How To Get Rid of Squirrels In Garage
If you have squirrels in your garage, you very likely want them out as soon as possible! These animals can be loud, destructive to your property, and may even bring diseases such as rabies! Luckily, there are a few different things you can do to deal with a squirrel infestation without having to call animal control or the exterminator. Read on to learn more.
How To Get Rid of Squirrels In Garage
When dealing with pests such as squirrels in your garage, there are a few different approaches that you can take. Some of them aer humane options and do not involve killing the animals if this is a concern of yours. However, if you suspect that the squirrels carry rabies, you should contact animal control and should not attempt to deal with the situation on your own.
Take a look at the different methods below.
Seal Holes
First things first, you should take the time to seal any holes that the squirrels could be entering through to get into your garage. This will help you to prevent any future invasions or infestations. Many of these entry points may not be easily noticeable, so you will really need to go over the entire garage with a fine-toothed comb. Be thorough and address each hole, crack, or gap that you find. Some examples of this may be gaps around garage doors or windows where the weatherstripping is damaged or cracks and holes in the siding.
You will also want to consider the materials that you are using to seal these holes. Squirrels are able to chew through lots of different materials, so you will want to make sure that you choose materials that are durable and chew proof. Clear caulk or wire mesh are both hardy materials that squirrels should not be able to chew their way through.
Use Smell
Smell is another effective and humane way that you can deal with a number of pests– squirrels included. Strong smells can help to deter squirrels, and some of the smells that bother them are peppermint and coffee grounds. You can choose to get peppermint essential oils and spray the garage with them, or instead, you can sprinkle coffee grounds throughout the space. Regardless of what you choose to use, you should concentrate on the smell in any areas where you have seen the squirrels, as well as their nests and any dark, cozy corners. You can also use these scents outside, around the foundation of your home and garage, in order to deter squirrels.
Traps
There are a few different kinds of traps that you can use to get rid of the squirrels in your garage. Many of these are humane options, where you can lure the squirrels into the cage with food or other such bait, and can then release them somewhere. The humane options, of course, are preferable to poisons or killing traps. Not only are they kinder, but they do not require any sort of messy cleanup.
If you are implementing other ways to drive the squirrels out of your garage, you can place the traps near the entryways so that you can trap the squirrels as they are running out of space. When it comes to releasing them, you should not release them unless you are over 10 miles from your home. Otherwise, they can easily return. Alternatively, you can also contact a wildlife removal company to relocate the squirrels for you instead.
Make the Space Inhospitable
If you can make your space inhospitable to the squirrels, the pests will not want to stay and you will likely run them out of the garage successfully. Some of the ways that you can do this are by making the space uncomfortable– typically, squirrels enter the garage because it is dark, quiet, and feels like a safe place to shelter out of the elements. Instead, you can increase the noise by playing loud music on a speaker in the garage, or by hanging sweaty, smelly clothing overhead, as squirrels are also bothered by strong smells.
Related – How to Keep Chipmunks Out of Your Garage
Frequently Asked Questions about Squirrels in Your Garage
What can I use to get rid of squirrels in my garage?
If you have squirrels living in your garage space, there are a couple of different methods that you can implement to get rid of them. For instance, you can block the holes that the squirrels are entering through and spread flour near their nesting area. You can also use traps– there are plenty of humane options on the market if that is a concern of yours. In addition, you can play loud music or hang sweaty clothes to drive them out.
What is the best way to repel squirrels?
One of the best ways to repel squirrels is to take preventative measures against any squirrel infestations by plugging any holes that the pests could enter through. Otherwise, you can repel squirrels by hanging sweaty clothes and playing loud music. This is a good way to get them to leave, as it makes your garage an inhospitable environment.
What smells will deter squirrels?
Certain strong smells bother squirrels and can be a good– and humane– way for you to deter them and drive them out of your garage. Some such smells are the smell of peppermint or coffee grounds. Not only can you use these smells inside the garage, but you can also use them outside the home so that the squirrels do not want to come any closer!
How do I keep animals out of my garage?
One of the key ways to keep animals out of your garage (like mice and rats) is to make sure there are no possible entrances in the first place. This may involve replacing your weatherstripping or plugging holes in your siding or foundation. You should also keep your garage space clean and uncluttered, as trash or clutter can be seen as shelter or even a food source for animals, and can then attract them to the space.
