Red squirrel on a blue table outdoors
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Effective Strategies For Squirrel Control In Your Home And Yard

Squirrels running around can be cute, but not when they’re in your home or yard causing trouble. These little critters are known for their love of gnawing on everything – yes, including electrical wires and bird feeders! This article will guide you through the best strategies for squirrel control, ensuring these uninvited guests stay out of your space.

Ready to reclaim your peace? Keep reading!

Understanding Squirrel Behavior and Identification

Eastern gray squirrels cause the most trouble in our homes. They look for warm places during cold months. These animals are active during the day and can have two groups of babies each year after 44 days of being pregnant.

Flying squirrels, on the other hand, come out at night and move around by gliding with a skin flap between their legs. And let’s not forget about those thirteen-lined ground squirrels that love grassy spots and sleep through winter.

Knowing your enemy is half the battle.

This isn’t just good advice for generals; it works for dealing with wildlife nuisances too! For instance, gray squirrels measure about 18 inches long including a big 9-inch tail, weighing around one to one and a half pounds.

Flying squirrels are smaller buddies, reaching only nine inches plus a tiny tail and weighing as little as three ounces. Then there are red squirrels – small but feisty – stretching up to six inches with tails ranging from three to six inches long.

Each type demands unique strategies for control – understanding these differences helps us choose the right tools like live trapping or repellents more wisely.

Preventive Measures for Squirrel Control

Now that we’ve covered how to tell squirrels apart and understand their habits, let’s jump into keeping them away from your home and yard. Keeping squirrels at bay means making your space less inviting to these bushy-tailed visitors.

  1. Trim branches that are too close to your house. This makes it harder for squirrels to leap onto your roof or find cozy spots in your attic.
  2. Stack firewood away from your house. Squirrels see woodpiles as perfect spots for nests.
  3. Fix cracks in the foundation of your home. These can be entry points for squirrels looking for a warm place.
  4. Install guards on gutters. Squirrels use gutters to climb or even make nests, so blocking these can deter them.
  5. Get rid of food sources in the yard and garden. This includes bird seed, fallen fruits, and even pet food left outside.
  6. Clean up debris around the yard. Leaf piles and clutter give squirrels places to hide.
  7. Seal off cracks and crevices around the home’s exterior, especially near roofs and eaves where they might try to enter.

Physical Exclusion Strategies

Keeping squirrels out of your home and yard calls for some clever tricks. Sealing off their entry points is a critical first step. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Locate all the tiny openings where these critters might enter your house, like gaps in siding or holes near the roof. These animals can squeeze through surprisingly small spaces.
  2. Seal those entry points using 1/4″ mesh hardware cloth or metal flashing. This material is tough enough to stop squirrels in their tracks.
  3. For larger gaps, Stuf-Fit copper mesh works wonders. It’s like giving squirrels a puzzle they can’t solve.
  4. Make sure vents are properly screened to prevent any surprise visits from furry guests, using the same 1/4″ mesh hardware cloth or metal flashing for consistency and reliability.
  5. Regularly inspect the perimeter of your home for damage or new openings, particularly after bad weather or at the change of seasons when wildlife, including our bushy-tailed friends, are on the move.
  6. Pay special attention to spots where electric wires enter the house; these are like highways for squirrels.
  7. Don’t forget about crawl spaces and basements – ensure these areas are well-sealed with durable materials to discourage any would-be nesters.
  8. Finally, after you’ve successfully trapped any intruders, seal up those points of entry with 1/4″ mesh hardware cloth or metal flashing to prevent others from following in their footsteps.

By following these steps closely, you can create a fortress against squirrels that keeps them in their natural habitat and out of yours!

Humane Trapping and Relocation

Trapping and relocating squirrels is a kind way to handle these small animals that visit your yard. It helps keep both your home and the squirrels safe. Here’s how to do it right:

  1. Find out where they get in and look for their food spots.
  2. Choose the right trap – Safeguard Squirrel-Rat Live Trap #50450 (18″x5″x5″ with a 1/2″ grid) for gray ones or Havahart #1077 Squirrel Cage (17″x7″x7″ with a 1″ grid) works great.
  3. Place traps along paths they use or near places they find food.
  4. Use gloves when you set or check the traps to keep yourself safe.
  5. Once trapped, move the squirrel 4-5 miles away from your home to ensure it doesn’t come back.
  6. Make sure to check local rules about trapping and releasing wildlife.

Next, we’ll talk about repellents and deterrents to keep them away for good.

Repellents and Deterrents

Keeping squirrels away can be a bit tricky, but with the right mix of smells and tastes, it’s not impossible. Things like peppermint oil, garlic, and vinegar work great to make your yard smell bad to squirrels.

Even predator pee scares them off because it makes them think big predators are near. For those who need something stronger, Critter Ridder repellent is a good choice for keeping areas squirrel-free longer.

Another option? Bobbex-R Animal Repellent uses natural stuff that won’t hurt plants or animals but still keeps squirrels at bay. Mixing a special snack – think walnut or nut oil on crackers or fruit – might trap them if you’re looking to catch and release these bushy-tailed visitors safely.

Adding peanut butter and sunflower seeds will make the bait even more tempting for tree rodents eager for a tasty treat.

Professional Squirrel Removal Services

Sometimes, squirrel troubles get too big for DIY fixes. That’s when calling in experts from Hawkeye Squirrel Control comes into play. These pros know how to handle squirrel woes while following local laws.

They can tackle severe infestations without breaking a sweat.

If squirrels have turned your home or yard into their playground, help is just a phone call or email away.

Teams like Terminix are skilled in removing these critters safely and humanely. They make sure the squirrels don’t come back by fixing all entry points, giving you peace of mind.

Legal and Safety Considerations

Before you start a battle against those furry invaders, getting your legal ducks in a row is key. Yep, even squirrel control has its own rulebook! Local laws can be pretty strict about how you can deal with squirrels.

For instance, trapping them might seem like the go-to move, but did you know some places demand that you check those traps daily? And here’s another kicker – if you’re planning on relocating any captured tree squirrels, there are areas where this is a big no-no without permission.

Oh, and for those living out west thinking about using poison baits—Ditrac Ground Squirrel Bait rings a bell—you should know it’s the only one folks have given the thumbs up for these critters.

Now let’s talk safety because handling rodents isn’t exactly fun or without risks. Gloves are your friends here—not just any gloves, though—thick work gloves to keep those sharp little teeth at bay while sealing up their favorite doorways into your home or handling traps.

Because believe me, nothing spoils a day faster than an unexpected nibble from Mr. Squirrel while trying to escort him off the premises! Safety first also means avoiding certain types of rodent warfare; think twice before setting glue traps or laying out poisons recklessly around pets and kids.

Being smart about keeping squirrels away doesn’t just protect your attic; it keeps everyone healthy and safe too.

Conclusion

So, you’ve got a squirrel problem? No worries. With the right moves, like trimming trees and sealing up holes, those furry invaders don’t stand a chance. Think about using traps—the humane kind—and maybe some repellents to keep them at bay.

If things get too wild, calling in the pros is always a smart move. They know all about critters and how to deal with them properly. Keeping squirrels out for good means making your place less inviting while staying kind to our bushy-tailed friends.

And hey, it’s not just good for you—it keeps them safe and happy outside where they belong.