Squirrels are persistent creatures full of instinct. Red squirrels are often called red devils. This is because of their reluctance to go into traps and destruction they cause trying to gain access to structures. On the contrary, flying squirrels can be easily removed with one-way doors and repairs. Trapping squirrels and repairing structures is the best way to control them. There are other techniques that can work. These are less fool-proof and unreliable.
Strobe Lights:
The Evictor is a good example of a strobe light to repel wildlife. The website claims that the lights are too bright for squirrels’ eyes and disrupts their natural living. Each light costs over 150$. You simply hang it up and plug it in. Each unit covers a 15′ by 20′ area. The only problem we see with this is that squirrels do not always live in your attic. The nest is usually just inside the entry point. If the squirrels are nesting close to the exterior wall, the light might not affect them. This is because they are more in the soffit than the attic. Nonetheless, it could help in certain circumstances. The cost could become higher to cover an entire attic than a professional squirrel trapping service with repair.
Coyote Urine:
Our friend at Accuflow Seamless Gutter comes across many squirrel nests while installing gutters. While he does not trap squirrels, he uses coyote urine to expel these rodents from their nests. That way he can make the repair and install his new gutter system. It does seem to work according to the Owner of this company. While we have never tested this, there are reports that coyote urine is effective in repelling squirrels.
Animal Repellents:
While wildlife removal professionals rely on surefire tactics, repellents have some use for us. If you block a squirrel out of their home, they can be destructive trying to get back inside. We use Rodent Detour and Rat Out Gel to keep squirrels that avoid our traps from chewing around our new repairs. There are other sprays that can change a rodent’s behavior. These are temporary and usually need to be reapplied. We recommend using these products if squirrels are gnawing on things on or around the home.
Other Things That Scares Squirrels:
You should see how fast squirrels run through our back yard! Nothing scares a squirrel more than a territorial dog! You might also want to consider motion activated noise makers or sprinklers. We like the Orbit Yard Enforcer.