Keep Squirrels At Bay With Long Term Prevention And Deterents
Thornhill residents often experience problems with squirrels entering attics, damaging property, and raiding gardens. Squirrels thrive in urban areas like Thornhill, regularly coming into conflict with humans as they seek food sources. These adaptable animals are persistent and clever, which makes squirrel control a growing need in the area. Understanding what squirrels hate can help homeowners prevent costly squirrel damage and avoid wildlife interactions.
What Attracts Squirrels in the First Place?
Food Sources and Shelter
Squirrels are drawn to food sources like bird feeders, sunflower seeds, and even homes with unsecured roofing materials to use as shelters. Once inside, they can gnaw wood and insulation as they seek shelter. Their ability to access tight areas allows them to cause significant damage in short periods.
Behaviour and Habits
Squirrels eat nuts, seeds, fruit, and even eat insects or frogs when needed. Their ability to adapt to both urban and natural settings makes them hard to deter without a targeted approach that takes into account squirrel behaviour. Left unchecked, new squirrels will continue to move into the same space.
Deter Squirrels with Prevention Tactics
Scents And Substances – Cayenne Pepper & Peppermint Oil
There are many smells and tastes squirrels hate, including cayenne pepper, peppermint oil, and coffee grounds. Hot peppers, due to their capsaicin content, are also effective in deterring squirrels. Even a few drops of vinegar or predator urine can act as a natural squirrel deterrent when applied with a spray bottle. These options offer safe and non-lethal ways to repel squirrels from common nesting areas.
Squirrel Repellent Techniques
To repel squirrels, many homeowners turn to store-bought squirrel repellent or choose to purchase predator urine to mimic natural predators. When it comes to deterring squirrels, using repellents made with natural ingredients is highly effective and eco-friendly. These repellents are most effective when combined with exclusion strategies and regular cleaning of access points.
Long-Term Humane Squirrel Removal Solutions
Keeping squirrels away means sealing entry points and using one way doors to humanely guide them out. Seeking expert wildlife control advice and professional removal services in Thornhill is crucial for long-term squirrel control solutions. Regular inspections of roofing materials can help prevent squirrels from entering in the first place. Use exclusion methods available from wildlife removal services to reduce the risk of future intrusions.
Outdoor Considerations
Protecting your vegetable garden is another key area of squirrel control. To keep squirrels away from gardens, consider practical solutions such as using natural repellents like rosemary, dryer sheets, and specific products designed to create barriers that squirrels dislike. Squirrels are notorious for digging up plant bulbs and raiding crops. Using natural deterrents around the garden can help prevent squirrels and other animals from gaining interest.
Securing Your Property
Securing your property is essential to prevent wildlife intrusions and protect your home from potential damage. One of the most effective ways to secure your property is by identifying and sealing any possible entry points for long term prevention.
Identifying and Sealing Entry Points
Wild animals, such as squirrels, raccoons, and birds, can gain access to your home through various entry points, including holes in the roof, vents, chimneys, and gaps in the walls. To keep squirrels or any other animals out, it’s crucial to identify and seal these entry points.
Here are some pro wildlife control steps to help you identify and seal up any entry points:
- Conduct a thorough inspection of your home’s exterior, including the roof, walls, and foundation. If you are not comfortable with this, contact a reputable wildlife control company for assistance.
- Look for holes, gaps, and cracks in the roofing materials, vents, and chimneys. Do not cover these holes if it looks like squirrels are already using them to gain entry, you may end up trapping them inside.
- Check for signs of wildlife activity, such as droppings, gnawed wood, and torn screens.
- Seal all entry spots using wire mesh, expanding foam, or steel wool.
- Install one-way doors or exclusion devices to allow wildlife to exit but prevent re-entry.
By identifying and sealing entry points, you can prevent wildlife intrusions and protect your home from potential damage.
Protecting Your Bird Feeders
Bird feeders can be a delightful addition to your backyard, but they can also attract unwanted wildlife, such as squirrels and raccoons. To protect your feeders and deter squirrels, follow these tips:
- Use squirrel-proof bird feeders or feeders with baffles to prevent squirrels from climbing.
- Place feeders at least 10 feet away from any structures that squirrels can use to jump to the feeder.
- Use squirrel repellents, such as peppermint oil, apple cider vinegar, or hot pepper spray, to deter squirrels from the bird feeder.
- Consider using a squirrel-deterrent bird feeder that uses weight-activated perches or other squirrel-deterrent features.
- Keep your feeder clean and well-maintained to prevent the buildup of debris and bacteria, and sweep up any fallen bird seed.
By protecting your bird feeders, you can enjoy watching birds visit your backyard without attracting unwanted wildlife.
Health Risks and Wildlife Concerns
Squirrels and Disease
It’s true that wild squirrels may cause significant damage or carry diseases and pose health risks to humans and pets, but the importance of humane treatment in the removal services cannot be overstated, insuring the animals are not harmed. When they chew their way into your roof or attic, they’re only looking for shelter from the cold or a safe space to have their babies and it’s hard to fault their intentions. However, their droppings, nesting materials, and close proximity to living areas can raise serious health concerns. Professional wildlife removal in Thornhill can help reduce this risk without causing harm to the animals.
Interaction with Other Wildlife
Squirrels often share territory with other wildlife, which can lead to unexpected encounters. Wildlife experts play a crucial role in managing these interactions, ensuring safe and effective solutions. It’s not uncommon for raccoons to occupy the same spaces. That’s why raccoon removal services and general wildlife removal support are often needed in addition to squirrel removal.
Humane Removal and Legal Considerations
The Importance of a Humane Approach
A humane approach to squirrel removal is essential when dealing with pest squirrels. Our wildlife removal experts focus on humane removal techniques that comply with legal restrictions. This ensures that the squirrels are evicted safely. Depending on the time of year, babies are removed as well, without any suffering.
Safe and Effective Resolution
Using humane methods, such as one way doors and cotton balls soaked in repellents, is both effective and ethical. These techniques allow us to offer a safe and effective resolution while maintaining respect for wildlife. Our removal services focus on long term prevention to stop squirrels from returning.
Wildlife Removal Services in Thornhill
Our wildlife control company provides professional squirrel removal in Thornhill and for other nuisance animals. Whether you’re dealing with fox squirrels, red squirrels, or ongoing intrusions, our team at Squirrel Control Thornhill offers proven reliable wildlife control services. With experience in exclusion, prevention, and humane squirrel removal, we help you reclaim your home without unnecessary stress.
Conclusion
Knowing what squirrels hate is the first step toward effective squirrel removal and control in Thornhill. From predator scents to natural deterrents and humane removal, there are many safe options to protect your home. Contact our wildlife control team to handle your squirrel problem quickly and responsibly.
