How can I safely get rid of squirrels in my back yard?

Belinda DiSario
by Belinda DiSario
I have counted 16 in my yard at one time. They are getting very aggressive/destructive. Eating any plants/flowers that I have planted there. The first year I tried growing tomatoes, they at the 5 that I planted in containers on my patio in the first 24 hours they were in the pots! I have put plants on my screen porch. They ate a hole in the screen! Last year I tried planting the tomatoes in the ground with chicken wire all around the plants leaving enough room for the plants to grow to full height, they lasted about 2 weeks and the squirrels ate through the wire.
  23 answers
  • Sara C Sara C on Apr 19, 2014
    I feel for you! I'm tired of my squirrels too. I'll be checking back for posts. Good luck!
  • Joffler Joffler on Apr 19, 2014
    I hate those rats with fuzzy tails! I've had epic battles with them over the front lawn. They dig it up and keep the grass from growing. And, of course the oak tree's no help at all. Luckily this past freaky winter has helped spoil the acorns for them and some birds of prey have been hunting them around here so there are fewer of them this Spring.....and my grass is growing vigorously! I know I probably just jinxed it all by talking about it but sometimes we need to know we're not alone on out struggles.
  • Greg Greg on Apr 20, 2014
    They are very good fried or in stew
  • Faith Koch Faith Koch on Apr 20, 2014
    I can tell you, they move in & stay! To keep them out of your bird feeder(s), try safflower seeds. The birds love them, the squirrels do not! One problem down, 999 to go! They dig up our yard too because that's where they bury the acorns from the oak tree next door. I have just decided to leave them alone now that we've solved the bird feeder problem!
  • Terresa K Terresa K on Apr 20, 2014
    Trap them, you can use peanut butter for bait.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Apr 20, 2014
    We did the trapping thing in the attic...wow, was that fun at 4 AM! You have to call and have it relocated! THESE CUTIES ARE RATS FOLKS! People have got to stop thinking of them as cute wild pets. I have no idea what to do. I have heard spraying ammonia, putting out peppermint on cotton balls (I would use wooden shavings...something like sweetgum balls would work...but have not tried them. It has just stopped raining here so tomorrow we are out with the ammonia poured down chipmunk holes with a rock on top! Will keep you posted! I have heard that yard cats are good!
  • Mssmatch Mssmatch on Apr 20, 2014
    Poison peanuts but do not put them where the dog can reach them
  • Belinda DiSario Belinda DiSario on Apr 20, 2014
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Joffler Joffler on Apr 21, 2014
    If anyone recommends fox urine, forget it. Friend tried it in an effort to get to his pecans before the squirrels. The fox urine did nothing but get every dog barking.
  • Terresa K Terresa K on Apr 21, 2014
    You can get small traps online, but if you're not squeamish about disposing of the body it does work at keeping the squirrel population under control. Just keep the trap where your pets can't get in it.
  • Belinda DiSario Belinda DiSario on Apr 21, 2014
    We trapped them for the last 2 years, taking off to a wooded area about 15 miles from where we live, and it hasn't helped. I don't think these are the same ones we moved either.
  • Beth Lloyd Beth Lloyd on Apr 21, 2014
    They have taken over here, moved in the barn loft, nesting, eatin thru wires and floor boards. They were chewing thru the siding on the house. I am going to try moth balls. When we mow for hay, I put out moth balls and it keeps the field mice out of my house. I am hoping for more ideas. GREAT QUESTION
  • Squirrels have babies 2x a year and can have up to 8 or more per litter! I live in a large subdivision where you can do nothing to harm them or trap them! talk about a spring time nightmare when the squirrels starting having their litters. Thank goodness cars and dogs take care of a lot of them. I have to tell you that since we got our Australian Shepherd along with our Jack/Fox terrier the squirrels are down to a couple brave ones and our 2 in/out cats keep them out of the yard for the most part. you will have to think about alternatives and you will have animals people who will blast you for saying the "poison" word but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. As Jeannette states-they are rodents and they carry diseases including rabies. Since their natural predators are becoming less and less (fox and coyote), squirrels have nothing to fear. Chewing through chicken wire is a new one because their teeth are like ours and to chew through wire is some what of a feat. I would try hardware cloth wire which is the small squares sold next to chicken wire because it is stronger. you may also want to look for their nests in trees and try to figure a way to destroy them. Dogs and cats do a great job because when we bought our home almost 6 years ago I had 17 50' plus oaks with each having at least 1 nest! Now I have no nests! Of course I had the trees trimmed up and 5 removed (subdivision would not allow for more). There is no sure fire way to get rid of them except trapping, poisoning, or shooting them. They adapt to humans efforts! Good luck
  • Roberta Roberta on Apr 21, 2014
    I'm sorry for all of you that live in sub-divisions who can't shoot the litlle buggers. We live on a couple of acres in the country and these rats like to steal our bird seed and suet constantly, so my husband shoots'em, and I clean and cook'em up! Gotta cook'em low & slow or they'll be tough as shoe leather though.
  • Belinda DiSario Belinda DiSario on Apr 21, 2014
    Yes, shooting them in our subdivision is not allowed. Thankfully so far they have not chewed through electrical lines like they did to one of my neighbors. I will try getting the nests down out of the trees, not sure yet, neither DH or myself are able to climb ladders that high to knock them down. Hope DH will continue to catch them, but he has been working long hours the year due to staffing shortage in his company. Will have to check into the heavier gauge of wire. DH loves fresh tomatoes.
  • Marianne Cerrito Marianne Cerrito on Apr 21, 2014
    Interesting posts... Lots of tree rats here, too...
  • Belinda DiSario Belinda DiSario on Apr 22, 2014
    At least I don't feel like I am the only one having this problem. But it is strange, my Mom lives in a rural area with lots more trees than I have and doesn't have this problem. She thinks it may be due to her neighbors cat that visits her a few times a week?
  • Jennifer G Jennifer G on Apr 22, 2014
    Get a dog - My dog chases those little buggers for fun - I don't know what she'd do if she actually caught one (LOL) but it does keep the critters out of my yard (and I have 7 fruit trees) - now if she could just keep the birds out of the trees too! I'd love to have a peach without chunks missing! :)
  • Belinda DiSario Belinda DiSario on Apr 22, 2014
    We have an 80 lb yellow lab, but the squirrels get just out of her reach on the tree trunks and tease her
  • Lynn Zawojski Lynn Zawojski on Apr 22, 2014
    This is a nasty solution but I thought I'd mention. You take a big orange pail, sold at Home Depot, without a lid, and fill 3/4 way with water and a hand full of sunflower seeds. The squirrel jumps in to eat the seeds and can't get out and drowns.. I'm not a proponent of this. But I've heard of this, and if you don't mind emptying each day, go for it...We had the forest rats in our attic and it was horrible... Again, we don't do this. We've had 5 for a few years so it isn't necessary.
    • Mssmatch Mssmatch on Sep 06, 2016
      that is a great solution if it works...don't the seeds sink in the bucket of water?
  • Ethel Edwards Ethel Edwards on Apr 24, 2014
    Haven't tried this with anything yet except birds. I have a big tree branch on my deck with laternes we made hanging on it. The birds roost on this and poop poop poop. My husband sprays with W-D 40. You have to repeat every week or so. Might work on other pests. My grandson told me to try this.
  • Shahnaz baig Shahnaz baig on Sep 05, 2016
    how can i safe my garden with squirrels?
  • Mssmatch Mssmatch on Sep 06, 2016
    I sit out in the yard with my bb gun and kill them. Then skin, cook and eat.