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You probably don’t give much thought to a squirrel when you see one scurrying about in your backyard, but they are truly amazing little creatures. They can run at speeds up to 20 mph, and the positioning of their eyes allows them to see behind them. No chance of sneaking up on a squirrel! And if you ever wondered how a squirrel can find their stored goodies like nuts and acorns so easily, it’s because their memory actually increases by 15 percent during the winter.
The ideal habitat for squirrels is a forest filled with oak, beech and hickory trees that provide food and natural cover. Some squirrels live in nests that have been burrowed in the ground. Primarily vegetarians, squirrels like to feed on a variety of fruits, nuts, berries, mushrooms and the occasional insect.
Unfortunately for you, the homeowner, with this diet, suburban backyards can be very enticing to Mr. or Ms. Squirrel – especially if that backyard has a bird feeder. That’s why if you see them in your yard, you need to take steps to get rid of squirrels.
Squirrel Repellents
A good way to solve your problem is to learn how to deter squirrels. To protect both your yard and bird feeder, try using a squirrel repellent. A pepper-based repellent will deter squirrels using taste, while other repellents offer dual protection with both taste and smell deterrents. Heat or motion-sensor electronic repellents can also be used to get rid of squirrels.
Squirrel Traps
A well-positioned live animal cage along with a tempting treat can also be an effective way to reduce the squirrel population around your home. When using a squirrel trap, be sure to place it along the path the squirrel takes to your garden, home or other area where you do not want them. Other tips for squirrel trapping include placing the trap on the upper rail of a fence, as squirrels love to scamper back and forth along them.
How to Bait a Squirrel Trap
The best bait for squirrels include cereal, grains, nuts (especially peanuts), sunflower seeds, anise oil, shelled corn, apples, mixed peanut butter and oatmeal or mixed peanut butter and molasses and popcorn. Squirrels can become dehydrated, so squirrel baiting tips can also include using oranges because of their high water content. Since squirrels are excellent climbers, it is very difficult to exclude them from your yard. To protect smaller trees, use garden netting; for larger trees, try a wide collar made of sheet metal or plexiglass, allowing enough room for tree growth.
I have mango and avocado trees that squirrels just love. I tried traps (both box and rat traps) and just couldn’t kill a critter because he was hungry, coons and possum also – one squirrel drowned in the box trap
so, I tried the sonic deals that are supposed to repel rodents- NOT, my little buddy scampered right over them! So, we made a deal, when a fruit drops to the ground I leave it there (or move it over nearer the trunk) and he polishes it off over the next day or so . . . it’s working for us; I couldn’t eat alla that fruit anyway . . . jojo
when i use box traps the squirrels allways get to the side and top and they get the food out even though the sides are covered. So how is one way i could fix that and not let them get in on the sides
Hi Brian,
Sorry to hear you’re having trouble with the traps! Squirrels are quite intelligent! The best thing to do if the squirrels are taking the bait without tripping the trigger is to bury the bait underneath the plate so they must dig for it. This way, they should not be able to access it from the top or sides, either.
Please let us know how this suggestion works for you!
Thank you,
Your Friends at Havahart®
I LOVE birds! (& squirrels) but I don’t get to enjoy feeding the birds like I did while living in CA. We never had squirrel around much & plenty of birds. How can I feed the birds & keep the squirrels away from the feeders? I live on the second floor of an apt complex with plenty of pine trees & other things around to supply for the squirrels, but they really like the bird food. (I only see one squirrel at a time so I’m not sure if it is only the one squirrel or what) Just this morning I have moved the feeder to a different location and as of yet the squirrel hasn’t figured out how to get to it but I can see that he is sizing things up & isn’t giving up. What can I do??? I can’t trap or kill for sure….Maybe a BIG dog on the balcony???
Hi Lori,
Thank you for your comment! We have a squirrel repellent many customers found work well on their bird feeders. It is called Critter Ridder®, and comes in a spray bottle you can simply spray on your bird feeder to deter the squirrel(s)! http://www.havahart.com/ourbrands/critter-ridder
Thank you – and good luck!
Your Friends at Havahart®