How do I send squirrels packing?

[dorriP]

They're cute little things until you get an invasion of them. We have too many and they are chewing and damaging things, making holes and a mess everywhere. What can I use to deter them. I prefer not to go to extremes in exterminating them, but would opt to get them out of my yard?

[GroomingTuna]

squirrel catapult.

[dorriP]

assuming that this is a product, what is it, and where can I get it?

[stealth]

I don't think there's much you can do othe than poison or traps, neier of which i would recommend, and I bet there's too many of them for that to be entirely effective.
I think I heard chili peppe powder or something deters them, might want to sprinkle some in our yard where they dig.

[Cough]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2wz7_YimbBc/So14gJMtS7I/AAAAAAAAB14/Zp3r7tvLx2U/s400/squirrel-lamp.jpg

Be creative

[dorriP]

That might be a whole lot of chili pepper but I can try. I think they nested in our yard and have babies. Do squirrels eventually go their separate ways, or do they keep hanging around and multiplying?

[stealth]

That might be a whole lot of chili pepper but I can try. I think they nested in our yard and have babies. Do squirrels eventually go their separate ways, or do they keep hanging around and multiplying?

You mean you think they burrowed underground?
I've never had this experience. Squirrels always seemed fairly transient to me.

[dorriP]

The squirrels that we see and hear are in the trees, but last year we had something burrowing under our front step. It was either squirrels or rabbits. My husband sealed it off by suspending a wire grill deep down into the ground so they couldn't chew through it, but this year something is making a tunnel under our front steps again but on the other side of the step. We don't see any rabbits this year so it must be squirrels.
I have to laugh and I'm reminded of the movie CaddyShack with Chevy Chase in it I think, but it was gophers that were outsmarting him. My husband was first trying all kinds of things to get rid of squirrels and rabbits to no avail, there would always be more holes and they would outsmart him on a daily basis until he finally came up with the grill idea?

[straysheepie]

I recommend exterminating them. I just heard about a family member's friend whose squirrel problem got out of hand over the years, and they didn't realize the full extent until they hired someone to put a new roof on. Discovered lots of structural and roof bits chewed and destroyed totaling > $100k in damage!!

Who woulda thought!!

[woof]

I had something burrowing under my front steps. The size of the tunnel was too large for anything like a squirrel. I'm pretty sure it was a skunk although I never actually saw anything. Very persistent, when I blocked off an opening he would just move over and start again. I finally blocked off the whole area along the steps and that ended it. Around here squirrels go for vent openings and attics and rabbits don't tunnel.

[koffey]

Trap and release. Pick up a trap and relocated them in the night and make them someone elses problem.

[jedi1648]

I had a chipmunk hole in front of hour door on the lawn, close to my interlock walkway. I tried plugging it with pebbles, then insulation foam, etc. and wasnt successful. The chipmunks either pushed the pebbles out, or dug another hole next to it. I then poured half a can of old old paint into the hole, but it dug another hole into it, and I poured the rest of can into it, it finally left, as I could see their white footprints on my lawn. I guess u can use chili power, or some old engine oil and they may work.

[actng]

you need to buy some of my dog's hair. i have bags full of them. buy my dog's coat and spread the fur all over your yard (or near their entry points) and it will scare them away.

i know this sounds like i'm trolling you but i'm absolutely serious. marijuana growers buy dog hair/fur to protect their crops also.

my friend also did the same thing to stop the bunnies from coming into his backyard.

let me know if you're interested.

[MS MSP]

Critter Ridder or similar

https://www.rona.ca/en/repellent---critter-ridder-animal-repellent

[brian.gerson]

0.177 calibre air rifle + teenage boy = freedom from squirrels, at least for a while.

[Alanaaaaa]

Critter Ridder or similar

https://www.rona.ca/en/repellent---critter-ridder-animal-repellent

I'm having the same problem with squirrels digging up my yard/grass to the point where it is a disaster. Critter Ridder says it's non-toxic, etc, but does anyone know what is actually in it? Is it safe to put down and then have my kids play and crawl around in the yard?

[dorriP]

you need to buy some of my dog's hair. i have bags full of them. buy my dog's coat and spread the fur all over your yard (or near their entry points) and it will scare them away.

i know this sounds like i'm trolling you but i'm absolutely serious. marijuana growers buy dog hair/fur to protect their crops also.

my friend also did the same thing to stop the bunnies from coming into his backyard.

let me know if you're interested.

I have 2 dogs of my own, they get clipped 3-4 times a year so it's not in short supply around here, but hey man, I read that some squirrels use actual dog hair to build their nests, so I will forgo that idea, but thanks anyway.

[dorriP]

I've been doing some research on squirrels and find there is up to 400 varieties so one area may differ from another. Now they say chipmunks nest on the ground and usually burrow under steps and stone walls Too me, they all look like squirrels but there is a slight difference, coloring for one, a chipmunk is more brownish, with more pronounced stripes, is smaller and tail is shorter and not as bushy as the grey squirrel's. A chipmunk holds it's tail erect when moving. They nest on the ground while most squirrels nest in trees.

[Xeros]

I have 2 dogs of my own, they get clipped 3-4 times a year so it's not in short supply around here, but hey man, I read that some squirrels use actual dog hair to build their nests, so I will forgo that idea, but thanks anyway.

Can't you set the dogs loose on the squirrels?

My dog would bring home birds and mice he caught. He almost got a raccoon, but I managed to grab the raccoon first and tossed it into the park.

[aqnd]

Can't you set the dogs loose on the squirrels?

That's only effective if the dogs live outside.
If they're stuck inside behind a closed door, the squirrel just laughs and destroys your garden >:(

The only effective way to get rid of them is trap and release. Take them somewhere more desirable, e.g. a conservation area, park, etc. where they won't want to return.

[Zamboni]

You see any large birds nest with leaves in your trees? Smash that, its a squirrels nest.....have your dogs harrassing them that day and they'll rebuild elsewhere.

[dibksbgon]

Opening my yard open for you all to drop your "vermin" off at my house.

(I actively feed the squirrels and chipmunks).

[DrXenon]

(I actively feed the squirrels and chipmunks).

Be glad I don't know where you live, because I would spray paint "Fink" on your Corolla.

[synaptech]

They're cute little things until you get an invasion of them. We have too many and they are chewing and damaging things, making holes and a mess everywhere. What can I use to deter them. I prefer not to go to extremes in exterminating them, but would opt to get them out of my yard?

Seal all entrances preferable with one way door and wait. Depends somewhat on which type you have. You should probably call a professional.

[actng]

Can't you set the dogs loose on the squirrels?

My dog would bring home birds and mice he caught. He almost got a raccoon, but I managed to grab the raccoon first and tossed it into the park.

when i read this i thought your dog was brave to fight a raccoon... then i realized it was just stupid cuz it doesn't know what rabies are... then i read that you grabbed the raccoon lol

[dorriP]

That's only effective if the dogs live outside.
If they're stuck inside behind a closed door, the squirrel just laughs and destroys your garden >:(

The only effective way to get rid of them is trap and release. Take them somewhere more desirable, e.g. a conservation area, park, etc. where they won't want to return.

The squirrels laugh anyway, because my two dogs are walking around oblivious to what's going on around them and over their heads. When they do see one in sight, they chase it, but the squirrels are much quicker than they are.



When trapping, how far from home need you take them without them finding their way back?
Where do I get squirrel traps?

[Andex]

Why do you think Canadian tire sells so many air guns? Get one, use it and send those tree rats to the big tree in the sky.

[smp]

I admit to considering the air gun approach myself ... but, isn't it illegal? What are the consequences if one gets caught actively killing squirrels?

When I was younger I thought they were cute ... now I'm a home owner and I hate them!!!

[brian.gerson]

I admit to considering the air gun approach myself ... but, isn't it illegal? What are the consequences if one gets caught actively killing squirrels?

When I was younger I thought they were cute ... now I'm a home owner and I hate them!!!

I think technically you need a small game license if you are "hunting" them, and you can bet Toronto has a bylaw prohibiting such. But if you are just exterminating pests, and you are discreet about it: "Shoot, Shovel and Shut Up".

[hagbard]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioCnQc-QT5E

[Xeros]

when i read this i thought your dog was brave to fight a raccoon... then i realized it was just stupid cuz it doesn't know what rabies are... then i read that you grabbed the raccoon lol

Actually it was a pair of baby raccoons that wandered over into our yard, I figured the mother was somewhere nearby. My dog is very protective of the yard, so any intrusion by another animal is unwanted. So he cornered them and I grabbed both the babies and tossed them into the park forest across the street. Animal problem solved! He was a great dog... my two new dogs are too stupid to catch anything, plus, they'd rather be friends with squirrels than chase them away. Idiots.