Squirrels frequently cause damage to residential properties by digging small, shallow holes in lawns and garden beds to bury or retrieve food. They also chew through wood siding or vents to access protected areas for nesting, often leaving behind structural holes. Repairing this damage requires a two-pronged approach: confirming the animal has left and using appropriate materials to seal the breach permanently. The techniques and materials used depend on whether the damage occurred in the soil or the building structure.
Confirming the Hole is Empty
Before any permanent repairs are made to a structural hole, confirm that the squirrel is no longer using the entryway. Sealing an occupied hole can result in a trapped animal that will either die inside the wall, creating a severe odor and attracting secondary pests, or chew a new, larger hole to escape.
A simple method to determine vacancy is the “paper test.” Loosely stuff crumpled newspaper or a small handful of leaves into the opening. Monitor this plug for 24 to 48 hours to determine if the hole is active. If the paper or leaves have been pushed out, the squirrel is still using the space and must be humanely excluded.
For holes in structures, exclusion devices like one-way doors are a humane solution, allowing the squirrel to leave the nest but preventing re-entry. Once the animal has been excluded, or the paper plug remains undisturbed for two full days, the hole can be sealed.
Methods for Repairing Lawn and Garden Holes
Squirrels dig in soft soil to cache nuts or search for food sources like grubs, resulting in small divots across a lawn or garden. Repairing these holes restores the surface while discouraging the animal from returning to the same spot.
Begin by lightly compacting the soil around the edges of the hole to stabilize the perimeter. Fill the hole with a mixture of topsoil and a coarse, unappealing material, such as pea gravel, chicken grit, or coarse sand. Squirrels are deterred by the feel of rough, hard-to-move material and prefer digging in soft, bare dirt.
Filling the hole with this mixture makes the repaired spot less appealing for future digging. Once the hole is filled and tamped down level with the surrounding turf, cover the area with fresh topsoil and reseed with grass or lay down new sod. For garden beds, a layer of decorative river rocks or hardware cloth placed beneath the mulch acts as an effective physical barrier.
Sealing Structural Holes and Entryways
Structural holes, often found in wood siding, fascia, soffits, or foundations, require durable, chew-resistant materials for repair. Rodents like squirrels possess incisor teeth that grow continuously, leading them to gnaw through soft materials like plastic, vinyl, or thin wood.
For holes in wood structures or siding, secure heavy-gauge metal flashing or quarter-inch hardware cloth over the opening. Overlap the material by several inches past the hole’s edges and secure it with screws to prevent the squirrel from pulling it away. This metal barrier is then covered with wood filler or a replacement piece of siding for a finished look.
Repairs to masonry or foundation holes demand the use of cement or mortar mixes, which provide a dense, permanent barrier squirrels cannot chew through. For vents or soffits, replace any plastic screening with galvanized steel mesh or hardware cloth, ensuring the material allows for airflow but is too strong to manipulate. Using these specialized materials prevents the animal from re-chewing a new entry point near the original location.
Implementing Long-Term Prevention
Long-term prevention requires making the property unattractive as a habitat by eliminating food sources and access points. Since squirrels are motivated by easy meals, secure garbage bins and immediately pick up fallen fruits, nuts, and bird seed to reduce foraging activity.
Landscaping modifications prevent squirrels from gaining easy access to the house structure. Trimming tree branches so they are at least six to eight feet away from the roofline or gutters removes common jumping-off points.
Vulnerable areas like attic vents, chimneys, and plumbing stack openings should be fitted with durable metal screening. Deterrents can supplement these physical barriers. Motion-activated sprinklers deliver a sudden burst of water that startles and discourages the animal from lingering. Additionally, applying commercial scent repellents containing capsaicin makes surfaces unappealing due to the squirrel’s sensitive sense of smell and taste.