How Small Should Chicken Wire Be to Keep Out Squirrels

Squirrels cause damage to buildings and gardens and are difficult to keep out.

One-inch Mesh is a Deterrent

To repel squirrels, 1-inch chicken wire is the minimum requirement. To protect gardens, bury a 1-inch gauge chicken wire fence 12-inches below ground--6-inches running vertically; the bottom 6-inches bent outward at 90-degrees. Create the same outward turn at the fence top, or extend wire over the garden forming a cage. Free-standing fences work reliably only if electrified and away from trees or "launching points."

Smaller Mesh is necessary in some situations

Use ½-inch mesh to keep out juveniles. Use ½-inch or ¼-inch to seal roof spaces--over time squirrels may force passage through larger mesh. Check squirrels---including juveniles---are out of the space before sealing. Females separated from their young will chew holes to reach them.

Bottom Line

One-inch chicken wire will deter squirrels from gardens, especially combined with an alternative food source provided outside the area. Laid over flower beds, this gauge deters digging. To keep squirrels away from buildings, a smaller gauge is necessary. All gauges are deterrent, not preventative.

References

• Colorado State University: Animal Pests in the Garden
• HGTV: Keeping Squirrels Away From Tomato Plants
• Fine Gardening: Chicken wire keeps squirrels from eating tulip bulbs
• The Humane Society of the United States: Solving Problems with Squirrels

Resources

• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Living With Wildlife: Tree Squirrels
• Wildlife Rescue League: Squirrels
• AA Animal Control: Squirrels in the Attic: How to Get Them out
• AA Animal Control: Professional Wildlife Removal
• Squirrel-attic.com: Squirrels in the Attic -- a Guide to Safe Removal