The sweet, sugary kernels of ripening corn are an irresistible target for squirrels, whose agility and persistence make them formidable garden pests. Once a squirrel discovers a corn patch, the high sugar content of the ears acts as a powerful attractant, often resulting in significant crop loss just as the corn reaches maturity. Protecting a harvest requires a multi-pronged strategy employing physical exclusion, sensory aversion, and active management. Successfully safeguarding corn involves implementing proactive measures before the silk turns brown and the ears become prime targets.
Creating Physical Barriers
The most reliable method for protecting corn from squirrels involves establishing a complete physical barrier around the crop. Squirrels are adept climbers and diggers, meaning any perimeter defense must account for both vertical and subterranean entry points. A secure enclosure should utilize materials that squirrels cannot easily chew through or maneuver around.
Galvanized hardware cloth, specifically with a half-inch mesh opening, is the gold standard for squirrel exclusion because it is too small to squeeze through and too tough to gnaw. When constructing a fence, the mesh should extend at least four feet high to prevent vertical climbing and jumping into the corn patch. Furthermore, the barrier must be buried into the ground, ideally 18 to 24 inches deep, or bent outward in an “L” shape and partially buried to discourage tunneling under the fence line.
For an impenetrable defense, the enclosure must also have a roof, creating a completely caged structure around the corn patch. Simple plastic garden netting or chicken wire, while easy to install, often proves ineffective against persistent squirrels who can either chew through the thin plastic or squeeze through the larger openings. An alternative, highly effective perimeter defense is a low-voltage electric fence designed for small animals.
These specialized electric fence kits deliver a mild, non-harmful static shock that conditions the squirrel to avoid the area after the first contact. For adequate coverage, the fence should consist of three to five wires spaced approximately four inches apart, with the lowest wire positioned about four inches above the soil. This combination of physical and psychological barriers offers a robust deterrent against both climbing and digging pests.
Using Taste and Scent Repellents
Sensory repellents work by making the corn or the surrounding area unpleasant to the squirrel’s highly developed senses of taste and smell. Capsaicin-based products, derived from chili peppers, are widely used deterrents because they create a burning, irritating sensation that mammals dislike. This compound is not detected by birds, making it a selective repellent for mammals.
Applying a homemade spray of hot sauce or commercial capsaicin concentrate directly onto the corn husks can make the ears unpalatable. To ensure the repellent adheres to the plant material, a few drops of mild liquid dish soap can be added to the mixture, acting as a sticking agent. These liquid applications require frequent reapplication, particularly after rainfall, as the active ingredient is easily washed away.
Scent deterrents play on the squirrel’s instinctual fear of predators or aversion to strong odors. Commercially available products containing predator urine, such as that from foxes or coyotes, can be applied around the perimeter of the garden. The scent signals a perceived threat, causing squirrels to avoid the area.
Other strong, natural scents squirrels typically avoid include peppermint oil and garlic. Soaking cotton balls in concentrated peppermint oil and placing them near the base of the corn stalks can help create a zone of aversion. These scent-based methods rely on consistent reapplication to maintain their effectiveness as the volatile compounds quickly dissipate outdoors.
Trapping and Behavioral Modification
Active population management through live trapping can offer immediate, albeit temporary, relief from persistent squirrel pressure. Humane live traps, baited with corn, nuts, or peanut butter, capture the animal without causing injury. Once trapped, the individual must be removed from the property.
Homeowners must check local and state wildlife regulations before attempting to trap or relocate any nuisance animal. Many municipalities and states prohibit or heavily restrict the relocation of trapped wildlife, often requiring the animal to be released within the same county or euthanized humanely. Releasing a squirrel into an unfamiliar habitat also carries a high risk, as translocated squirrels often experience high mortality rates due to unfamiliarity with the new territory and competition.
Behavioral modification techniques seek to change the squirrel’s perception of the corn patch without direct removal. Motion-activated deterrents, such as specialized sprinklers, are highly effective because they deliver a sudden, harmless burst of water and sound when the infrared sensor detects movement. This startling effect creates an unpleasant association with the area, discouraging the squirrel from returning.
A more passive, long-term strategy is diversionary feeding, which involves providing an alternative, more attractive food source away from the corn patch. Setting up a dedicated squirrel feeder with nuts, seeds, or specialized corn logs at the far end of the yard can divert their attention from the ripening sweet corn. The goal is to satisfy the squirrel’s foraging needs, making the effort required to raid the corn less appealing.