Squirrel Attractants 101

Don’t let squirrels overrun your home. Knowing these helpful tips can keep these rodents off your property.

While they might seem like harmless creatures, squirrels can cause a lot of damage to property when left to their own devices. The first step in addressing a squirrel problem is in understanding why they have chosen to stay in your home. 

Assess your property and take stock of what exactly it is that’s attracting the squirrels in the first place. Common squirrel attractants include: fruits, plant seeds, deciduous trees, berries, bulbs, flowers, birdseed, pet food, water, and a warm, safe, and dry place that’s perfect for birthing and rearing baby squirrels. 

FOOD SOURCES

If you often see squirrels in your yard, the main culprit is most likely a food source. If you have a bird feeder in your yard, make sure it’s placed as far away from the home as possible. If the problem persists, consider eliminating the food source altogether (sorry!).Try to remove the birdfeeder for a few weeks to see if this works.

LANDSCAPING

Trim trees with branching structure where squirrels can build nests. When the bark of these trees become scalable and are adjacent to your roof, they may be tempted to try getting into your attic. Squirrels can jump into your attic if it is within six to eight feet of your house.

If you grow garden crops or have fruit trees, you may want to pick the fruits and crops as soon as they are ripe. If you find that the squirrels are picking at the fruits before they ripen, an option is to fence these with SPCA-approved fencing.

WATER SOURCES

Fresh, clean sources of water are attractive to squirrel and other wildlife in the summer. These animals also look for fresh water if you live in areas where natural sources freeze over during winter. If you have pets, you may want to cover up their water bowls or keep them inside your home. A bird bath may also be attracting squirrels to your property for this reason.

Knowing what attracts squirrels is the first step in preventing them from invading your home. While they may seem cute and charming, they can pose a serious health risk to your family and can destroy parts of your home.  If the problem gets worse, give usa call.