Keeping squirrels from breaking back into the roof
Red squirrels target main access points at the top of the roof to enter crawlspaces. Even after locating these vulnerable spots, homeowners struggle to secure them effectively enough to ensure the critters do not break back in. Popular deterrents offer little help, as squirrels have been known to literally roll around in ghost pepper powder rather than stay away.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Completely enclosing the garden with fencing or hoop housesDid this help you?
- 2Shooting the squirrels with a pellet gun or rifleDid this help you?
- 3Catching them in live traps and drowning themDid this help you?
- 4Installing motion-sensor water sprayers aimed at fencesDid this help you?
- 5Getting a terrier to chase them awayDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I tried ghost pepper powder to keep squirrels out of bird seed once, found the squirrels literally rolling around in it the next day”source ↗
“I've been testing a homemade hot pepper spray against a store bought one, and I'm curious what actually works for you. Do you use sprays, barriers, companion plants, or something else? What has kept squirrels away in your garden, and what was a waste of time?”source ↗
“The digging I'm dealing with is in a raised box, and I'm pretty sure I built it right on top of one of their stash spots. They aren't going after bulbs or plants specifically, they're just digging — I found peanuts buried in the empty box next to the hoop house.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 14How to get animals out of the attic without sealing them inside
- 17How to stop chipmunks from digging holes near your foundation
- 3How to catch a rat in a small room yourself
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