Squirrels might look harmless, but they can cause serious problems — chewing through electrical wires, tearing up insulation, and raiding your garden or attic. If you’re spotting squirrel damage or hearing scratching in your walls, it’s time to act fast before the problem escalates.
Getting rid of squirrels in your yard starts with two steps: cutting off food sources and blocking access to your home. From there, you can use motion-activated sprinklers, ultrasonic repellents, or natural deterrents like peppermint oil and cayenne spray. These DIY options work best for minor problems, but if squirrels have made it indoors — or are damaging your wiring — you’ll need professional help.
Hiring a pest control expert costs around $300 to $600 for squirrel removal, depending on the size of the infestation and whether cleanup or exclusion repairs are needed. For persistent or attic-based problems, expect higher costs if entry points or wiring need repairs.
In this guide, we’ll discuss proven methods for repelling, removing, and preventing squirrels. We´ll also include expert recommendations for when it’s time to call a pro (Orkin, Terminix, or Aptive are some of the top pest control experts).
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
What Types of Squirrels Are There?
Squirrels may all seem the same, but there are many types, depending on what region you live in. Common types of squirrels in the United States include:
- Fox squirrels
- Gray squirrels
- Flying squirrels
- Ground squirrels
- American Red Squirrel
- Douglas Squirrels
Whether you want to get rid of ground squirrels, fox squirrels, gray squirrels, or any other type of squirrel, you can try the methods below.
How To Get Rid of Squirrels
Squirrels are persistent pests, especially when they’ve found a steady food source or shelter nearby. But you don’t need to be a professional exterminator to get them out of your yard or attic. Here’s how to handle it effectively:
1. Remove Food Sources
The first step is cutting off what’s attracting squirrels in the first place: food. Pick up fallen fruit, nuts, and bird seed. If you use a bird feeder, switch to a squirrel-proof model. Also, don’t leave pet food or unsecured trash outdoors. Squirrels will keep coming back as long as there’s something to snack on.
2. Use Motion-Activated Sprinklers
A motion-sensor sprinkler can startle squirrels enough to keep them off your lawn or garden. These devices are great for deterring squirrels from digging up flower beds or stealing vegetables. Just make sure they’re placed in areas with frequent squirrel activity.
3. Try Natural Deterrents
Squirrels dislike strong scents like peppermint, vinegar, ammonia, and cayenne. You can soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them near plants or entry points (but not directly on edible plants). A homemade spray made of cayenne pepper and water can also help deter chewing and digging.
4. Install Plastic Owls or Decoys
Fake owls or hawks can discourage squirrels from nesting nearby, since these are natural predators. For best results, move the decoys around your yard every few days so squirrels don’t catch on.
5. Let Your Pets Patrol the Yard
If you have a dog or cat that spends time outdoors, let them roam the yard occasionally. Their presence alone can discourage squirrel activity. Dogs, especially, tend to scare squirrels off by barking or chasing.
6. Seal Entry Points Into Your Home
If squirrels have made it inside your attic, garage, or crawlspace, sealing off entry points is critical. Look for gaps in soffits, vents, fascia, and roofing. Use hardware cloth or steel mesh to block openings—squirrels can chew through softer materials like foam or wood. You may need to set up a one-way exit door before sealing the hole to prevent trapping them inside.
7. Use Squirrel Traps (Where Legal)
Live traps baited with peanut butter or nuts can work if you’re dealing with a persistent squirrel inside your home or garage. But trapping laws vary by location, so check your state or city regulations first. In many areas, releasing a squirrel off-site is prohibited or requires a permit.
8. Avoid Lethal Methods
Shooting or poisoning squirrels is rarely a good solution. In many residential areas, it’s illegal, dangerous, and ineffective long-term. Even if legal in your region, it’s not worth the risks or potential fines.
9. Call a Professional
If squirrels have chewed through wiring, nested in your attic, or keep coming back after multiple DIY attempts, it’s time to call in a pro. Wildlife control specialists can trap and remove squirrels safely and then help seal up your home to prevent a repeat issue. Expect to pay around $300 to $600, but the peace of mind is usually worth it.
Pest Management or Animal Control?
If you’re ready to bring in a professional for a squirrel problem, it’s easy to get confused about who to call — pest control or animal control. While these services overlap, there are key differences that can affect who’s best for the job.
Pest control companies typically deal with smaller pests like insects, mice, or rats. Some also handle squirrels, but not all do. Their main tools are traps, baits, and chemical treatments, which are better suited for small-scale or indoor infestations.
Animal control or wildlife removal services, on the other hand, specialize in dealing with larger animals, including squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, and bats. These companies are trained in humane removal and relocation, and they’re better equipped to handle animals that have nested in attics, crawlspaces, or walls.
If squirrels are inside your home or causing significant property damage, go with a licensed wildlife removal expert. They can safely trap and remove the animals, then help seal up your home to prevent future issues. Pest control services can still be a good option if you’re dealing with outdoor activity or want help managing attractants like food and nesting materials.
In short: if squirrels are outside and you’re looking for deterrents, pest control may be enough. But if they’re inside or causing major damage, wildlife removal is the way to go.
How To Keep Squirrels Away
Once you’ve gotten rid of squirrels, your next move is to make sure they don’t come back. One of the biggest attractants is bird seed, so start by switching to a squirrel-proof bird feeder. These feeders use cages or weight-sensitive perches to block access, and they work best when placed away from trees, roofs, or other launch points squirrels can jump from.
Your garden choices can also help. Squirrels avoid certain plants with strong smells or bitter tastes, like daffodils, hyacinths, alliums, and snowdrops. Planting these around the edges of your garden beds can help keep squirrels from digging up more desirable flowers or vegetables.
Squirrels often reach rooftops by running along utility lines or jumping from nearby tree limbs. To stop this, you can cover non-electrical wires with spinning PVC pipe to knock them off balance. Also trim any overhanging branches so they don’t have a direct runway onto your roof. Once you’ve blocked access, check for gaps in soffits, vents, and fascia boards — these are common squirrel entry points. Seal them with heavy-duty mesh or flashing to keep squirrels from getting inside.
Strong odors can also work as deterrents. Ammonia-soaked rags, vinegar, and predator urine products placed near entry points or nesting areas can make squirrels think the area isn’t safe. Just be careful using these in gardens or areas where children and pets play.
In areas where it’s legal, you can use live traps baited with peanut butter or sunflower seeds to catch stubborn squirrels. But always check your local laws before trapping or relocating wildlife—some areas require permits, and others ban it altogether.
For full yard protection, especially in gardens or around sheds, consider installing a barrier fence. A mesh fence at least 30 inches tall and buried six inches underground can help stop ground squirrels. If squirrels are a frequent issue in your area, you might even consider an electric deterrent fence—just make sure it’s allowed in your municipality.
Finally, don’t overlook the basics: tightly seal your trash cans, secure compost bins, and clean up any spilled food regularly. If squirrels are digging up your flower bulbs, lay chicken wire just below the soil surface. The plants will grow through, but squirrels won’t be able to get to them.
How To Identify Squirrels
Squirrels and chipmunks are often confused for one another, even though their physical differences are pretty stark. They’re both common yard pests that are part of the Sciuridae family, also known as the squirrel family. However, they should be dealt with in different ways, which is why identification is important.
Squirrels are typically grayish and have a prominent, bushy tail, while chipmunks are characterized by a shorter, flat tail and a distinct stripe on their back.
Chipmunks live in the ground, while squirrels are tree lovers who live in holes in trees left by woodpeckers. They create nests made up of twigs, moss, leaves, and other materials packed into these holes. In general, squirrels prefer to live high up in trees, while chipmunks create burrows in the ground. Squirrels are also notably bigger than chipmunks and can be up to 20 inches long and weigh a pound and a half.
Squirrels can spread diseases to humans via a bite or saliva, so they can be dangerous. Squirrel bites are rare, but it’s best to seek immediate medical attention for your injury if you’re bitten.
The larger health risk that squirrels pose to us is their habit of chewing up wires. If they get into our cars or homes, they’re likely to damage wiring with their constant chewing, which can present a severe fire hazard to anyone living within the house.
Signs of a Squirrel Infestation
Squirrels don’t always make their presence obvious — especially if they’ve settled into your attic or walls. But there are a few clear signs to watch for. One of the first clues is noise: scratching, scurrying, or gnawing sounds in the ceiling or behind walls, particularly early in the morning or late afternoon when squirrels are most active. You might also notice small droppings, which look similar to rat feces but slightly larger and more rounded.
Outside, look for damage to your garden or fruit trees, including half-eaten vegetables, stripped bark, or dug-up bulbs. If your bird feeder is constantly emptied or spilled, squirrels may be to blame. Look for nests made of leaves, twigs, and moss tucked into trees, soffits, or attic spaces. These often resemble large clumps of debris but are carefully constructed dens for shelter and raising young.
Gnawed electrical wires inside your home are a major red flag, especially in attics, garages, or even vehicles parked outside. Squirrels have a constant need to chew, and exposed wiring can quickly become a fire hazard. Damaged insulation, torn ductwork, or visible entry points around vents and roofing are all strong indicators of a squirrel problem.
If you’re noticing any combination of these signs, it’s time to take action. The longer squirrels stay, the more damage they’ll cause.
What Attracts Squirrels To My Home?
Squirrels are always on the hunt for food and shelter. If your yard offers either, they’ll keep coming back. The biggest draw is food, and squirrels eat a wide variety of things: nuts, acorns, fruit, vegetables, fungi, bird seed, and even leftover human food. If you’ve got unsecured trash, fallen fruit, overflowing bird feeders, or pet food left outside, you’re basically rolling out the welcome mat.
They’re also attracted to gardens and compost bins, especially if they contain kitchen scraps or vegetable waste. Some squirrels will dig up flower bulbs or nibble on fresh sprouts, so unprotected planting beds are another easy target.
Shelter is the second major factor. Squirrels look for safe, warm places to nest, such as attics, crawlspaces, chimneys, and garages. Overhanging branches, utility wires, and small gaps in soffits or vents make it easy for them to climb onto your roof and sneak inside. Once in, they’ll settle in quickly, especially during colder months or when they’re raising young.
To keep squirrels from making themselves at home, focus on removing their access to food and closing off potential nesting spots. The fewer resources they can find on your property, the less likely they are to stick around.
Final Thoughts on How To Get Rid of Squirrels
Getting rid of squirrels isn’t always easy, but it’s absolutely doable if you take the right approach. Start with simple DIY methods: Remove food sources, block off access points, and use deterrents like peppermint oil, motion-activated sprinklers, or decoy predators. These tactics often work well for outdoor squirrel problems or early signs of activity.
But if squirrels have already made their way into your attic, damaged your insulation, or started chewing wires, it’s time to call in a professional. Wildlife control experts can safely remove the animals, identify all entry points, and help seal up your home to prevent future infestations. Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $600 for professional squirrel removal, though costs may rise if repairs or cleanup are involved.
At the end of the day, prevention is cheaper and easier than dealing with damage after the fact. If you’ve tried the DIY route and squirrels keep coming back, don’t wait—reach out to a licensed pest or wildlife control company in your area and get a quote. The longer squirrels stay, the more expensive the problem becomes.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, squirrels do have natural predators, including hawks, owls, foxes, raccoons, snakes, and even domestic cats. However, these predators don’t usually control squirrel populations in residential areas. Squirrels are fast, agile, and good at staying out of reach. So while a dog or outdoor cat might scare a few off, you shouldn’t rely on natural predators alone to manage a squirrel problem around your home.
You can squirrel-proof outdoor wires and cables, and you should — especially if you’ve seen squirrels walking power lines or chewing on cables. One effective method is to cover wires with PVC pipe or lightweight plastic tubing. When a squirrel tries to walk across the wire, the pipe spins and throws them off balance, making it hard for them to use it as a path into your home. This small step can help protect your attic, soffits, and even vehicles from costly wire damage.
Ultrasonic repellents can help in some situations, but they’re not a guaranteed fix. These devices emit high-frequency sound waves that irritate squirrels, but their effectiveness depends on placement, area size, and how often squirrels are exposed to them. They work best as part of a multi-method approach, especially in enclosed spaces like attics or garages. Keep in mind that pets may also hear these frequencies, so use caution if you have cats or dogs.
Most repellents — like cayenne pepper spray, peppermint oil, or motion-activated sprinklers — work on common squirrel types like gray squirrels, fox squirrels, and ground squirrels. But they’re less effective for flying squirrels or tree-dwelling species that avoid the ground entirely. If you’re dealing with an unusual species or nothing seems to work, it’s worth identifying the squirrel type and adjusting your strategy. A pest control expert or local wildlife service can help with identification and tailored removal options.
