How To Deal With Squirrel Damage in Gardens and Attics

When people think of critters invading their homes, they commonly picture mice or rats. However, you can add squirrels to that list. These cute-looking creatures can cause expensive and frustrating problems by disrupting gardens and compromising the safety of attics.

Chewed wires, scattered seeds, spoiled produce, and shredded insulation frequently indicate the presence of squirrels. Addressing this activity effectively requires a combination of proven strategies and quick action. Review this guide on how to deal with squirrel damage in gardens and attics, so you can eliminate this nuisance in and around your home.

How To Handle Garden Damage

When your garden beds overflow with fresh produce, bulbs, and other plants, they attract squirrels on the hunt for food outdoors. Many homeowners struggle to keep squirrels from ruining crops or leaving holes across the yard. However, the techniques below can help you address this challenge without causing harm to wildlife.

Switch to Plants That Squirrels Dislike

One way you can repel squirrels from the garden is by switching to plants that they won’t want to eat, including species that feature strong odors and tastes. Consider incorporating daffodils, garlic, or onions to discourage foraging. Mixing these into standard garden layouts disrupts established feeding routes and reduces the appeal of targeted beds.

If you love tulips and similar squirrel favorites, grow them surrounded by their less-favorable neighbors. Diversification creates a less predictable environment, and persistent squirrels struggle to adapt to an unpleasant area.

Leave Out Deterrents

Another strategy for dealing with squirrel damage in gardens is leaving out deterrents that drive them away. Fortunately, you can find many common items to repel them, including hot pepper spray. When you apply this to the leaves and stems of inedible crops, it will make foraging unpleasant.

This deterrent may need an occasional renewal, especially after rain showers or irrigation. In addition, motion-activated sprinklers and ultrasonic noise generators can introduce surprise elements, further reducing squirrel incursions.

Pick Up the Food That Squirrels Eat

Squirrels commonly search for fruit, birdseed, and nuts in the garden. Clean up these items and remove rotting produce from the ground to prevent attracting the squirrels.

Try feeding birds with platforms that collect excess seed so you can prevent spills and make cleanup easier. Furthermore, avoid leaving pet food outdoors to make your yard less attractive. Over time, squirrels will turn their attention to easier foods somewhere else.

Build Barriers for the Plants

Physical barriers can also offer reliable protection for your plants. Wire mesh cages, cloches, or row covers prevent squirrels from digging up bulbs, pulling new sprouts, or stealing ripe produce. Sinking fencing several inches underground can discourage tunneling, while adding netting protects leafy greens from overhead raids.

Use hardware cloth with small openings so young squirrels cannot squeeze through. Fasten barriers tightly and check them for new holes after major storms or windy periods. Well-maintained defenses stop nearly all but the most determined intruders, keeping your garden looking beautiful and producing good yields.

Call a Professional

Although the above strategies can be effective, there are some cases where you need professional help. If home remedies and deterrents fail, call a professional who specializes in humane squirrel control. These experts use exclusion techniques that remove offending animals efficiently and safely.

Professional exterminators also provide detailed assessments, pointing out why your garden attracts squirrels and how best to address those weaknesses. Their comprehensive approaches solve long-standing problems, addressing both the immediate infestation and future prevention.

How To Manage Attic Damage

When squirrels invade the attic, they seek a warm, safe place to build nests. Over time, their activities generate messes and fire hazards when they chew on wiring. Review the following tips to discourage squirrel activity.

Eliminate Entry Points

Squirrels only require a small gap or hole to access an attic. Gaps beneath eaves, attic vents with missing screens, loose soffit panels, and roofline intersections attract squirrel exploration. Conduct a thorough inspection during the daytime by looking for daylight peeking through boards, gnawed areas, or places where insulation appears matted or disturbed.

Seal openings with steel mesh or hardware cloth that rodents cannot chew through. Bolster vulnerable soffits using plywood. Secure vents with screens designed to withstand persistent animals, and use weather-resistant sealants around pipes and cables entering the attic area. Regular checks of these sealed spaces help maintain your home’s defenses year-round.

Utilize Squirrel Repellent

Like your garden, you can also deal with squirrels in the attic by using repellents, prompting them to leave the area. Target key points along common travel paths and suspected nesting sites with deterrents like rags or cotton balls soaked in ammonia. Always use products safely around your family members and pets to maximize the results.

Illuminate the Attic

Dark and secluded corners encourage squirrels to make nests. However, bright lighting in the attic can create an unwelcome environment for them. Place bright LED bulbs around the attic.

Leave the lights on all day and night if you notice squirrel activity. These conditions push them to leave and search for dark shelters instead.

Ensure insulation and materials block direct access to electrical fixtures. This will prevent fire risks if the squirrels try to tamper with the wires. While lighting alone will not guarantee eviction, the disruption it causes plays a valuable part in a comprehensive eviction strategy.

Turn On Loud Music

Sudden, continuous noise can also disrupt the sanctuary squirrels seek in attics. Radios or speakers set to moderate or high volume disturb their nesting routines. Select talk or rock stations for maximum effect, so the squirrels will leave and seek quieter, less stressful locations.

Hire a Rodent Control Company

Even after using these strategies, you may have persistent squirrels who evade every at-home measure. Fortunately, professional rodent control companies have advanced tools and knowledge for these situations.

They will spot less obvious entrances and provide humane removal and relocation services. While this comes at a higher price than DIY methods, the peace of mind and thoroughness delivered by specialists justifies the investment when squirrels refuse to vacate or return rapidly.

Prevent Further Squirrel Damage With Legacy Rodent Control

Now you can prevent squirrel damage to your attic and garden with various strategies. Being diligent can keep your home and garden squirrel-free. I

If you need squirrel removal services in Fort Worth, contact Legacy Rodent Control today. We can help you return to enjoying your home and garden again. After our service, you will feel less fearful about squirrel damage.