How do I keep squirrels from eating my pumpkins?

MY PUMKINS!!! Every year we sit out pumpkins, I carved. We have tried different things to repel them, but nothing works!!!! I won’t kill them, but...HELP!!! Thanks

  19 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Oct 31, 2018

    I've never found a way to keep those little thrives away.

  • Just carved mine and put it out. Just place outside on Halloween night when there will be kids trick or treating, then bring in - or leave out for the creatures of the night to feast on.

  • Cristine Schwartzberg Cristine Schwartzberg on Oct 31, 2018

    We rub the cut surfaces with cayenne pepper.

    • See 1 previous
    • I had the same trouble with the same squirrel eating my coleus too!! I bought a squirrel repellent and used cayenne spray. He still distroyed two plants!!! This squirrel has gone to battle against us!!

  • Ellis Ellis on Nov 01, 2018

    I found a large, heavy ceramic pumpkin on sale at my local Lowe's. No more worries about wildlife eating up my pumpkin (which happened every year), but it is a another holiday item to store!

  • Shep Shep on Nov 01, 2018

    In a spray bottle, mix approximately 2 tablespoons of tobasco sauce with a squirt of Dawn dish soap. Dilute the mixture with about 1 cup of water so you can spray your pumpkins and let them dry. One bite and the squirrels will head for other food options.

  • Kelly streeter Kelly streeter on Nov 01, 2018

    The best way to stop those varmits is to was your pumpkin in bleach and water solution (75/25 bleach to water wear gloves !!) let dry naturally then do same after you carve it will prolong the life of your masterpiece and keep them away!

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Nov 01, 2018

    Yes, Tobasco sauce diluted - but not very much. You want the heat. I use it for horses that chew wood also. Works wonders!

  • Cheryl Harrison Cheryl Harrison on Nov 01, 2018

    Have you tried spraying it with bitter apple spray?

  • Charles Bell Charles Bell on Nov 01, 2018

    I would recommend Bonide. Be sure not to get it on you. Spray it on anything you don't want the squirrels to touch. They will not even touch whatever you spray Bonide on.

    Good luck!

  • Charles Bell Charles Bell on Nov 01, 2018

    I should add that squirrels will NOT go on any area covered by Bonide, so if you sprayed it on the area surrounding your pumpkins no squirrels. It smells disgusting so be careful handling it.

  • Thank you all for your suggestions. I will try them. That Bonide sounds scary but effective. Going to start with the cayenne mixtures first ! Thanks again!!!

  • Margaret Cassese Margaret Cassese on Nov 02, 2018

    I sprayed mine with a clear lacquer no animals ate it but,the sun cooked from the inside out.

  • Janice Grogg Janice Grogg on Nov 02, 2018

    Get fake ones❤️

  • Wanda Wanda on Nov 02, 2018

    I would keep food out for them. They got to eat also

  • Peggy Peggy on Nov 02, 2018

    You have squirrels, we have moose. I just let the wildlife eat them.


  • Pam K Pam K on Nov 02, 2018

    They don't like moth balls!

  • Cynthia Judd Chetelat Cynthia Judd Chetelat on Nov 04, 2018

    I walked out my front door and it scared the mess out of me when all of sudden the pumpkin stirred and something darted across the yard!! To be honest, the word mess is being used for delicate ears because stronger words were being spoken at that particular moment!! But to answer the question being asked! I had to replace my pumpkin. So my second, I decided I wanted to try my hand at doing a painted pumpkin. Not because of squirrels but just because I had never done one! My paint job was not successful but I still have a whole pumpkin that feels just as hard as the day I bought it.

  • Cliffie Cliffie on Nov 05, 2018

    Hey! They need to eat also. I view such re-use as Nature's Way. Just sayin'!