Squirrel Repellent: Best Natural and Commercials Options!

If you’ve had it with squirrels ruining your garden and destroying the bird feeders around your property, then you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, we’re sharing a complete in-depth guide to the best squirrel repellent.

So keep reading to find out more about the best natural and commercial squirrel repellents and how you can use them to achieve the most effective results.

Why Keep Squirrels Out

There’s no doubt that squirrels can be cute to observe and interact with, but if you’ve experienced these rodents as pests raiding your garden, biting the wires of your car, or invading your attic, you know it’s best to keep them at a distance.

Below are some problems that you can avoid by deterring these small animals away from your household:

Damage to Property

It’s natural for squirrels to bury seeds and nuts into the ground. For gardeners, this is bad news as it often leads to ruining flower beds and potted plants outdoors.

This only gets worse if you’re keeping a vegetable or fruit garden. Squirrels will mess up your crops and eat your produce – sometimes it’s just one bite out of every piece, which is super frustrating!

Squirrels are also known for their chewing habit. As such, they can do a lot of damage to electrical parts lying around and even cause fire hazards in homes and vehicles.

Diseases

Squirrels can bring about a bunch of serious diseases, some of which you may never expect. These include the following:

• Rabies: You probably saw this one coming as squirrels can easily contract rabies. Not only is this a real threat to humans, but even if your pets are vaccinated, rabies can still cause wild behavior.
• Tularemia and Leptospirosis: When transmitted to humans through bites or physical exposure, these infections can result in liver and kidney failure.
• Fungal or Bacterial Infections: Losing a lot of hair, particularly on the back, or developing dark spots on the skin are signs that a squirrel is suffering from a fungal or bacterial infection. These infections can be transmitted to humans and other animals through physical contact.
• Bubonic Plague: Believe it or not, squirrels can easily become infected with the bubonic plague and spread it to humans. Symptoms of this disease include petechial rash, fever, fatigue, and gangrene, but don’t count on spotting the signs as squirrels may not show any signs at all.

This type of infection occurs from time to time in the western United States where authorities will shut down and quarantine the area until the health officials control and stop the infection.

• Salmonella: This is another disease that humans can catch quite easily from cross-contamination with squirrel waste. Common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea and vomiting.

Best Natural Squirrel Repellent

1. Hot Pepper

Squirrels are attracted to food sources, so if you trick nearby squirrels into thinking that your garden’s plants taste bad and uninviting, they’ll just take them out of their next scavenging trip’s target list.

It’s common knowledge that squirrels, like many other rodents, hate capsaicin – the active ingredient in just about every type of hot pepper out there. This is why hot peppers are the most widely used ingredients in natural rodent repellent solutions.

The following are some ways you can use hot pepper to repel squirrels but keep in mind that you’ll need to reapply these remedies periodically to maintain their effect, especially after rain.

• Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes on the ground around squirrel-tempting plants.
• Sprinkle a little bit of cayenne pepper right on the leaves of plants that seem to be attracting squirrels. Pay extra attention to dusting low-lying leaves.
• DIY a cayenne pepper spray and use it on the leaves of squirrel-attracting plants. Make this spray by mixing a small bottle of hot sauce with a gallon of water. Next, load the mixture into a spray bottle so you can apply it directly to the leaves of the plants.
• DIY a cayenne pepper spread by mixing cayenne pepper and petroleum jelly. You can use this spread at the base of the plants on the stems, as well as on fences, poles, stakes, and other solid surfaces near the plants that tempt squirrels.

2. Garlic

Most bulb plants are unappealing and deterring to squirrels. Garlic is on the top of this list with onions, scallions, and leeks close behind.

You can use the smell and taste of garlic to keep these rodents away by mixing chopped garlic, vinegar, and water. Allow the concoction to sit for a few days so that the flavors and odors combine well.

Spray the mixture on fences, poles, stakes, and other solid surfaces near the plants that tempt squirrels. You can also try growing some bulb plants around your garden.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

One of the least favorite scents and tastes for squirrels is that of apple cider vinegar. The acidity is a major turn-off to the small rodents, so you can use that to your advantage.

Apply apple cider vinegar spray to solid surfaces and fixtures around your property. You can dilute it with water or use it 100% pure. Just make sure you don’t spray it directly on plants as vinegar can kill your greens.

4. Peppermint Essential Oil

Minty components also provide a strong remedy when it comes to naturally repelling rodents like squirrels. Making a concoction out of these materials and applying it to the surroundings should work like a charm.

There are a couple of ways to do so:

1. You can soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and put them on jar lids near the squirrel-attracting plants in your garden. Don’t forget to resoak the balls regularly.
2. You can also DIY a peppermint oil spray using a ratio of one drop of peppermint essential oil for every ounce of vinegar. Apply the spray to solid surfaces such as fences, poles, and garden stakes.

5. Mulch

Adding mulch to your soil is an excellent gardening solution with a variety of applications. You can use mulch to create a protective layer for preserving soil moisture and preventing pests from attacking the plants.

You can also use mulch as a preventive measure to keep squirrels from invading your property. However, keep in mind that not all mulch is equally effective.

Ideally, the mulch used to repel rodents like squirrels should be heavyweight, inorganic mulch to overcome these animals’ digging capability. For example, a combination of rubber chips, gravel, and chicken wire.

Best Commercial Squirrel Repellent

1. Ultrasonic Repellers

If you’re looking for a hassle-free solution to your squirrel problem, then ultrasonic repellers should be right up your alley. The best thing about this squirrel repellent is that you can simply install it then just forget about the issue.

There’s no need for reapplication as with sprays and granules. What’s more, ultrasonic repellers can also be effective in deterring a variety of other pests such as mice, rats, and roaches.

Scientists have found out that lots of animals, including squirrels, operate with a much wider hearing frequency range than humans. This means that these animals can hear ultrasound waves, but the human ear can’t pick them up.

These findings paved the way for the invention of animal repellent ultrasonic devices, making for a humane and non-toxic method to deter critters away from your home and garden. These devices produce ultrasonic waves, which force squirrels to run away if they want to avoid them.

Additionally, ultrasonic devices are usually equipped with a solar cell pane, to save you the hassle of having to charge them manually. They’re also adjustable so you can set them to the ideal frequency range to repel different pests.

To trigger the production of ultrasonic waves, these devices are typically fitted with motion sensors that’ll detect any movement within a specific range. Once it senses motion in its field of detection, the device will generate ultrasonic waves.

When it comes to placing such devices, the ideal spots would be around entry points to your household, but keep in mind that some pets, like cats and dogs, may also be able to pick up the produced waves, so be sure to set the devices away from where your pets might stay.

Here are our top recommendations for ultrasound squirrel repellers:

1. BRISON Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

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• Has a wide coverage area of 1100 square feet.
• Can pass through walls.
• The body is fire-proof, which makes the device environmentally friendly.
• Easy to use. All you need to do is press the switch button for three seconds.
• Ultrasonic frequency of 24 to 65 kHz
• Also works against mice, rats, bugs, spiders, and roaches.

2. Exom Essentials Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

No products found.

• Environmentally-friendly construction.
• Pet safe operation.
• Very discreet.
• Protects a large area of up to 1600 square feet.
• Effective against many other pests including bats, spiders, roaches, fleas, wasps, ants, bed bugs, silkworms, and mosquitoes.

3. eHouse Ultrasonic Pest Repellent

No products found.

• Protects an area up to 1600 square feet.
• Has a night light.
• Offers lifetime warranty on service.
• Provides a 1-year technical warranty for the device.
• Works against a wide scope of other pests.

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2. Spray Repellents

Commercial spray repellents can also be a good option for deterring squirrels, especially if you don’t feel like making your own concoction at home. These sprays are usually straightforward when it comes to usage and they’re mostly reasonably priced, but they require a constant application to deliver effective results.

Here are our top recommendations for spray squirrel repellers:

1. MDXconcepts Mice Repellent Spray

No products found.

This organic spray may have “mice” in its name, but it can deter far more pests than that. It can repel a wide variety of rodents, including squirrels, using natural ingredients that are harmless to humans and household pets.

Additionally, its odor is pleasant because it uses high-quality ingredients sourced from plants and essential oils in their natural form. You can safely use this spray anywhere inside your house as well as around your garden.

Not to mention, it’s very easy to use because the trigger is forgiving, easy to use, and the mechanism is resistant to clogging.

2. Exterminators Choice Vehicle Defense Rodent Repellent Spray

Last update on 2024-07-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Squirrels can make their way into your car and chew away at expensive wiring work. If you want to avoid such a tragic scenario, or if you suspect the presence of a squirrel in your vehicle, this repellent spray will help you keep unwanted visitors away from your ride.

This is a safe product to use in the engine compartment, your garage, or just about anywhere around your house thanks to its organic composition. It’s neither a fire hazard nor a health hazard as it’s free of permethrins, pyrethroids, and pyrethrins.

It contains natural essential oils such as rosemary and peppermint. Not only are these ingredients non-toxic to humans and household pets, but they also smell pretty nice.

Other Ways to Repel Squirrels

Set Up Live Squirrel Traps

This method of capture and release has been around for ages. While it may not be the most efficient way to get the job done, it’s probably the most humane solution to the problem.

To achieve the best results with your live trap, be sure to install it in a safe, yet attractive, spot to lure the squirrels out of hiding. Once they’re trapped, you can take them out of your property and release them back into the wild.

This method is particularly useful overnight. You can set up your traps right at the entry points when it’s dark using some nuts, then in the morning, you’ll find the culprits waiting for you.

Consider a Motion Activated Sprinkler

Last update on 2024-07-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

A scared squirrel is as good as gone, which is why these rodents will first examine their surroundings for danger and only enter territories they deem safe. Enter motion-activated sprinklers.

If you have a pet running around, chances are you’ve seen them get scared when a sprinkler goes off nearby. Similarly, sprinklers can scare away squirrels.

For this method to work, you need to install a motion-activated sprinkler that can detect movements within a decent range. That way, when it picks up on the jumps of a squirrel, it’ll spray water to send it packing.

Plus, you’d save yourself the watering chores!

What to Consider When Using a Squirrel Repellent

When using a squirrel repellent, there are a few points you need to take into account so you can make the most of them.

• Start early: Taking action against pests no matter their type should happen as early as possible. So as soon as you notice even one squirrel lurking around your household, it’s time to bring out the repellents.
• Don’t limit your plan to only one type of repellent: Many pests can develop resistance to repellents as they “get used” to them. Squirrels are no exception, so be sure to use different repellents one after another or simultaneously. This may be a bit tiring for you, but it’ll pay off.
• Prevention is key: Don’t neglect following all the preventive measures of keeping pests away down to the letter. This includes regularly disposing of garbage, securing possible food sources, and fortifying your fencing system.

Wrap Up

There you have it, a complete guide with all you need to know about the best squirrel repellent to help you get rid of your rodent issue!