How to Get Rid of Squirrels Naturally Without Harming Them

How to Get Rid of Squirrels Naturally?: When squirrels wage war on your property and cause damage and destruction, you know that you have to take action. These cute little creatures can eat fruits and young leaves and destroy newly grown floral bulbs, causing serious damage to your garden. The problem is that it can be quite a challenge to get rid of them once they have made your property their home. They reproduce at a fast rate and can bring a number of health hazards – they can increase the risk of salmonella infection if you come into contact with squirrel urine or feces and also transfer fleas and ticks to your pets.

So how do you get rid of squirrels? If you want to keep these critters away from your property without seriously harming them, you should resort to home remedies. These natural squirrel-eliminating methods are effective and safe, plus you are likely to have the necessary ingredients right in your home. Here are a few simple home remedies to help you get rid of these pesky creatures:

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Squirrels

1. Safflower Seeds

One of the simplest and most effective ways to get rid of squirrels and keep them from returning is to use safflower seeds. These seeds taste very bitter, which is why squirrels hate them. If you want to keep these creatures from the bird feeder in your garden, fill it with safflower seeds. Do not worry about the birds as the seeds will not do any harm to them.

2. Strobe Lights

Do you know what irritates squirrels a lot? Strobe lights! This is one of the most effective ways to prevent squirrels from entering your property and making it their home. Install strobe lights in all potential hiding areas for these creatures as well as in your attic, basement, etc. These lights are eco-friendly and will not cause any harm to anyone, which is great especially if you have kids or pets at home.

3. Motion-Activated Sprinklers

If your garden attracts squirrels, another excellent way to keep them away is by installing motion-activated sprinklers. Like strobe lights, these sprinklers do not harm the pesky little critters but instead scares them away. Motion-activated sprinklers will help you maintain your garden and deter squirrels from coming and causing destruction.

4. Hot Pepper Spray

If you are someone who often cooks spicy dishes, then this remedy is for you- it calls for the use of really hot peppers. All you have to do is mix equal parts of finely ground hot peppers and garlic cloves in some water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well to make sure that the ingredients are well mixed. Spray the plant beds in your garden with your homemade pepper spray and you can be sure that squirrels will stay away.

5. Jalapeno Pepper and Vinegar Spray

Another effective home remedy to get rid of squirrels from your property is a simple spray that you can make with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen – jalapeno peppers and vinegar. Mix these two ingredients with some water, transfer to a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the mixture in areas where you often see squirrels, such as your garden, attic, etc.

6. Cayenne or Chili Pepper Mix

If the creatures often raid the bird feeder in your garden, here is a simple solution you can use which will not only get rid of squirrels but also keep them from ever returning. All you need to do is mix a tablespoon of cayenne or chili pepper powder with birdseeds and place the mixture in the bird feeder. This will definitely repel squirrels and you will not have to worry about them coming back. You also do not have to worry about harming birds when you use this remedy.

7. Peanut Butter and Aspirin

This sounds like a strange combination, doesn’t it? Well, it may sound weird but this is actually a highly effective homemade squirrel repellent. Make a fine powder by crushing a couple of aspirins and then add some peanut butter to it to make a paste. Once you are done preparing the paste, spread it around the flower pots in your garden. The pesky rodents will stop destroying your beautiful potted plants and flowers. You can use the peanut butter/aspirin paste in other areas as well.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar

You can always trust apple cider vinegar, or ACV, to help when you need a natural remedy for a problem, be it a skin condition or a pest infestation in your property. When it comes to getting rid of squirrels and preventing them from returning, the pungent acidic smell of ACV makes it an excellent repellent. Pour some ACV into a spray bottle and spray it on flower pots, around flower beds and near holes and small crevices that squirrels use to enter. You can be sure that the smell will keep them away.

9. Ammonia

There are certain scents that squirrels simply cannot stand, e.g. the smell of apple cider vinegar. The smell of ammonia is another thing that they hate, which is great news for you. For this home remedy, soak a few old rags with ammonia and place them in different areas in your property that squirrels frequently visit. One whiff and they will scurry off in a hurry. You can be 100% sure that they will not be back as long as the smell is around.

10. Peppermint Oil

This oil has a number of great uses in home remedies and it works well in helping you to get rid of squirrels that cause damage to your property. If you do not already have it at home, peppermint oil is readily available in many stores. All you need to do is soak as many cotton balls as you need in the oil and place the balls in areas where you often find squirrels. The smell of the peppermint oil will keep them away for sure.

As you can see, you do not have to kill squirrels with poisonous chemical repellents to prevent them from wreaking havoc in your garden or property. All you need is a few simple ingredients that are usually already available in your home to make effective and safe home remedies that will get rid of squirrels and make sure that they never return.