How to Get a Squirrel Out of My House
There are several ways to keep a squirrel out of your home. Scents that repel animals can include peppermint oil, moth balls, and live capture traps. In this article, we’ll discuss three different scents that will keep squirrels away from your home. If you don’t have any of these products, consider a few suggestions to get rid of squirrels. Here’s what to do:
Table of Contents
Moth balls
If you want to repel squirrels from your house, you may have heard of the popular method of using mothballs. However, mothballs have a few downsides. Not only can they be dangerous for human beings, but they can also harm plants. In addition, they can be poisonous to kids. Consequently, you should use other methods to keep squirrels from entering your home.
Unlike natural repellents, mothballs have a strong smell, which squirrels don’t like. However, they are highly irritating to humans and should not be used in places where people may frequent. Instead, try placing them in problematic areas, like attics or around plants. Make sure to replace them every few weeks. Moreover, you should consider spraying your home with an anti-pesticide, such as pyrethrum or poison ivy.
Set up a live capture trap
There are many advantages of live capture traps, but there are also some disadvantages. You need to wear gloves and be sure to avoid attracting the animal to your trap. Squirrels can be quite shy, so it may take them a few minutes to get comfortable and then make a dash for it. To prevent your trap from being a target, remove competing sources of food. Trash must be sealed in garbage bags or bins with lids. Place pet food inside as soon as possible. Ensure that bird feeders are cleaned of excess bird seed.
If the squirrel has managed to escape from the trap, set up a second trap in a different room. If you’re lucky enough to catch the animal before it jumps out, you’ll need to place it in another room for safety reasons. If it has climbed into a second story window, it may have jumped, so you should keep a blanket between your body and the trap.
Peppermint oil
You may be wondering, how to get a squirrel out of my house? Peppermint oil is a natural repellent that is available in many forms. It can be applied to small areas, plants, and even umbrellas. You can spray this repellent on plants to keep squirrels from entering. It works great to keep squirrels away from your yard and leaves your yard smelling fresh and minty. Peppermint oil is especially effective at repelling rats and mice from your yard.
To create a homemade repellent for squirrels, you can mix some ground cinnamon with some peppermint oil or cayenne extract. Place the mixture around plants and anywhere else that the squirrels won’t go. Be sure to reapply this repellent every few days, as it loses its effectiveness over time. For even better results, mix it with a few drops of peppermint oil or cayenne oil. You can also place the mixture on plants and fences.
Scents to keep squirrels away
There are many scents that squirrels don’t like. Peppermint, garlic, mint, skunk, and even mothballs are all powerful repellents for squirrels. Scents such as these should be applied to your house regularly to keep squirrels away. However, they are not permanent solutions. You may have to reapply the scent every day to keep them away.
Another effective way to repel squirrels is to use hot, spicy scents. The scent of cayenne and white pepper discourages squirrels, and they also don’t like the smell of garlic and black pepper. Aside from pepper seasoning, you can also place mothballs near plants to keep them away. If you’re not comfortable using mothballs, you can spray them on the problem areas several times with water.
Trapping a squirrel
One of the most common questions from people is “How to trap a squirrel out of my house?” Squirrels are nocturnal creatures, so catching one in your home can be tricky. While you can try tying a trap and releasing it outside, trapping a squirrel is illegal in many states. Instead, you can use squirrel repellents, which irritate the animal. You can also use light, but you must be sure to use a cool-burning light to drive away the squirrel.
First, know the location of the squirrel. Squirrels can squeeze through openings the size of a quarter. They tend to enter homes through the attic and other places like plumbing stacks and chimneys. If you find squirrels in your home, try to keep their food hidden in the attic. If you see any, they will likely try to take it, so if you can’t trap them, at least you know they’re in there.
How can I get a squirrel out of my house?
Once you’ve located the entry point the squirrel is using to get into your house you can begin working on blocking it off.
If the hole is small enough steel wool can be stuffed into it.
If the hole is too big for steel wool you’ll need to use hardware cloth.
Cut a piece of hardware cloth to fit over the hole then screw it into place.
How do I know if I have a squirrel in my house?
You may hear the squirrel running around in your attic or walls.
You might see damage to food packaging or gnaw marks on woodwork or insulation.
What do squirrels eat?
Squirrels are omnivores which means they eat both plants and animals.
The bulk of their diet is made up of vegetables and fruits but they also eat insects bird eggs and small animals.
What kind of damage can squirrels do to my home?
Squirrels can cause a lot of damage to your home if they’re left unchecked.
They gnaw on woodwork insulation and electrical wires which can lead to fires.
They also urinate and defecate everywhere which can contaminate your home with harmful bacteria.
I think I have a squirrel in my house but I’m not sure.
What should I do?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
How did the squirrel get into my house?
Squirrels can enter your home through many different ways such as holes in the roof gaps in soffits or chimneys or openings around utility lines.
I heard a noise in my attic but I’m not sure if it’s a squirrel.
What should I do?
Contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to determine if there is indeed a squirrel in your attic and take the necessary steps to remove it.
I found a hole in my house that I think a squirrel is using to get in.
What should I do?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
There’s a squirrel in my house and I can’t find where it’s getting in.
What should I do?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
I’ve seen a squirrel in my yard but I’m not sure if it’s getting into my house.
What should I do?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
I think there may be more than one squirrel in my house.
What should I do?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrels from your home and prevent them from returning.
I don’t want the squirrel to hurt itself how can I safely get it out of my house?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
The squirrel is in my attic how can I get it out of there?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
I found a squirrel in my house but I don’t know how it got in.
What should I do?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
I’m worried the squirrel is going to have babies in my house.
What should I do?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife control company.
They will be able to safely and humanely remove the squirrel from your home and prevent it from returning.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
