Have you gone outside to work on your garden only to notice small holes in the ground? You might have also noticed that an animal is snacking on some of your plants or fruits. If so, you could have a squirrel problem.
Squirrels are attracted to gardens because they like to snack on fruits and vegetables. They tend to stock up on food for the winter, which means you might notice more squirrel activity in the fall. Unfortunately, squirrels can inflict a lot of damage on your garden, which means you might need to do some work to get rid of them.
There are plenty of ways to keep squirrels out of your garden, including removing their food sources, not using bird feeders, placing physical barriers around your plants like chicken wire, and even using plants that deter them like cayenne peppers or peppermint oil.
If these tactics are not working, you might want to consider calling a professional wildlife removal company. At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we trap and relocate animals like squirrels using a humane and ethical approach. While we cannot eliminate every squirrel in the area, we can relocate the ones that like to frequent your garden.
In this article, you will learn:
- How to squirrel-proof your garden
- Which techniques are best for deterring squirrels
- Why you should get professional help for squirrel removal
How to Get Rid of Squirrels in the Garden
Squirrel damage can be devastating to your garden. These animals might dig up your garden beds, eat fruits and vegetables you are growing, and ruin freshly planted flowers. Because of all of the damage they can inflict, you might be wondering how to prevent squirrels from entering your garden.
Nine tips for getting rid of squirrels in the garden include:
1. Remove Food Sources
If there are any fallen nuts, acorns, or berries in your garden, make sure to pick them up frequently. Leaving these food sources in your garden will only attract squirrels. Once they are in your garden, they might notice that some of the plants you are growing are tasty.
2. Use Motion-Activated Sprinklers
One of the best squirrel deterrents is motion-activated sprinklers. You should install them around your garden so that any squirrel who enters is sprayed with water. This will scare them away, preventing them from returning in the future.
3. Provide Water
Sometimes, squirrels come into people’s gardens in search of fruit that provides water. They might not be able to find a water source nearby to quench their thirst. Pay attention to where the squirrels are entering your yard and provide them with a bowl of water.
Doing this could prevent the squirrels from going into your garden and snacking on things that offer water like tomatoes.
4. Attract Birds
Birds like owls or hawks are known to eat squirrels, as they are natural predators. By attracting them to your yard, you will prevent squirrels from coming into your garden. It is important to note that you shouldn’t use this tactic if you have small animals like dogs or cats that use your yard.
5. Create Barriers
You can use physical barriers to prevent squirrels from being able to access your garden. For example, you could install an electric fence around your garden.
You could also use row covers for crops that are grown in the ground. If you have planted beds or individual plants, you could create a cage around them with hardware cloth. These tactics will prevent squirrels from being able to damage your plants.
6. Use Mulch
Squirrels do not like the feeling of mulch under their feet. If you place mulch around your garden, you might be able to prevent them from coming inside. Additionally, aluminum foil works in the same manner, providing a cheaper solution to using mulch.
7. Let your Dog Outside
If you have a dog, you might want to consider letting them spend more time outside. Squirrels see dogs as predators, which means they will not enter your garden if your dog is around.
Make sure to keep an eye on your dog, as they shouldn’t actually catch the squirrel. Some squirrels carry diseases that can be spread to household pets.
8. Use Plants That Repel Them
There are certain plants that squirrels do not like the smell of. For example, hot peppers might keep them away. You could also plant mint, marigolds, mustard, or crown imperial bulbs. All of these plants will keep squirrels away from your other crops, like fruits and vegetables.
9. Contact a Professional
If none of these tactics are working to deter squirrels from your garden, it might be time to consider getting professional help. Calling a professional wildlife control company could save you tons of time and money in replacing the plants in your garden.
Wildlife control companies like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers will trap, remove, and relocate squirrels that cannot stay away from your garden. It is important to note that we only use ethical approaches to animal removal, which means we will never harm the squirrels. Once the local squirrels notice that other animals are being trapped when they enter your yard, they will become too afraid to enter.
Get Connected to a Squirrel Removal Company
If you or a loved one is dealing with a squirrel infestation, it’s time to seek help. Calling a wildlife removal company like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers will save you tons of time and money that would be wasted on replacing your garden after the squirrels have ruined it.
Additionally, squirrels might get tired of your garden and look for entry points in your home. If they get inside, they could do tons of damage to electrical wires, insulation, and more. Thankfully, we can help you with squirrel removals from inside of your home as well.
Squirrel removal is a difficult and time-consuming process, which is why we recommend you contact a professional to assist you. These experts will be able to effectively eliminate the wild animals in your chimney, saving you plenty of time and effort. They have the know-how and expertise to solve the issue, so we recommend you call a professional.
Contact Nuisance Wildlife Rangers today for a consultation on squirrel removal. We will assess your infestation before providing you with a quote. In addition to removing the squirrels, we will help you prevent them from returning in the future.