Squirrels can chew through wiring, raid your garden, and turn your attic into a noisy disaster. You can usually fix these issues by removing food sources, blocking entry points, and trying out humane deterrents. No need for fancy tools to get started.
Act fast: get rid of attractants, block their access, and try simple deterrents before squirrels settle in for good.
This guide walks you through practical steps to remove squirrels from your yard or house. You’ll also find tips to protect gardens and bird feeders. And sometimes? You just have to call a pro so you’re not stuck dealing with the same headache again.
How to Get Rid of a Squirrel Problem at Home
Start by spotting where squirrels get in and what’s drawing them. Cut off food and shelter, use humane removal, and seal up openings so they don’t come back.
Identify Squirrel Infestation and Squirrel Types
Look and listen. Check your attic, eaves, roofline, and trees at dawn and dusk for signs of activity.
Gray squirrels pop up in most yards and have bushy gray tails. Fox squirrels look bigger and show off rust-colored fur. Flying squirrels are tiny, nocturnal, and much quieter. Ground squirrels mostly stay on the ground and dig burrows.
Watch for droppings, chew marks, and nests made from leaves or insulation. Grab a flashlight and peek at rafters and vents for nests.
If you’re unsure which type you’re dealing with, snap a photo of the animal or droppings and compare with online ID guides.
Signs and Damage Caused by Squirrels
You might hear scratching, thumping, or running overhead. Squirrels love to chew wood, soffits, and especially wiring.
Check for frayed wires, torn insulation, and holes in fascia or vents. Outside, look for dug-up bulbs, half-eaten fruit, and raided bird feeders.
Ground squirrels leave small burrow holes near your home’s foundation. If you spot wiring damage, shut off power to the area and call an electrician or wildlife control pro—don’t risk a fire.
Humane Squirrel Removal Methods
Start by removing food. Secure bird feeders, pick up fallen fruit, and keep trash lids tight.
Try motion-activated sprinklers or lights to spook squirrels away from gardens. Cover garden beds with 1/2-inch hardware cloth or plant bulbs like daffodils that squirrels avoid.
If they won’t leave, set up live cage traps baited with peanut butter or sunflower seeds. Make sure to check your local laws first.
After trapping, follow legal rules for relocation or call a licensed wildlife remover. Skip poisons and shooting—besides being dangerous, it’s usually illegal.
Wear gloves when you handle traps or nests to avoid disease.
Squirrels in the Attic or House
If squirrels have moved in, don’t seal every exit right away. Female squirrels might have babies inside.
Listen for movement to check if animals are still active, and try to time removal for when the young can leave with their mom.
Install one-way exclusion doors on big openings so squirrels can get out but can’t come back in. Once you’re sure they’re gone, seal holes with galvanized hardware cloth, metal flashing, or steel mesh.
Repair chewed vents and cover chimneys. Remove contaminated insulation and nests—wear a mask and gloves, or hire pros for safe cleanup.
If you spot wiring damage, call a pro before turning power back on.
Prevention, Deterrents, and Professional Help
Focus on cutting off food and access. Then use barriers and deterrents. If squirrels get inside or cause real damage, call licensed help to remove them and fix entry points.
How to Keep Squirrels Away from Your Property
Stop giving squirrels easy meals or shelter. Pick up fallen fruit and bring pet food indoors.
Use tight-sealing trash cans and secure compost bins so squirrels can’t snack. Switch to thistle-only bird seed and set feeders at least 10 feet from trees or roofs.
Trim tree branches back 6–8 feet from your roof. Slip spinning PVC over exposed wires to block their travel routes.
Seal gaps in soffits, vents, fascia, and chimneys with metal flashing or hardware cloth. Use a one-way exclusion door on attics so animals can leave but can’t re-enter.
Try a mix of deterrents: set out peppermint oil–soaked cotton, spray cayenne (just not on edible plants), or use commercial repellents around trouble spots.
Motion-activated sprinklers can break up digging and feeding in gardens and lawns.
Squirrel-Proofing Bird Feeders and Gardens
Get a squirrel-proof bird feeder or add a baffle above your feeder. Pick weight-sensitive feeders that close when a squirrel jumps on, or use wire cages for small birds only.
Move feeders farther from trees, fences, and utility lines. Protect garden beds with 1/2-inch chicken wire or buried mesh to block digging.
Plant bulbs like daffodils and alliums—squirrels hate those—around your vulnerable beds. Raised beds with tight lids help keep veggies safe, and netting covers young plants.
Rotate repellents and move decoys now and then so squirrels don’t get used to them. For bulbs, lay hardware cloth 2–3 inches under the soil so plants can grow but squirrels can’t dig.
Don’t feed squirrels on purpose—even tossing a few nuts just trains them to come back.
Trapping, Relocating, and When to Call a Pro
Always check your local laws before you try trapping squirrels. Some places really restrict relocation, even if you use live traps baited with peanut butter or sunflower seeds.
Pick a trap that’s the right size for squirrels, and check it often—no one wants a stressed-out animal sitting there for too long.
Got squirrels in your walls? If they’re chewing on wiring or nesting in your attic, it might be time to call a licensed wildlife removal or pest control company.
These pros know how to use safe exclusion methods, like one-way doors, and they can handle repairs with metal flashing or mesh. They’ll also deal with any wiring damage, which honestly, is a headache you don’t want.
Just skip the poisons and shooting, especially in neighborhoods. Not only is it usually illegal, but it’s also dangerous and doesn’t really solve the problem for good.
A professional can walk you through humane removal, help you understand what’s legal, and suggest ways to keep squirrels from coming back.
