Having no luck getting rid of squirrels in your suburban yard, garden or attic? You're not alone...they are clever, persistent, and full of energy!
If you think it's no big deal getting rid of those squirrels in your suburban yard or garden, don't be fooled! They may look like a cross between a sweet garden bunny and a furry kitty cat, but make no mistake about it, they are the Houdini's of the home and garden set! Second only to poison ivy, squirrels can be the scourge of suburban yard and garden owners!
For new homeowners, setting up a birdfeeder in their new yard can be one of those rituals akin to domestic bliss. Maybe you came across an attractive feeder that looks like an Adirondack lodge, or maybe one that is reminiscent of an oriental pagoda...it's attractive and promises to bring a rainbow of beautifully colored birds and song to your yard. You are astonished and annoyed to awaken one morning only to find the top ripped off, the feeder swinging in the breeze with nary a seed to be found. (Flying squirrels are nocturnal.) Hmmm...
A trip to your local garden center provides surprisingly few options. Although you may see several items, gadets or specially designed feeders promising to foil the furries, just ask the helpful hardware man who's been there a while. You may be somewhat disconcerted by the noncommital response you get when you tell them you're working on getting rid of squirrels in your yard, and ask for a recommendation.
So, just what are the possible solutions?
- Adding hot pepper to the birdseed works for some, not all. The good thing is that the birds are unaffected by it, but definitely no guarantees for banishing the squirrels
- Squirrel Baffles: Placed around the base of the feeder, this also works for many, but not all. If the feeder is anywhere in the vicinity of trees, shrubs or poles, they'll find a way.
- Pest Sprays: These are supposed to work when you spray them around the base of the feeder and on it, but it has to be continually applied and results are mixed....be sure to read the label!
- Squirrel-proof bird feeders: No such thing exists!
- Live traps: these work great for removing squirrels, although it can be an ongoing process
- Remove your bird feeder: Alas, a last resort, sometimes the only one!
One of the most intelligent garden pests you'll ever run across, squirrels have the ability to foil almost any obstacle you throw at them. To date, there doesn't seem to be anything that could be remotely called a "squirrel-proof" bird feeder. Not only can they learn to open the top of a new cedar feeder and get right in to chew every tasty seed inside, but they even learn to hold open the treadle on the squirrel-proof feeders and catch the seeds as they fall out.
The other option is to just live with it...after all, how much seed can one or two squirrels consume? Besides, they're kind of cute, so what's the problem? The reality is that squirrels can be highly destructive, digging up bulbs, stealing tomatoes, even chewing siding and wooden facia on the outside of your home. They have been known to get into attics and chew on everything in sight - including electrical wires. The biggest problem is that they multiply - if you see one or two in your feeder or garden, chances are you're on their preferred dining list and it's only a matter of time (and it isn't long!) before the whole clan joins in.
Trapping is the best and most humane way to deal with all types of nuisance wildlife. Live traps really do work great with squirrels, the only problem is finding somewhere you can release them. And if you're continuing to feed the birds as you're trapping, they just seem to keep on coming!
Although it sounds discouraging, the key to getting rid of squirrels is different in every situation. The best you can do is try any or all of these solutions and see what works for you. All we can say is - Good luck!!!
