Can Natural Repellents Keep Squirrels Away?

It would be nice if you could plant some garlic around your house and never worry about squirrels again, wouldn't it?

Money is tight for Houston families this year, so it's natural to wonder if you can end a squirrel problem with inexpensive ingredients that you can pick up at the grocery store. 

We've heard questions about everything from cayenne pepper to vinegar. Peppermint oil is another favorite. Who wouldn't want to get rid of squirrels and keep their home smelling nice?

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but it's not going to work. 

The Nesting Drive is Stronger than the Smell Drive

Squirrels instinctively nest in cavities. They like having a dry, protected place to bunk down, and they love it when they find lots of nesting materials to burrow into. Attics are the perfect candidate.

They'll put up with a smell they don't like as a trade-off because they're so well-protected from most predators when they're inside a human home. And while their strong sense of smell does mean that capsaicin is unpleasant for them, you probably cannot get enough of it into your attic to truly keep them away. 

You might not enjoy having that much pepper circulating around in your air supply, either.

"Natural" Smells May Invite Other Pests 

Some of the natural smells people want to use to repel squirrels just smell like food to other animals. You could be rolling out a red carpet for rats by attempting to get rid of squirrels the "cheap" way.

Wild rats will chow down on hot peppers as quickly as they'll eat any other food. It may not be good for them, but they're happy to try. 

Squirrel Control Isn't as Expensive As You Fear 

Our methods involve removing the squirrels from the attic entirely, blocking off their method of entry, and helping you clean up after their mess. Exclusion methods are the only sure-fire way to get squirrels out of your home and keep them out of your home. 

If you think you have a squirrel problem, don't buy 50 pounds of Irish Spring soap, hoping that spreading the shavings around your attic will take care of the problem. Don't waste your money on ghost peppers. 

Contact Elite Wildlife Services for a thorough and free inspection and to get a removal plan that will really work. Once we show up, squirrels don't come back.