Facts About Squirrels
Squirrels are crafty creatures that are highly agile. They have an excellent jumping range, and they are expert climbers. This ability makes squirrels a force to be reckoned with when it comes to keeping them out of your bird feeders.
A squirrel’s front teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. They love to hunt, and they are constantly hoarding food. However, they lose some of this food to other squirrels because this animal is not afraid to steal snacks from its own species.
Squirrels are highly intelligent, and they can adapt to just about any environment. These are two other characteristics that make it hard to keep squirrels at bay. They can easily find ways to adapt to deterrents, so they no longer deter them.
Throughout the world, there are over 200 squirrel species. You can find this animal in almost every city in the United States. During the warm months, they may live alone and hunt in a solitary manner. However, when it is cold, it is not uncommon for squirrels to hang out in groups to stay warm and ensure they have enough food.
The most common squirrel in the United States is the eastern gray squirrel. They spend a lot of time in trees searching for seeds, nuts, and fruit.
Tips for Using Squirrel Deterrents
There are several deterrent methods you can use to scare squirrels so that they leave your property. When it comes to scare decoys, make sure to place them properly. Look for areas of your yard where squirrels frequent. These are the ideal places to put scare decoys.
You might also place these decoys in areas where you have birdseed, or where you are growing food. This action will help to keep squirrels out of these areas.
You might consider putting a baffle on your bird feeders. These allow enough space for birds to access birdseed, but squirrels are too large to get around them. Just make sure that the baffle that you choose is the right size for your bird feeder. This device should fully cover the top of your feeder. If it does not fully cover the feeder, squirrels can gain access.
It is best to start with one type of deterrent. This method allows you to measure its efficacy. Once you see a specific method is working, consider expanding your use of it to keep the squirrels at bay. If you notice a method is not working, replace it with one that is effective for stopping squirrels.
Other Ways to Deter Squirrels from Your Property
Squirrels can be sneaky, so it is ideal to use multiple methods to keep them away from your property. The following are tips to stop the squirrels from taking up residence in your yard:
- Do not put out any food since squirrels will go where they can find food
- Use scare decoys to scare them away from coming onto your property
- Use different squirrel deterrents, such as a baffle, to stop squirrels from getting into your birdseed
- Make sure that you frequently remove what attracts them, such as any nuts, seeds, and fruit that fall from your bird feeder, plants or trees
- Install a motion-activated sprinkler since squirrels do not like getting wet
- Use a spicy repellent on your flowers and bulbs to keep squirrels away from these areas
- Consider using humane traps to trap them and then remove them from your yard
- Plant flowers that squirrels do not like, such as snowdrops, daffodils, hyacinth, and allium
- Check your home for places where squirrels can enter and seal these off so that squirrels cannot get inside your home
Summary
Using a variety of squirrel deterrent methods is the best way to prevent these animals from overtaking your property. You also want to make sure that you are following all product instructions to ensure you are deterring squirrels as much as possible.
