy eaters, so squirrels feast on the spilled seeds. They like standing water, too, so ditch the bird bath.
While you’re cleaning up spilled bird seed, look for fruit or berries that drop from trees and bushes. Squirrels like those unexpected treats, too.
“There’s a lot of accidental feeding we don’t always think about,” Merkling says. “I have trash cans; the lid is secure … but is there another way to get into it? We put out food for pets, which other wildlife can get into as well.”
For more information, see 3 Signs that Squirrels Are Digging in Your Yard
Physical barriers and deterrents
Squirrels are built to get over barriers. Tree squirrels have a 4-foot vertical jump, and they’re excellent climbers. (A squirrel in my back yard easily scales the neighbors’ 6-foot fence to taunt the dogs.)
That said, there are barriers that can dissuade squirrels from digging in your yard or garden.
Chicken wire and wire mesh: Wrap these around trees, or create a tunnel (vertical or horizontal) around plants. For larger areas, lay chicken wire atop your garden soil and secure it with stakes. Cut holes for the plants to grow through.
Netting: For a small garden, secure bird netting over a fence. Lay netting over a new patch of grass and secure it with stakes. Plastic netting can be placed over flower pots to prevent digging. (I use the mesh bags that produce comes in.)
Forks: This started out as a prank, but some gardeners now swear by it. Bury white plastic forks — tines up — roughly 4 to 6 inches apart around your garden or grass patches. You can also bury them between plants. The forks act as a barrier, and the light reflecting off them can startle a critter into staying away.
Note: Keep an eye on children and pets, and remember to pull the forks before you cut the grass.
Natural and Chemical Repellents
Repellents take advantage of squirrels’ excellent sense of smell by producing obnoxious odors that drive them off. Do they work? Results are mixed. They may work in the short term, but once the odor fades, or the first rainstorm hits, the squirrels will return..
You can raid your spice rack to create natural repellents, or buy a commercial product (many use the same ingredients). Some common repellents:
- Spices: Sprinkle a layer of chili powder, or powdered cayenne pepper, hot pepper, garlic or cinnamon on your plants.
- Essential oils: Mix peppermint or cinnamon essential oils with water for a spray, or soak cotton balls and drop them around the yard.
- Other options: Spray or pour white vinegar on areas where squirrels gather. Or mix 2 tablespoons of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of biodegradable dish soap in a gallon of water to spray on garden beds. The oil changes the smell and taste of the soil.
Chemical deterrents:
Don’t use mothballs: Using this EPA-regulated pesticide outside is illegal. They’re toxic to people and animals, and the chemicals can leach into the ground.
Polybutenes: This polymer creates a sticky substance that deters squirrels from climbing fences and buildings. However, it is messy to apply and can cause eye irritation.
Merkling suggests putting down soap. (Irish Spring is a favorite.) The idea, she says, is that ”you’re making it smell human,” which deters the squirrels. In fact, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has used soap to keep critters out of their vehicles.
Landscape management
If barriers around your garden aren’t helpful, try adding plants that help keep the critters at bay: Some possibilities:
- Plant marigolds and daffodils around your garden. They’re toxic to squirrels, so they’ll avoid them. If you’re growing herbs, try planting lavender, sage and rosemary — their strong scents keep squirrels away.
- Merkling suggests using native plants such as onions and mints, which have natural repellents to ward off the critters.
For more information, see Plants That Make Your Garden Stink
Hunting, trapping, and relocation
Sometimes, destructive squirrels have to be removed, either through hunting, trapping, or relocation:
Hunting: Many states consider Fox and Gray squirrels as game, so they can be hunted. But don’t plan on hunting in the city or suburbs. In most places, it’s illegal to use firearms in a residential area.
Trapping: There are a variety of traps available, both lethal and live. But trapping carries risks: scratches, bites, exposure to ticks and other parasites. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management suggests wearing protective gear, and choosing the right trap for the job.
Some states require trapping permits, so be aware of local laws. If you aren’t confident about your trapping skills, hire a licensed wildlife control company.
Relocation: This can be tricky, Merkling says. “If it’s sick, you’re potentially spreading disease, or you’re putting one animal into another animal’s territory.” Plus, “some species try really hard to get back to where they came from,” and may be harmed in the process.
Electronic and motion-activated deterrents
Desperate gardeners have tried squirrel-deterrent devices like motion-activated sprinklers and flashing lights. Merkling suggests a low-tech method: Put out a radio that’s tuned to a talk show. Squirrels hear voices and think there are people in the area.
Whatever you do, “You don’t want to become really, really predictable,” she says. “I know a place that airs distress calls for birds so they don’t nest there. But they use the same sounds at the same time every day. They get used to that.”
For more information, see How to Deal with Nuisance Squirrels
FAQ
You can protect a young tree with a plastic tree guard, or wrap the trunk with hardware cloth or chicken wire. (Bury them a few inches down to prevent digging.) If the tree is small enough, cover it with bird netting or tightly woven mesh.
In winter, squirrels eat bark when food is scarce. But in spring and fall, they’re after the tree sap for its sodium content, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. (Squirrels need sodium for nerve and muscle function, among other things.)
To keep them away from trees, the DNR suggests placing a small mineral/salt block by an affected tree or in an accessible branch.
For starters, look at the hole. The University of Illinois Extension says squirrels dig enough to cover seeds or acorns, so holes aren’t very large or deep. Skunks will dig a top-shaped hole about 2-3 inches across, while a raccoon will just rip up your lawn.
Merkling suggests also looking for scat or tracks, or sending photos of the damage to your state’s natural resources division. With a photo, set something with a known size next to the damage (she suggests a dollar bill) so the biologists can have an accurate measurement.
Need help to keep squirrels out of your yard?
We hope that our tips will help discourage squirrels from digging up your yard. But if you don’t have the time, or could use assistance, Lawn Love can connect you with a pest control pro who can make your yard a squirrel-free zone.
Main Image: Brown squirrel holding a nut on grassy field. Image Credit: Pexels
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