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Squirrels are incredible little athletes, and their antics are fun to watch. But what\u2019s not fun? When they gnaw on your bird feeder<\/a> or take up residence in your attic. \u201cYou can\u2019t keep squirrels completely away from your home and garden,\u201d says Michael Mengak, PhD. \u201cBut you can take a few steps to reduce the damage they can cause.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, it\u2019s annoying when they knock down your bird feeders, but they\u2019re even bigger nuisances when they nest inside attics, wall voids, garages. and sheds<\/a>. They also can chew wires, causing potential fire hazards. \u201cSquirrels may find an entry hole or gap, or they can create their own holes by gnawing through the siding or the soffit,\u201d says Sheldon Owen, PhD. \u201cOver time, urine and feces can accumulate, too, in places such as attic insulation.\u201d<\/p>\n The most common types of squirrels that come indoors in the Southeast include the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and the Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans), says Mengak. While gray squirrels are solitary, flying squirrels may live in colonies of four to five squirrels. Both types also may find your house a nice, cozy place to raise their babies.<\/p>\n Read on to learn what you can do to keep squirrels out<\/a> of both your feeders and house:<\/p>\n Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n How Can You Tell You Have Squirrels In Your House?<\/p>\n You may see squirrels coming and going, or you may spot brown, oily stains on the side of your house where they\u2019re rubbing up against it as they enter. You\u2019ll also hear a lot of rustling or scratching noises as they move around. Gray squirrels are active during the day, while flying squirrels are active at night, says Mengak.<\/p>\n If you discover a squirrel nesting in your home or shed, look for its entryway<\/a> into the structure. Squirrels may come in under the eaves, gable vent, behind chimneys, where rooflines intersect, or between the soffit board and the rain gutter. \u201cThey\u2019re good at finding soft rotted wood and exploiting that weakness,\u201d says Mengak.<\/p>\n What To Do If You Have A Squirrel Your House<\/p>\n Make sure you have seen the squirrel exit your house, then seal up the hole. Otherwise, it will chew another hole to get out, or die in your attic, which will cause an odor and attract pests, such as flies<\/a>, says Mengak. You\u2019ll also want to be sure no babies are present before you exclude the parents.<\/p>\n Use metal flashing or quarter or half-inch hardware cloth to block the entrance; avoid using something they can gnaw through, such as window screening. Replace any damaged wood and siding.<\/p>\n Also, make sure you reduce easy access to your house: Because squirrels can jump 4 feet vertically and twice that horizontally, keep tree limbs at least 8 feet from buildings to reduce easy access to your house.<\/p>\n Next, clean up the area where they were nesting. Wear disposable gloves and remove food debris. Replace soiled insulation. Clean the space<\/a> by spraying down droppings with a bleach solution (1.5 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water) or a general disinfectant (make sure it says \u201cdisinfectant on the label). Let it sit for five minutes, wipe up the area with paper towels, and dispose. Wash your hands.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t reach the area where they\u2019re entering because it\u2019s too high or inaccessible to you\u2013or you just don\u2019t feel like handling it yourself\u2014you may prefer to hire a nuisance wildlife removal company, says Owen.<\/p>\n How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders<\/p>\n Nothing is foolproof because squirrels are tenacious, but Mengak and Owen suggest you try a few different tactics for keeping squirrels off your feeders:<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Use a baffle. This protective plastic or metal shield prevents squirrels from climbing up poles or onto the tops of feeders.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Suspend feeders on a cable covered with sections of 2 to 3-inch diameter plastic pipe<\/a>, which spins when they try to walk along it. Make sure the cable is placed out of their jumping range (about 8 feet from rooflines, decks, or trees).<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Choose a feeder that closes up when a squirrel sits on the perch. The weight of the squirrel\u2014but not birds\u2014will close the feeding holes. Another type of feeder has a weight-activated spinning perch that gently tosses squirrels off. \u201cA squirrel may keep trying, but if he\u2019s going to expend more energy than he\u2019s gaining when foraging, he\u2019s probably going to give up and go elsewhere,\u201d says Mengak.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Fill feeders with less desirable seeds such as safflower, millet and thistle. \u201cThese aren\u2019t high on a squirrel\u2019s list of favorites, though they will eat them if they\u2019re hungry enough,\u201d says Owen.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Add some heat. Most mammals don\u2019t like capsaicin, so you can try purchasing \u201chot\u201d bird seed or adding hot sauce (you\u2019ll have to reapply regularly and after rain). But remember that squirrels are individuals; some may be sensitive to it, but others may not care and will keep chowing down, says Mengak.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Try setting up a \u201csacrificial feeder\u201d loaded with squirrel favorites<\/a> such as cracked corn or peanuts to lure them away from your other bird feeders. There\u2019s no guarantee they\u2019ll stop raiding the other feeders, but it\u2019s worth a shot.<\/p>\n How To Stop Squirrels From Damaging Young Trees<\/p>\n One more common issue with squirrels is when they gnaw bark or tips of branches or chew around the base of young trees, which eventually can kill the tree. There\u2019s not much you can do about it when they\u2019re gnawing up high, says Mengak. But you may be able to protect the base of saplings<\/a> by wrapping with commercial tree wrap or making a protective cage from \u00bc-inch hardware cloth.<\/p>\n What Doesn\u2019t Work<\/p>\n Both Mengak and Owen say commercial repellents and essential oils are not effective for keeping squirrels away from your garden or home. And sonic devices have zero science behind them. Instead, make sure to seal holes into your home, and stick with low-tech methods, such as hanging bird feeders away from trees.<\/p>\n![\"Credit:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/82c9aedaa805c9ae0804d8f52772fc78.jpeg\"\/)
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