Discovering small, freshly dug holes scattered across a manicured lawn is a common problem for many homeowners. These disturbances are typically the work of squirrels engaging in their natural behaviors. Understanding these motivations and implementing practical, humane deterrents can effectively protect your yard. By employing a layered strategy that combines physical exclusion, sensory repellents, and environmental modifications, it is possible to reclaim your lawn without harming the wildlife.
Why Squirrels Dig
Squirrels are driven to dig for two primary, instinctual reasons: caching and foraging. Caching involves burying nuts, seeds, and other food items to store them for later consumption, particularly when food is scarce. These caching holes are generally small, often no larger than a quarter in diameter and only one or two inches deep, appearing scattered across the lawn as the animal quickly stashes its bounty.
Foraging involves actively searching for subterranean food sources. This digging is typically an attempt to locate and consume insects, fungal roots, or lawn grubs, which are a protein source. Foraging damage tends to be less uniform and may present as more destructive patches of overturned soil and turf, especially if a high concentration of grubs is present. Identifying the type of damage—small, neat holes for caching versus larger, torn-up areas for foraging—is the first step toward choosing the most effective control method.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Methods
Implementing physical barriers is a direct way to prevent squirrels from accessing the soil, stopping the digging before it starts. For small, vulnerable areas like newly seeded patches or flower beds, laying down fine-mesh chicken wire or metal netting creates an effective shield. This wire should be secured flush with the ground, or slightly below the surface, to block the digging action while still allowing grass or plants to grow through.
Netting, such as garden or bird netting, can be lightly secured over a section of lawn to act as a deterrent by making the surface difficult to stand on or dig through. For areas where bulbs or seeds have just been planted, placing heavy mulch or decorative stones over the soil makes the physical act of moving the ground too labor-intensive.
Taste and Scent Repellents
Squirrels rely heavily on their sense of smell and taste, making sensory repellents a practical and immediate method of deterrence. Many commercial repellents contain capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, which acts as a powerful taste deterrent. Once a squirrel attempts to dig in or taste a treated area, the unpleasant sensation encourages it to find food elsewhere.
DIY solutions utilizing strong odors can also be effective, as squirrels dislike potent, unfamiliar scents. Applying household items like white vinegar, coffee grounds, or pepper flakes directly to the soil creates a sensory boundary. Reapplication is necessary, especially after rain or heavy watering, since the active compounds quickly dissipate. A non-chemical deterrent is the motion-activated sprinkler, which uses an unexpected burst of water to startle the animal when it enters the protected zone.
Long-Term Habitat Modification
To achieve lasting results, it is necessary to make the entire yard less appealing as a permanent squirrel habitat. One of the most significant steps involves eliminating accessible food sources, which are the primary draw. This means switching to squirrel-proof bird feeders that prevent easy access to seeds or utilizing tray-style feeders to catch spilled feed.
Additionally, removing fallen nuts, fruit, and seeds from the ground reduces the amount of natural food available for both foraging and caching. Addressing foraging for grubs, which live beneath the turf, can be done by treating the lawn with biological controls like beneficial nematodes or using chemical grub killers. Finally, reducing access to shelter by trimming tree branches that overhang the roof and sealing potential entry points into sheds or attics removes the incentive for squirrels to establish a permanent residence.