Is your lawn being taken over by pesky squirrels? Are they eating all of your plants and flowers, or dug up holes in your yard? Well, you’re not alone. If you’re like most homeowners, keeping squirrels off your property is probably high on your list of priorities.
These pesky critters can wreak havoc on your lawn, gardens, and even home, so it’s important to take steps to deter them from coming near. This article will teach you how to keep squirrels off your lawn so that you can enjoy your yard without having to worry about them, so read on for some helpful tips!
What Are Squirrels?
If you live in the United States or Canada, you’ve definitely come into contact with many squirrels throughout your life. These hardy animals are naturally found throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and even Africa. Their natural habitats are forests, but they have adapted to living near humans quite well – which is why you’ll find them all over many residential properties.
Squirrels are rodents that primarily eat tree seeds and nuts, but can be found anywhere – including in people’s backyards.
Squirrels can be recognized by their bushy tails and long, slender bodies. While squirrels don’t really pose much of a threat to humans, they can carry diseases that are harmful to people and animals, such as rabies, and they can do significant damage to properties if they decide to set up camp in your yard.
Why Are Squirrels In Your Lawn?
Squirrels are most likely in your lawn because they are searching for food, water, shelter, and a place to raise their families. If you have a bird feeder in your yard, chances are the squirrels have already found it – which is why you should consider taking it down if you don’t want them around.
They also love tree seeds and nuts, so if you have any trees with them on your property, squirrels are sure to come into contact with that area eventually.
How To Know If Squirrels Are In Your Garden
If you spot small, three-toed tracks or see nuts and seeds lying around the property, there’s a good chance that squirrels are living nearby. Squirrels love to live in trees and build nests, but will make their homes on the ground if there is nothing available for them to climb up. You’ll usually find squirrels digging through your yard or garden looking for food, building dens in your sheds and garages, and even chewing on wiring if they’re feeling desperate.
Squirrel burrows are typically two inches wide and shallow, and there’s typically no soil found around the hole. There may be food within, kept for the harsh winter months.
There are also certain squirrels that dig much deeper and even create tunnel networks in the dirt. They utilize it to build their nests as well.
How To Get Rid Of Squirrels
Since most homeowners don’t want to harm the wildlife in their yard, there are several effective ways of keeping squirrels out. Different methods may work better for some people than others, depending on the size of your property and the squirrels that happen to be infesting it.
Here are some tips and tricks for you to use when getting rid of squirrels.
Get Rid Of Food Sources
One of the most important things to do when getting rid of squirrels is to get rid of any food source that they may use. Squirrels are most likely hanging out in your yard because there is some kind of food source available – which could be a bird feeder or even seeds on the ground from fruit trees.
Be sure you take down any bird feeders, and make sure to keep your fruit trees pruned so that there isn’t anything for the squirrels to eat. Also, cover any and all trash cans and compost bins.
Also, remove or lock places they might use as a shelter or nest. Squirrels are small, so they need shelter that is big enough for them to fit inside. The problem with this is that the shelter also makes a great hiding spot for them to keep their food sources. If you have any sheds or garages on your property, be sure to lock the doors at night so squirrels can’t gain access to them.
Motion Sensor Devices
If you still have squirrels, even after removing their food and nest sources, there are several different devices on the market that will scare them away. These vary in effectiveness depending on where you are keeping the device, but they are all good at scaring off squirrels.
One type of motion sensor device is solar-powered and emits a high frequency sound to keep squirrels away. Another type is plugged into an electrical socket and will give off a loud noise when on, scaring any animals that come near it. It’s not guaranteed to work at all times, but it usually does the trick of keeping them away.
Motion sensor lights and sprinklers are also effective deterrents, as they will scare the squirrels throughout the night when they come into your yard.
Get A Dog
Probably the most effective way of keeping squirrels away is to get a dog. Dogs are natural hunters, and will love chasing any squirrels that come near. They also tend to dig up their dens, making it difficult for them to gain shelter. If you have chickens, geese or other poultry in your yard, this will help scare off any predators that may be looking to eat them.
You can use other products like fake owls or other natural squirrel predators, and place them around your garden.
Ending Thoughts
Squirrels can be a nuisance, but they are also cute and entertaining. It is important to know how to get rid of them if they are causing damage or becoming a health hazard.
While there is no foolproof way to keep squirrels from finding their way onto your property and wreaking havoc on your garden, there are a few things you can do to make it more difficult for them. First, remove all food sources from the area. This means keeping bird feeders out of reach, cleaning up any spilled food or garbage, and making sure that pet food is stored securely.
Second, install motion sensor devices around the edges of your property. These will startle the squirrels and scare them away before they have a chance to cause too much damage. Finally, try getting either a fake predator or a dog, which will be sure to chase any squirrels off your lawn.
Remember to never harm the squirrels, just relocate them away from your property. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your local animal control agency.
