Best Squirrel Deterrents
11–12 minutes to read | Updated for 2018
Whether you are dealing with squirrels overtaking or damaging birdfeeders, building nests in your attic, or increasing the risk of rabies or disease-carrying fleas around your pets, these rodents can be an aggravating issue.
If the squirrels are gorging themselves on your birdfeeders, you have likely seen it over and over and know it’s a problem. If you hear scratching, rustling, or clicking type of sounds in your attic or roof, or see signs of droppings, there’s a good chance you have an infestation. Prevention is best, so using deterrents to keep squirrels out of your attic is a smart move.
Squirrels can not only spread dangerous diseases to both pets and humans but can also damage electrical components and insulation in your house. Squirrels are rodents with front incisor teeth that never stop growing. So, they’re always in search for something to nibble on to keep these front teeth the right size. This can cause wiring damage and even create fire hazards in your home.
You might have any number of these issues or concerns, but also feel opposed to using poison or traps. Perhaps you just want them to stay away from your flower beds or bird seed. It’s because of these reasons we’ve rounded up our top five squirrel deterrents for 2018.
What’s In This Guide
Best Scare Owl
Dalen Natural Enemy Scarecrow Great Horned Owl
The Dalen Natural Enemy Scarecrow Great Horned Owl is a realistic scarecrow type of deterrent to small rodents. The Great Horned Owl is among Dalen’s all-time best sellers, with realistic molding, painting, and eyes. The vivid amber-colored eyes look strikingly realistic and menacing to small rodents and other birds. Several Customers rated this decoy highly for squirrel problems specifically.
Product Features
- Measures 7” x 7” x 16”
- Roughly $16 for one decoy.
- Weighs 11.2 ounces.
- Removable cap on bottom for inserting weight to hold decoy down.
PRO
- Can be moved around from porches to gardens—wherever needed.
- Lightweight for easy portability.
- Vibrant eyes to scare off squirrels.
- Realistic size of a bird of prey.
- Budget-friendly.
- Can be weighted via hole on the bottom.
- Hand-painted in the USA.
CON
- Some customers only found it effective for a short time.
Best Hawk Decoy
briteNway Premium Fake Flying Hawk Decoy
The briteNway Premium Bird Repellent Fake Flying Hawk Decoy is similar to the concept of the owl decoy. However, hawks do hunt during the day and are not nocturnal like owls. This decoy also hangs, so can move with wind or swaying tree branches, adding to its scarecrow repelling quality.
You can move this decoy around to different places to delay a persistent squirrel from catching on. It is made of durable plastic, and the wings can be removed to save space if you store it for a season.
Product Features
- Measures 20.2” x 5” x 3.8”
- Weighs 10.4 ounces.
- The company offers a money back guarantee.
- $17.50 for one decoy.
- Thick string and metal circle hook for hanging.
- Deterrent for all sorts of small rodents.
PRO
- Realistic wing-span and eyes to deter rodents.
- Can move with the wind to aid in scaring off pests.
- Daytime hunting bird of prey to scare daytime rodents.
- Life-like eyes.
- Wings can be removed for easier storage.
- Affordable.
CON
- Some customers found it ineffective, especially in deterring other birds.
Best Scare Cats
Homarden OneLeaf Garden Scare Cats
This set of Homarden OneLeaf Garden Scare Cats comes as a set of three black cats with vibrant green eyes. These decoys are in three poses: frightened cat, stalking cat, and sitting cat. With the pack of three, you can place them in various places around your home or yard for multiple deterrents.
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Used for scaring off all sorts of rodents and smaller birds. These scare cats are made of galvanized steel with green marble eyes for long-lasting wear through the seasons. They come with spade stakes for the ground and hooks with small holes in the “cats” if you prefer to attach them to the hooks for slight movement in the wind. As a bonus, they can look great as an autumn decoration for your yard or windows.
Product Features
- Measures 14.6” x 8.3” x 1.3”
- Item weight is 6.5 pounds.
- Just under $17 for a set of three.
- Made of steel and marbles.
- Stakes and hooks included.
PRO
- Excellent customer ratings
- Attractive visual deterrent.
- Vivid eyes stand out to scare off rodents.
- Ground hook option offers additional “scare” effect of subtle movement of cats.
- Pack of three for larger yards.
- Low price for three-pack.
- Galvanized steel for extended wear.
CON
- If cats are left in the same place for too long, rodents can catch on.
Best Spikes
Bird-X Stainless Steel Bird Spikes Kit
The Bird-X Stainless Steel Bird Spikes Kit is an excellent solution if you have squirrels getting onto your roof, into flower pots or flower beds, or other areas you don’t just want to discourage them from but entirely keep them off. Available in a variety of lengths and packs, you can cover as little as 10 feet or several hundred feet depending on your needs.
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These spikes are on a bendable base for curved surfaces and are a permanent solution. Whereas some scaring preventions can wear off as squirrels figure them out, rodents will never want to walk on these spikes. These can be applied with nails, adhesive, screws, or tie downs.
Product Features
- Comes in 10’, 24’, 50’, and 100’ lengths.
- Ten-foot strip measures 5” x 5” with spikes.
- Ten-foot strip weighs 1.61 pounds.
- Stainless steel with a poly base.
- Just over $20 to cover 10 feet.
- Ten-year warranty.
PRO
- Durable stainless steel.
- Permanent solution.
- Outstanding amount of five-star customer reviews.
- Flexible surface to mold to various shapes.
- Can be installed or held down in numerous ways.
- Also repels most birds.
- Includes 10-year warranty.
CON
- Some intelligent birds can use it as a reinforced nesting area.
Best Hot Pepper Sauce
Cole’s FS16 Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce
Cole’s Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce is targeted more for squirrels who will not stay out of your birdseed or birdfeeders. This seed sauce is a nutritional birdseed supplement that is made of all-natural food grade ingredients combined with a super spicy flavor. The trick is that it tastes hot to mammals but not to wild birds. So, squirrels get one taste of your birdseed and will leave it alone for the birds.
Made with the meat of sunflowers and coated in a peppery sauce. Designed with a super spicy Cajun flavor that can be mixed into or drizzled on bird seed. Use caution not to get this on your skin or anywhere near your eyes.
Product Features
- One container is 16 ounces.
- Around $22 for one bottle.
- Use gloves and filter mask while dispensing.
- Can work on up to 30 pounds of bird seed.
- Do not allow the product to get on plants to avoid burning delicate leaves.
PRO
- Birds love the flavor.
- Liquid formula won’t blow eye-irritant dust.
- All-natural, 100 percent food grade.
- Non-toxic, just spicy.
- No unsightly visual deterrent.
- Made in the USA.
CON
- Squirrels in specific regions seem unfazed by it.
- Must use caution not to get on skin or in eyes.
Best Spicy Bird Seed
Cole’s Blazing Hot Blend Bird Seed
The Cole’s Blazing Hot Blend Bird Seed is a traditional blend of desired seeds that are protected by hot habanero chilies. Birds can’t seem to get enough, but the spice is a strong repellent for squirrels. The extremely hot blend is a 100 percent all-natural, non-toxic way to fend off squirrels from your birdfeeder.
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It comes in a five-pound plastic bag. Be sure to wear gloves while handling and wash hands afterward. Do not rub eyes after use before washing hands, as the habanero will cause intense pain if it gets in your eyes. If you have sensitive lungs, we recommend using a filter mask while pouring this into your birdfeeder.
Product Features
- Five-pound bag (4.95 pounds of seed).
- Around $19 for five pounds.
- Seed blend is pre-mixed with spicy seasoning.
- Wear gloves and use caution not to rub eyes when handling.
PRO
- Highly rated, especially in northern areas.
- Non-toxic.
- Attracts a variety of birds.
- Can be mixed with Cole’s Sauce for more effective results.
- No visual deterrents to look at in yard.
- Spice does not bother birds but is super-spicy to mammals.
CON
- Ineffective on squirrels in some regions.
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read moreThe Surprising Hazards of Squirrels
Squirrels can be more than just frustration for those who love to maintain birdfeeders. These rodents are certainly aggravating to those with birdseed and or if they are digging in flower beds. However, they also pose some surprising health risks.
The first thing that is likely to come to your mind with squirrels and disease is rabies. Rabies is a genuine threat, as squirrels are one of the animals with more potential to contract rabies. Even if you have vaccinated pets, rabies can still result in feral behavior and bites or scratches. However, rabies is by far not the only health risk from squirrels.
Plague might seem like something that is ancient history but believe it or not it is still existent today. One of the most dangerous risks of the disease are fleas on rodents such as squirrels. Moreover, plague is active in the western United States, especially in areas such as Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico.
The bacteria that causes plague is spread by fleas and rotates naturally among wild rodents. Plague can also infect both humans and their pets. Bubonic plague is the most prevalent type of the disease. Bubonic plague most often occurs after being bitten by an infected flea—usually from rodents such as squirrels or from a flea infestation that came from these small animals.
Prevention Is Best
Whether you’re just looking to keep squirrels out of your birdfeeders or want them to stay out of your attic, these deterrents are some of the best ways to keep squirrels at bay without using poisons or traps. These non-toxic, non-killing rodent repellers are a fantastic way to get rid of your squirrel problem and maintain a clear conscious or avoid cleaning up dead animals.
If you’ve tried one type of these deterrents before and you were not happy with the results, remember you can always double or even triple the forms of deterrent you are using. If birdfeeders are your issue, try mixing the hot sauce in the with already spicy birdseed, and then add a visual repellent to your feeder area, as well.
If you are having trouble keeping squirrels off your roof and are worried about them getting in and nesting, try both the spikes and the owl (or two owls). Especially with visual deterrents, moving them around as often as you can will help keep rodents from figuring out they are fake for a longer period of time.
Mix and match your squirrel prevention methods and change them around a bit, and you may find you have fantastic luck with getting rid of nuisance squirrels without having to set any traps or deal with harsh poisons of any kind.
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