Squirrel Management for Homeowners

BY:  Caleb Eaton, CEA-ANR

Think about it, who would have thought 30 years ago that a County Agent in Far West Texas would have to write an article on managing squirrels? But over the past 25 years or so, squirrels have become a pretty big nuisance in Monahans. Several folks have taken credit or blame (depends on who you talk to), but by the mid 90’s Gray Squirrels were well established in several neighborhoods in Monahans.

The squirrels have done well living off the steady supply of pecans, acorns and pine cones in our yards and parks, and most folks enjoy watching them scurry from tree to tree. However, squirrels have also created problems damaging landscapes, buildings and our electrical grid. While eradication is a near impossibility, there are some steps you can take to protect your home and landscape from damage.

BIOLOGY

Gray Squirrels are native to the Eastern half of the U.S. Their color is primarily reddish gray, although black squirrels and albino squirrels have been documented.   Gray Squirrels reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age and will mate twice a year usually in summer and winter. Grays have a gestation period of about 45 days and will raise a little of 3-6 young. Seeds and nuts are the primary diet of squirrels and they will scatter their food cache, burying individual nuts/acorns in the ground. Squirrels in captivity have been documented living to nearly 20 years of age, but in the wild the average lifespan of a squirrel is around 10 years. Squirrels are a prey species and their biggest predatory threats include owls, hawks, foxes and bobcats. Domestic cats also predate on squirrels. Squirrels can be very territorial and are known to “bark” to scare off predators or rival squirrels.

DAMAGE

Although squirrels are small, the amount of damage they can cause results in big bucks. Squirrels are notorious for finding entry ways to homes/buildings through vents, chimneys or holes. When they gain access to a building they can cause damage to electrical and plumbing systems, as well as damage insulation. In landscapes squirrels are notorious for destroying Pecan crops before they can be harvested, gnawing bark off of trees, building unsightly nests, and burying their cache in yards/gardens and flowerbeds. When food stressed or water stressed, Squirrels will naw on tree bark and can cause damage to the tree’s appearance. They also are notorious for tearing up bird feeders.

Figure 1: Evidence of squirrel gnawing on oak bark

PREVENTION

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to squirrels. Squirrel proofing homes and buildings is much more efficient than trying to eradicate squirrels and repair their damage. To keep squirrels from accessing a building, try to prune branches out to ten feet from the roofline. Cap chimneys with a chimney cover to keep squirrels from entering your home through your fireplace. Apply a screen vent to all vents that access your home with ¼” hardware cloth or something of similar or stronger material. Do not use chicken wire or any other thin covering that can be chewed through by a squirrel. Be sure to screw in these coverings with washers to secure the edges of the cover.

With the close proximity of trees in town, it is near impossible to keep squirrels from jumping from one yard to another. If you do live on a property that has at least 10 feet of space between tree canopies you can apply an aluminum flashing to prevent squirrels from climbing from the ground. Flashings need to be about 3 feet wide and need to be at least 6 feet from the ground. Remember to include ¼’ shives to space the flashing from the tree. Most folks do not want to have an aluminum belt around their trees, so this is not a very popular option for most urban homeowners.

When trying to protect bird feeders there are three strategies. Strategy #1 is to select an area that will naturally deter squirrels. Pick a spot in the open where squirrels cannot access from trees. Strategy #2 is to utilize baffles in the design of your feeder to exclude squirrels. A baffle is a physical barrier that prevents squirrels from reaching the feeder via climbing. Cone and tube baffles are examples of popular feeder guards. Strategy #3 is to minimize fallen seed. Even if you’ve placed your feeder in an area away from trees and installed baffles, squirrels are attracted to the wasted seed on the ground. Many animals are selective of the seed they consume and will often discard half of the bird seed to pick out their preferred food. Avoid buying mixed seed and instead buy individual types of seed and feed in individual feeders to eliminate waste. Also buying shelled/hulled seeds will eliminate shells being tossed to the ground. Installing a seed catcher below the feeder can also keep the seed from squirrels.

Figure 2: Example of a pipe baffle (left) and cone baffle (right)

CONTROL

When planning a squirrel control regime, you must do so with the understanding that you are not going to eradicate the squirrels and that there are no silver bullets. There are several options available to home owners to control squirrels.

Trapping is probably the most popular and effective tool for controlling squirrels. When trapping it is important to place the traps where squirrels frequent (i.e., tree branches, rooftops, etc.), rather than trying to bait them to an area. There are lethal and non-lethal options for trapping squirrels, but regardless of which option you choose you should consult an expert before implementing a trapping program. If you choose to live trap, it is important that you buy a trap that is large enough and built with sturdy enough material that the squirrel cannot escape or injure itself. Partially covering a live trap will help to keep the squirrel calm and safe from the elements until you have time to check the trap. You should check traps at least daily and try to dispose of squirrels in a sanitary and humane fashion. When using a lethal trap, be sure to use traps rated for squirrels and do not use mouse/rat traps as they can be inhumane to use on a larger animal. If you choose to use a lethal trap try to be mindful of its placement so that you do not upset neighbors or passersby. Tunnel traps tend to be very effective lethal options for squirrels. 

 

Figure 3: Examples of a non-lethal live trap (left) and a lethal tunnel trap (right)

If you do not choose to trap, repellants can be effective if used properly. Noise repellants and false predators (owls) are ineffective and not worth the money and labor. Predator scents such as fox/coyote urine are also usually ineffective. There are several repellants on the market for squirrels in both spray-on and granule form. Havahart, Ropel and Bonide, amongst others are popular repellant brands.  Most repellants only last up to one month, so be prepared to re-apply on a schedule. Rain and weather can also shorten repellant life.

In closing, it looks like squirrels are here to stay in Monahans. With a little bit of prevention, squirrels can be a pleasant part of our landscapes without wearing out their welcome.

SOURCES

Vantassel, S.(2013, August  16). Tree Squirrels [Webinar]. eXtension. Retrieved from  https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p8tykg57658/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

Pennisi, L. & Vantassel, S. (2012). Selective Bird Feeding: Deterring Nuisance Wildlife from Bird Feeders, EC1783 University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension. Retrieved from http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/ec1783.pdf