Squirrels are a part of nature, and typically don’t need to be disturbed. However, once they become a nuisance in your home by ravaging gardens or nesting indoors, some action must be taken. With the warming weather, the animals will soon be coming out of their nests and causing new trouble. If squirrel control has become a necessity for you, read on to learn the safest ways to keep squirrels at bay without harming them.
Don’t Give Them Food
The key to squirrel control is to not give them a reason to come back to your yard. That means don’t give them food, and don’t let them steal from your bird feeders. Apply petroleum jelly to the bases of your feeders so the squirrels can’t climb up to the food without sliding to the bottom. If you have fruit trees in your yard, make sure you clean up any fallen fruits or the squirrels will come for it.
Add Something Surprising to Your Garden
If you have a fruit or vegetable garden in your yard, it will attract all kinds of rodents. A great natural and harmless option to keep them at bay is to plant mint; squirrels will avoid the scent and be deterred from stealing your hard-grown produce. Without pest control, rodents would contribute to destroying half of our food supply, so don’t feel too bad about keeping them off your tomatoes.
Trim Your Trees
If you don’t want to find squirrels in the attic, don’t make it easy for them to get there. Keep all trees near your home trimmed so that no branches are closer than six feet from the house. Cover any outdoor vents or chimneys with a screen to keep the critters from climbing in.
Scare Them Off
Another option is to scare squirrels off. The most humane way to do this is by placing plastic owls in your trees to ward squirrels off. You may feel bad but as cute as they are, squirrels are destructive animals and you are better off keeping them away.
Outsource Professional Rodent Removal
If DIY squirrel control isn’t doing the trick, consider hiring professional help. Be sure to research rodent control companies to make sure they use humane methods to remove animals from your property.
While squirrels are adorable and probably mean well, sometimes they are simply unwelcome guests. Without controlling them, your yard or your home could be subject to their destruction, so don’t hesitate to take care of the issue before it gets out of control.