Squirrels, with their relentless digging and taste for garden bounty, can transform a peaceful garden into a frustrating battleground, often targeting bulbs, fruit, and vegetable crops. Effectively managing this common pest requires a multi-pronged approach focused on humane deterrence and exclusion. The most successful strategies involve making your garden uninviting, physically blocking access to desirable plants, and only resorting to active removal when all other methods fail.
Making the Garden Less Appealing
The initial step in managing a squirrel problem is eliminating the primary incentives that draw them to your yard, focusing on food sources and easy shelter. Since squirrels are highly motivated by accessible calories, securing or removing common attractants can significantly reduce their presence.
Bird feeders are a frequent offender, as squirrels find sunflower seeds and other mixes highly palatable. Switching to safflower seeds is effective; birds consume them readily, but squirrels find their bitter taste unappealing. Securing feeders on poles with a wide, conical baffle—a slippery barrier—installed at least five feet from the ground and ten feet from any jumping-off point (like a tree or fence) also limits access.
Beyond bird seed, remove all other easy food sources by picking up fallen fruit, nuts, and acorns from the ground. Secure outdoor garbage cans with tight-fitting, locking lids, as squirrels are adept at scavenging refuse. Pet food left outside should be brought indoors immediately after feeding, preventing it from becoming a meal for squirrels.
Physical Protection Using Barriers
Physical exclusion is often the most reliable non-lethal method for protecting specific, vulnerable garden areas or plants from squirrel damage. Creating a solid barrier prevents squirrels from using their digging and climbing abilities to reach their targets.
To protect flower bulbs, place a layer of fine-mesh hardware cloth or chicken wire a few inches beneath the soil surface when planting. The mesh allows developing plant shoots to grow upward but prevents squirrels from digging down to consume the bulbs. When securing this mesh, ensure the edges overlap or are completely buried to deter squirrels from accessing the sides.
Vulnerable above-ground crops, such as strawberries, berries, or tomatoes, can be shielded with lightweight netting or row covers. This netting must be fully secured at ground level, either by burying the edges slightly or weighing them down with rocks or soil, preventing squirrels from pushing underneath. For raised beds and containers, a complete cage constructed of wire mesh or sturdy hardware cloth is effective, as squirrels can easily climb or chew through thin plastic netting.
Utilizing Taste and Scent Deterrents
Sensory deterrents exploit the squirrel’s highly developed sense of smell and taste, making the garden environment unpleasant or triggering a danger response. These methods are temporary and require consistent reapplication to maintain effectiveness.
Many commercial products and homemade solutions utilize capsaicin, the chemical compound responsible for the heat in chili peppers, which squirrels avoid. Applying a spray made from capsaicin, or lightly dusting cayenne pepper around the base of plants, makes the plant material taste offensive without harming the foliage. Since birds do not register capsaicin in the same way, this can be safely used near bird feeders.
Scents that trigger instinctual avoidance include predator urine (such as from foxes or coyotes), which can be purchased as a granular or liquid repellent. Other strong, offensive aromas like peppermint oil, garlic, or a vinegar solution can be used to saturate cotton balls or be sprayed around the garden perimeter. Because rain and watering quickly wash away these sensory barriers, frequent reapplication, especially after precipitation, is necessary to maintain effectiveness.
When Active Trapping is Necessary
Trapping should only be considered as a last resort when habitat modification and physical deterrents have proven unsuccessful. This method involves the active removal of the animal and requires careful adherence to both ethical practices and local wildlife laws.
Live-capture traps, which humanely secure the squirrel without injury, are preferred for home gardens. Use bait like peanut butter, nuts, or seeds placed inside the trap. The trap should be placed on a flat, stable surface along a known travel path, such as near a fence line or tree base. Regular inspection is necessary to reduce the animal’s stress and minimize the time it spends confined.
It is necessary to check local and state regulations before engaging in any trapping activities, especially concerning relocation. In many jurisdictions, relocating trapped wildlife is illegal, as it can spread disease or introduce the animal to an unfamiliar environment where survival is unlikely. If relocation is not permitted, the law may require the animal to be humanely euthanized or mandate that a licensed wildlife control operator handle the removal.