Squirrels chew on wood because their teeth never stop growing. Gnawing helps keep those teeth the right length. They’ll also chew wood to make nests or hunt for food. Once you know this, it’s easier to figure out why your deck, fence, or siding has bite marks—and what you can actually do about it.
Most folks want simple fixes that protect their homes without hurting the animals. In this article, you’ll get a look at what drives squirrels to chew, how to spot the damage, and some practical steps you can try to stop the chewing before it turns into a big repair bill.
Understanding Why Squirrels Chew on Wood
Squirrels chew wood to manage their teeth, build nests, mark their territory, and reach food. You’ll see some practical reasons for all this gnawing—plus which types of wood they seem to like or avoid.
Natural Instincts and Tooth Maintenance
A squirrel’s front teeth just keep growing. You’ll catch them gnawing wood to wear those incisors down and keep them sharp.
If their teeth get too long, squirrels can’t eat or even groom themselves very well.
They usually go for softer woods like pine or cedar since those are easier to file down. Hardwoods don’t wear teeth as quickly, so squirrels only use them when there aren’t softer options around.
People who keep squirrels in captivity give them untreated wood blocks to chew. That protects furniture and keeps the animals away from chemicals.
Don’t use pressure-treated wood for chew toys or branches. Those chemicals can mess up a squirrel’s health if it gets inside them.
Stick with plain, untreated branches from tree species you know are safe.
Nesting Behavior and Territory Marking
You’ll spot chewed twigs and bark tucked inside dreys—those squirrel nests up in the trees. Squirrels strip bark and break small branches to make a warm, padded nest lining.
Chewing helps them shape the materials so everything fits together tightly.
When squirrels gnaw, they leave scent from cheek glands behind. That scent marks territory and tells other squirrels, “Hey, this spot’s taken.” Sometimes, you’ll even hear the chewing as a territorial warning, especially in yards with a lot of squirrel activity.
If you keep seeing chewing around the same tree or beam, that spot probably serves as both a nest supply and a scent-marking post.
Food Access and Seasonal Factors
Squirrels chew bark and wood to get to food layers like cambium, buds, or sap—especially in lean months. In late fall and winter, when nuts and seeds run low, you’ll notice more gnawing on trunks and branches as they reach for those nutrients under the bark.
Chewing also ramps up when they’re raiding stored caches hidden in wood or going after fruit and nut trees. Fruit trees can take a beating because squirrels eat the good stuff first, then chew wood while they’re at it.
If wood is pressure-treated, squirrels usually avoid it for the taste or smell. But if there’s untreated wood nearby, they’ll go for that instead.
Try protecting vulnerable trees with guards or offer alternative chewing materials to cut down on the damage.
How to Prevent Squirrels from Chewing Wood
Start by blocking easy access, clearing out food and hiding spots, and giving squirrels safer things to chew. You’ll want a mix of barriers, repellents, and a few habitat tweaks to protect your wood without hurting the animals.
Physical Barriers and Installation Tips
Put up metal flashing around eaves, fascia, deck posts, and the tops of fences. Use 26-gauge (or thicker) flashing and overlap joints by at least two inches to keep squirrels from reaching wood edges.
Screw the flashing down—don’t just use adhesive.
Attach hardware cloth (with 1/4 to 1/2 inch mesh) under decks, around vents, and over any holes. Bend it into a skirt or cone where squirrels like to climb. Use galvanized screws and washer heads so they can’t yank it loose.
For fences, add a 24 to 36-inch band of smooth metal or a roll of porcupine wire near the top. Make sure the barrier sits at least six inches above the wood so squirrels can’t just chew at the edge.
Check these setups every season and fix any gaps as soon as you spot them.
Using Squirrel Repellents and Deterrents
Try a commercial squirrel repellent that’s labeled safe for wood and outdoor use. Follow the directions and reapply after heavy rain. Always test a small, hidden spot first to make sure it doesn’t mess up your finish.
If you want something more natural, make a hot-pepper spray with capsaicin-based products. Wear gloves and eye protection, and spray short bursts on the spots squirrels love to chew every two to four weeks—or after rain.
Don’t spray where pets or kids play.
Set up motion-activated sprinklers near decks, fences, or garden beds. These give squirrels a harmless scare and help cut down on repeat visits.
If local reviews say they work, try adding ultrasonic devices too.
Providing Alternative Chewing Materials
Put out a few safe chew items to distract squirrels from your wood. Use untreated hardwood blocks, pine cones, or store-bought rodent chew sticks. Place them 10 to 20 feet from your house or fence, and swap them out regularly to keep squirrels interested.
Try a squirrel-proof bird feeder to remove easy food sources from the ground. Feeders that close under squirrel weight or sit on baffles make it less tempting for squirrels to hang around your wood. Sweep up spilled seed daily so they don’t find snacks under the feeder.
If squirrels keep taking wood for their nests, install nesting boxes in nearby trees. Put them 12 to 20 feet high and away from your house eaves.
This gives squirrels a legal home base and helps keep your structures safe from chewing.
Managing the Outdoor Environment
Cut back any overhanging branches so limbs sit at least 6–8 feet from roofs, decks, or fences. Squirrels love a good launch point, so giving them a bigger gap makes it harder for them to reach your house.
Prune all the way back to healthy wood. Go ahead and pull down those climbing vines, too.
Pick up any fallen fruit right away. Bring pet food inside, and make sure compost bins are locked up tight.
If you’ve got brush piles or stacked firewood, move them at least 20 feet from your house. Better yet, stack firewood on raised racks with hardware cloth underneath.
Every month, take a walk around your property. Check for fresh chew marks, new holes, or anything that looks like a barrier coming loose.
Fix these issues as soon as you spot them. Trust me, quick repairs now will save you a lot of hassle (and cash) down the road.
