How to Keep Squirrels From Gnawing on the House

Tree stumps are a more appropriate squirrel chews than your house.

Squirrels are prone to gnawing. They must gnaw a lot to stop their teeth overgrowing. If your house is made from timber or another soft material, local squirrels may become nuisances chewing away at the walls. Techniques exist encouraging squirrels to gnaw something else. These techniques include physical, natural and chemical repellents.

Things You'll Need

• Scrap wood
• Cayenne pepper, capsaicin, commercial squirrel repellents, garlic or onions
• Soap
• Hardware cloth or metal sheeting
• Basic tools

Instructions

1. Stop feeding squirrels in the immediate proximity of your house, whether on purpose or inadvertently with birdfeeders. Move bird and squirrel feeders as far from your house as practical, preferably at least several dozen yards. Add some scrap wood or old logs near the new feeder site. Scrap wood could be more appealing to gnaw than a repellent-covered house.

2. Wipe or spray noxious-tasting substances on the areas squirrels gnaw. Substances repellent to squirrels include cayenne pepper or capsaicin, and commercial repellents and sprays made with garlic or onions. Rubbing a bar of soap over the area also repels to squirrels, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

3. Attach hardware cloth or sheet metal that squirrels cannot gnaw through to the house's base.

4. Cutting back overhanging trees denies squirrels access to higher levels. Sheet metal cylinders prevent squirrels from climbing trees or posts.

Tips & Warnings

• To make a garlic or onion spray, finely chop several cloves or a bulb, pass through a blender with water and sieve into a spray bottle.

References

• University of Kentucky; Managing Tree Squirrel Problems in Kentucky; Thomas G. Barnes; October 1990
• Thhe Humane Society of the United States; Solving Problems With Squirrels; October 2009
• National Gardening Association; Pest Control in Gardens