13 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Ground Squirrels

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Do you have a problem with ground squirrels? If so, you are not alone.

Ground squirrels can be a real nuisance. They can cause a lot of damage to your property and destroy building foundations.

It’s best practice to take action when you first notice signs of activity.

In this blog post, we will discuss 13 effective ways to get rid of ground squirrels. We will also provide tips on how to prevent them from coming back. Let’s get started!

How to get rid of ground squirrels in the backyard?

There are various methods of pest management that you can use to get rid of ground squirrels.

1. Use a trap. You can use a live trap or a kill trap. If you use a kill trap, be sure to dispose of the animal humanely.
   • The absolute best trap is a repeating trap like the squirrelinator. With a repeating trap, you can catch more than one ground squirrel at a time.
   • Box traps will also work, but you will be able only to catch one squirrel at a time.
2. Use repellents. Squirrel repellent can be effective when placed where squirrels are active.
   • Predator urine. Ground squirrels hate the smell of predator urine. You can buy a product that contains predator urine, or collect it from around your property. Spray the areas where you’ve seen ground squirrels, and they will likely move on. Be sure to reapply every few weeks, as the scent dissipates over time.
   • Vinegar sprays. These sprays are made of equal parts water and vinegar. You can also add peppermint oil or lavender oil to the spray for a more potent solution.
   • Pepper sprays. You can find pepper sprays specifically designed to repel animals like ground squirrels at your local hardware store. Just be careful not to get any in your eyes!
     • You can make a homemade repellent by mixing one part vinegar with three parts water. Spray this mixture around the perimeter of your home.
     • You can also use this mixture to clean up any droppings or areas where you’ve seen ground squirrels. They hate the smell so much that they’ll stay away!
   • Electronic deterrents
     • Sonic deterrents. These work by emitting an unpleasant noise that ground squirrels don’t like.
   • Ammonia spray. Ammonia is another household product that can be used to repel ground squirrels.
3. Fence off with chicken wire or wire mesh. You can also try fencing off the areas (vegetable garden, fruit trees, etc.) where the squirrels live. Keep in mind ground squirrels are very small, agile, and hard to fence out.
4. Remove food and water source. Make sure to remove all of the food sources attracting the squirrels.
5. Use bait stations. Poison bait stations should be used with caution if you have children or animals that can get into the bait. Please follow product label instructions. Grain baits are highly effective but will also attract non-target wildlife.
6. Remove the shelter. Remove any piles of wood or debris providing shelter for the squirrels.
7. Install a chimney cap. A chimney cap will help to keep the squirrels out of your chimney.
8. Put up bird feeders away from your house. If you have bird feeders, put them up away from your home. This will help to discourage the squirrels from coming around. Or you could purchase a squirrel proof bird feeder like this one.
9. Remove trees and bushes. Remove any trees or bushes that are providing cover for the squirrels.
10. Install a sprinkler system. A sprinkler system can help keep the ground squirrels away from your property.
11. Use a dog. If all else fails, you can try using a dog to scare the squirrels away.
12. Hire a professional. If you cannot get rid of the ground squirrels yourself, you may need to hire a professional.
13. Snakes feed on young ground squirrels. If you have snakes around your house, let them be. Snakes feed on young ground squirrels and mature ones alike.
    • If you have a snake problem, let the snakes stay. They will help to get rid of the ground squirrels.
    • California rattlesnakes (venomous snake) diet is up to 70% ground squirrels.
    • Adult ground squirrels are resistant to rattlesnake venom, but their young are NOT.
    • Snakes go into a ground squirrel burrow system seeking out ground squirrel pups to eat.
    • Nonvenomous snakes like gopher snakes also eat ground squirrels.

Common Ground Squirrel Questions

How to get rid of ground squirrels under the house? 

While ground squirrels can be cute, they can also be a nuisance when they start digging under houses and causing damage. So if you have ground squirrels in your yard, here’s how to get rid of them.

One way to get rid of ground squirrels is to trap them. You can either purchase a trap or make your own. If you decide to make your own, be sure to use a large enough cage so the animal cannot escape. Then, bait the trap with food that will attract the squirrel, such as nuts or seeds. Once the squirrel is trapped, humanly put it down.

Another way to get rid of ground squirrels is to remove their food source. If you have bird feeders in your yard, for example, the squirrels may be attracted to the birdseed. To keep them away, switch to a squirrel-proof feeder or move the feeder to a location where the squirrels cannot reach it.

You can also try repelling the squirrels with deterrents. One popular deterrent is used peppermint oil. You can either spray it around your yard or put it in a spray bottle and spritz it on plants you don’t want the squirrels to eat. Be sure to reapply after it rains.

If you have a severe problem with ground squirrels, you may need to consult with a professional or your County Agricultural Commissioner for advice. They can help you determine the best course of action for getting rid of the animals.

In most cases, it is best to take preventive measures to keep ground squirrels away from your under your house in the first place.

How to get rid of ground squirrels without poison?

If you’re looking for an effective, non-toxic way to get rid of ground squirrels, there are a few options available to you.

• One popular method is using a live trap. This involves setting up a trap with bait inside and waiting for the squirrel to enter. Once the squirrel is inside, the door will close behind them, and they will be trapped.
• Another method is to use a product like Scoot. This is a granular product that contains ingredients that ground squirrels don’t like. However, they will be repelled when they eat it and eventually leave the area.

You can also try using natural predators such as owls or snakes. If you live in an area where these predators are present, they may help keep the ground squirrel population under control.

Finally, you can also try using a home remedy such as cayenne pepper or vinegar. These ingredients will make the ground squirrels’ environment unpleasant, and they will eventually leave.

How to get rid of ground squirrels in the crawl space?

• The first step is to identify where the ground squirrels are getting in. Once you know this, you can fix the issue and prevent them from coming back.
• If there are any cracks or holes in your foundation, seal them up as best as you can. This will make it more difficult for the ground squirrels to get in.
• If you have an existing crawl space, make sure it is properly sealed off.
  • You can do this by installing a plastic sheeting vapor barrier. This will prevent the ground squirrels from getting into your home through the crawl space.
  • Steel wool is a physical barrier that will keep ground squirrels from getting into your home. Seal small holes with steel wool.
• You can also try using a live trap to catch the ground squirrels. However, once you have caught them, you will have to dispose of them humanely. In many states, it is illegal to relocate ground squirrels that have been trapped.
• Another way to get rid of ground squirrels is to use poison bait. However, it would help if you only used this as a last resort since it can be dangerous to both pets and children.
• If all else fails, you may need to call in a professional pest control company to get rid of the ground squirrels for you.

Does Terminix get rid of ground squirrels?

Yes! You can get a free estimate by scheduling a Wildlife Removal appointment.

From the Terminix website, “The Nix Pest Guarantee means you can relax knowing we’ll nix your rodent and wildlife problem and keep it nixed for as long as you keep your plan. If they do return, we will come back — at no additional cost to you.”

You can schedule an appointment with this link.

Do mothballs get rid of ground squirrels?

Mothballs are a common household item that many people think can deter ground squirrels. However, mothballs are poisonous to these animals and can kill them if they ingest them. Additionally, the fumes from mothballs can also be harmful to humans and pets, so using them is not recommended.

How do you get rid of ground squirrel burrows?

To get rid of ground squirrel burrows, you will need to dig down at least 12 – 20 inches to find the main tunnel. Once you have found the main tunnel, you can start to fill it in with dirt, rocks, or anything else that will block the opening.

If you have any other tips on how to get rid of ground squirrels, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

If you have any other tips or advice, please comment below

We would love to hear from you!

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