Mousetraps Aren’t The Only Tactic For Keeping Mice Away This Simple Natural Remedy Will Help Keep Those Furry Little Creatures Gone For Good
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It’s pretty clear that having mice in your home is not a pleasant experience. Even if they seem innocent, mice can create dangerous conditions in your home. However, getting rid of mice doesn’t necessarily mean buying a slew of mousetraps and cheese. Mice can be easily avoided around your household by simply adding the scent of peppermint in corners where they congregate. Yes, that’s right, peppermint.
Texas Squirrels Just Like Most People In Dallas Have Excellent Taste In Design And I Mean Taste
They seem to love the taste of the outdoor fabrics used to cover the beautiful patio furniture used for cabanas and outdoor living areas, tearing into them with a vengeance to extract the soft stuffing apparently to cushion their nests!
After recovering damaged cushions over and again for our clients, the clients have asked us to see if there is some solution to discourage squirrel abuse.
Online suggestions range from putting a basket of stuffing on the patio so the squirrels will go for that instead of the cushions, which incidentally has not proven to work on my patio…To keeping furniture covers over the furniture when not in use…To all sorts of spray, tonics and lotions as well as dryer sheets that apparently some squirrels are repulsed by due to the smell.
The main suggestion from manufacturers of outdoor furniture like McKinnon and Harris is to use a foam fill instead of soft fill for cushions. They say they have not had problems with squirrels on their outdoor furnishings using foam rather than soft dacron fill.
At this point in time, the only sure fire solution is to take up your cushions and only place them on your furniture when the furniture is in use! Otherwise, get ready to recover cushions once again. This time consider replacing the soft fill with foam!
The Things To Check Before Buying The Best Squirrel And Chipmunk Deterrent For Garden
Like everything else, you will come across countless ads trying to persuade you to buy their Squirrel and Chipmunk deterrent. It is the point where you need to know the one that is best for you to avoid pouring your hard-earned bucks down the drain.
So here are a few tips on the things to check before buying a Squirrel and Chipmunk deterrent.
Weather-proof
You may want to check if a Squirrel and Chipmunk deterrent is weather-proof or not to save your time on rainy days. Buying a non-weather-proof Squirrel and Chipmunk deterrent means you cannot use it on bad days like snowy days or rainy days. Fortunately, the deterrents on our list are weather-proof and will do well under any given weather condition.
Indoor or outdoor
Some deterrents are for outdoor, and some narrow down to indoor situations. So you should check this out to avoid misplaced values.
For instance, the eHouse Ultrasonic Electronic Repeller is best used for indoor situations like its name implies. I will suggest that you research properly on a deterrent to know what space it is designed for before buying.
Sensitivity
A deterrent is of no use if it is not highly sensitive to detect the movement of pests. For some – it takes a longer time for them to get an animal’s motion. It is not okay and should be avoided at a cost. You can consider buying a highly sensitive Squirrel and Chipmunk deterrent like the Havahart animal repellent to detect pests that are up to 60 feet away.
Affordability
Safety
Easy to use
Q What Is The Best Way To Keep Squirrels From Eating Out Of Your Bird Feeders
A. Depending on how easy you will find each method, there are many ways to keep Squirrels from eating out of your bird feeders. From using hot peppers to buying a Squirrel-proof feeder pole, your bird feeders can get a break from Squirrels. The method you find most convenient for you is the best for you.
How To Keep Squirrels From Chewing On Your Patio Furniture: 11 Proven Ideas
Learn all the best ways to keep squirrels from chewing on your patio furniture!
From predator urine to motion activated sprinklers, to simple home spray bottle remedies, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s go!
Wildlife is a wonderful thing that is an essential part of any happy and healthy ecosystem.
That being said, wildlife that destroys your property can be rather pesky and can be hard to deal with.
While there is no way to keep patio furnitureentirely protected from squirrels that want to chew on them, there are some tips and tricks that might help save your patio and deck chairs from their sharp little teeth.
Get Rid Of Ivy And Other Ground Covers That Provide Cover For Rats
Ivy running along your fence might look lovely in your yard, but it is also providing a freeway for your rats to roam around safely and without detection. While ivy is definitely a culprit in many backyard rat infestations, it can happen with any ground cover, bushes or shrubs that provide decent coverage . No matter how much you love your ivy, it is time to rip it all out if you want to get rid of your rat problem.
See Also: How To Save Money On Bird Seed: Bird Feeding On A Budget
Both of these rodents raid bird feeders and will gorge on seeds, nuts, fruit, and peanut butter. Chipmunks are more omnivorous than their squirrel cousins. They will stuff their cheeks full of food to take to their underground burrows for storage. Squirrels, on the other hand, are more likely to eat food immediately, though they will bury nuts and seeds as well.
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Block Passage Beneath Decks Gazebos Sheds And Other Structures
One of the most popular places for rats to make a home is underneath a structure that never moves. This could be your wood deck, a gazebo, your garden shed, ornamental bridges, doghouses or other structures. If that structure is also near another structure, that provides even more space for them to live, hide or move around your yard. For example, if your doghouses are against the exterior of your house or fence, this provides additional space for your rats to thrive.
If possible, move gazebos and sheds away from other structures so that there are several feet of open space on all sides. Next, you need to block entry to areas beneath your deck or other structures in your yard that could provide shelter to rats. You need to completely block access, because even the narrowest spaces can allow entry. Rats do not like the smell of cedar, so you might consider using cedar to block the perimeter of your deck, shed or gazebo.
Alternatively, you could use rocks, but you may need to also use mortar to fill any spaces in between. Another option is to pull out that roll of hardware cloth you purchased for the above steps and wrap it around any openings to block entry. It is best if you dig down at least a few inches so that the wire is buried in the ground and cannot be pushed out of the way by your rats.
Avoid Attracting Squirrels And Chipmunks As Much As Possible
To reduce your yard’s attractiveness to squirrels, remove food sources such as pet food bowls or bird seed and reduce attractive habitat sites such as rock piles or fallen logs. You can also modify your plant choices when you know which species they don’t like. For example, squirrels and chipmunks do not like the smell or taste of daffodils. They do, however, love to eat tulip bulbs. Planting daffodils with your other flowering bulbs can help mask the scent of tulips and help protect them.
How Do I Stop Pesky Squirrels From Raiding My Patio Cushions
You can place strong-smelling items within the outdoor space or cushion area. Soak some rags in cider vinegar, lavender, ammonia, mothballs, or mustard oil and put them where you don’t want squirrels to visit. The strong smells and taste will be a natural deterrent to them, keeping them off the area.
Then again, you can invest in outdoor furniture covers to keep your items safe from pesky squirrels. Be sure to place the covers on your furniture each time you are not sitting on the patio. This will be an easy way to shield these assets from squirrels and weather elements like rain and dirt.
Dont Let Squirrels Destroy Your Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Squirrels are one of nature’s cute little creatures, but they can also be a nuisance. When they aren’t out collecting acorns or playing in traffic, they are often at “home” in their nests, or dreys. These nests are made out of twigs and leaves and lined with fur, feathers, or other soft materials. Sometimes the squirrels can find these materials naturally in nature but when they can’t, your outdoor cushion filling makes a great source of fiber for their nests. And in the process, they will destroy your expensive outdoor furniture.
As Sunnyland’s warranty specialist, one of the issues that we deal with is cushions that have been torn apart by squirrels. Manufacturer’s warranties do NOT cover damage from acts of nature and it can be quite costly to replace them. Over the years we have seen many different methods to keep the squirrels away.
We have heard that you can use fox urine in your garden or patio to keep the squirrels out. They sense the smell of a predator and they tend to stay away. The downside is that your furniture is covered with fox urine, so it’s not a very practical solution. We also did some Googling and saw that some people are using items that they found in their pantry including hot sauce, lemons, vinegar, garlic, pepper, and other tastes that squirrels wouldn’t want to eat. Another lady said they had luck keeping the squirrels away by setting up squirrel feeders in their backyard.
How To Keep Feral Cats Out Of The Yard With Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can also work as an excellent ground cover in your garden, and not just because it’s a top-notch fertilizer. Just as cats’ paws are sensitive, so is their sense of smell. One scent they don’t like is coffee.
Coffee grounds work best if they’re used, as they have a stronger scent. So, the next time you make coffee, re-use your grounds by tossing them in your garden or any other area where curious cats have been hanging around.
Peppermint Essential Oil Is A Natural Squirrel Repellent
Squirrels don’t like the strong scent of peppermint. In the same way that a live peppermint plant will deter them, peppermint essential oils also can be used.
Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them here and there on jar lids around plants in your garden that the squirrels like. The baits will need to be re-soaked periodically.
You can also make a peppermint essential oil spray with the ratio of one drop of peppermint essential oil to one ounce of vinegar and use it to spray on hard surfaces in the garden.
Peppermint essential oil can also be combined with other oils to make an effective homemade mosquito repellent spray.
Whats The Differences Between A Squirrel And A Chipmunk
Usually, it will take some degree of expertise to differentiate between a Squirrel and a Chipmunk since both animals belong to the same family. The duo also looks alike and feeds on the same kind of food.
But there are some tricks you can use to differentiate between a Squirrel and a Chipmunk. Make sure to read them to stop making a mistake. Remember this; a Squirrel and a Chipmunk belong to the same family- Sciuridae.
Body-color and size
Don’t make a mistake about it. A Chipmunk has 7-dark stripes that are separated by 6 lighter lines. They do not extend to the head. But a typical Squirrel has the stripes running unto the top of its head.
A Chipmunk’s average body size is about 5 inches, and that makes it a cute little animal you many want to admire. It is not the same for a Squirrel that can grow up to 20 inches.
Ears
About the ears – the short ears of a Squirrel set it apart from a Chipmunk’s rounded erected ears. Anyone can quickly identify this difference without hassle.
Habitat and feeding habits
You will commonly find Squirrels hanging around a tree or a shrub. Chipmunks will not settle around such a habitat. On the contrary, a Chipmunk finds delight in deciduous forests and shrublands. It will burrow underground to get a home base.In regards to food, a Squirrel takes delight in nuts and fruits of trees, but a Chipmunk will eat anything ranging from vegetables to insects.
Note: A Squirrel goes on hibernation during winter, but a Chipmunk does not.
Tails
How Do I Keep Squirrels From Eating My Wicker Furniture
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Soak rags in apple cider vinegar and place them around your patio. Re-soak the rags once a week to keep critters away. Soap. Rub a circle of soap around edges of the patio or along the railing if you have a deck, the smell will keep squirrels away.
how do I keep squirrels from eating my lights? The first thing to try is using a ready-made squirrel repellent, pepper spray, mint mouthwash, or citrus solution on the rope or string lights .
Also know, do squirrels eat wicker furniture?
Getting squirrels to stop chewing the wicker furniture will be difficult. There are a couple of taste repellents that can be used to discourage squirrels. Capsaicin is a readily available repellent made from red peppers. It is usually used to treat birdseed to discourage squirrels from raiding bird feeders.
How do you keep squirrels out of your containers?
Mix something into the potting soil that squirrels find distasteful. Natural repellents may include cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, vinegar, peppermint oil or garlic .
Drive The Pests Away With Mothballs And Essential Oils
Some determined and hungry chipmunks might make it past your cayenne-and-garlic barriers, unfortunately. That’s when it’s time to reach for the strong scents to get the job done.
Mothballs are ideal for keeping critters out of the yard, and they do double duty by protecting your veggies against earwigs and other insects. When combined with an essential oil spray, mothballs are an ironclad barrier against the pests.
- Mothballs
Add the oil and soapy water to a spray bottle. Spray the borders of the garden, and treat all ground cover and spots that see chipmunk activity.
Place mothballs in corners of the yard and in any pots that contain vulnerable plants. This method is an excellent option for , too.
Ways To Keep Squirrels From Chewing On Patio Furniture
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Squirrels are very common small animals that many people see out in their yards. It’s very possible that you might find multiple squirrels near your property at any given point in time because of how ubiquitous they are in many areas.
The problem with squirrels is that they can wind up messing with things in your yard. Sometimes they’ll eat certain things off of your plants, and some people have even had squirrels chew on their patio furniture while they were away.
Squirrels are generally smart enough not to get near patios when humans are close, but you aren’t going to be able to watch your patio like a hawk all the time. If you’ve spent a pretty penny on nice patio furniture, then you almost surely don’t want the furniture to be ruined by squirrels.
Is there anything that can be done to protect your patio furniture from squirrels? Read on to get important information that can help you to keep squirrels away from your patio reliably.
Question: Squirrels Tearing Up Lawn Furniture Cushions
I have a problem with squirrels tearing my lawn cushions apart. What can I do to stop this? Can I make a homemade squirrel repellant and if so can I have a recipe?
Bring your outside cushines in the house at night. If you buy bags of corn and sunflower seeds this will keep them away from the chairs.
But why are they doing that l through they are making a nest some where
I took an old pillow, made a slit down the middle, fluffed and separated the stuffing. The squirrels stopped trying to tear into my cushions and went for the stuffing. If all-natural seems better to you, some have suggested 100% cotton. 🙂
Clear The Perimeter Of Your House And Other Structures
Since you have already moved your wood pile away from your house, you probably know that it is now time to move everything else away from your home’s exterior walls as well. This includes deck boxes, storage cabinets, doghouses and planters. Anything that could provide shelter or a trail system for rats to get around your yard needs to be relocated. It is best to keep bushes, shrubs and larger plants away from your walls as well.
How To Keep Squirrels From Chewing On Patio Furniture
How To Keep Squirrels From Chewing On Patio Furniture?
Why are squirrels tearing up outdoor furniture? Why Squirrels Are So Harmful The reason why squirrels will mess with patio furniture has to do with needing materials to build nests. If they can’t find the materials that they need in the wild, then they’ll turn to ripping up your cushions and taking other bits off of your patio furniture.
What do squirrels hate the most? Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint. Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels.
Do coffee grounds keep critters away? Coffee Grounds While you might find the scent of coffee delicious, squirrels don’t. A light layer of coffee grounds around hibiscus plants can keep them from being the pests’ next meal. Just sprinkle some fresh grounds on the soil surrounding the plants to keep squirrels away.
Spray Your Yard With Peppermint Oil Or Eucalyptus Oil
Staying on the fragrance train for a little longer, another option is to distribute peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil around your yard. This could mean making or purchasing a sprayable repellent that can be sprayed around outdoor living areas and areas where rats are frequently spotted , or this could mean soaking rags or cotton balls and placing them under decks, behind doghouses or in your vegetable garden beds.
If you choose to use rags or cotton balls to distribute the scent, make sure that your dog is not going to eat them. Animals metabolize essential oils differently than humans and it can be harmful to their health.
Whether you spray or use cotton balls, you will need to replenish your repellent after it rains or if you irrigate the area.
Cages For Vegetables Are Natural Squirrel Repellents
Squirrels love vegetables, in particular corn.
If all else fails, cages may be your only option.
Photo Credit: Flickr: Hardworkinghippy
One of the best natural squirrel repellent ideas is simply to keep them out! The squirrels cannot eat when they can’t get into the vegetable area. Think about making tall wire cages.
Be sure the garden beds have tops as well as sides, or the squirrels will just climb up and in. Row covers also work for smaller veggies.
Keep Stray Cats Away From Your House With Repellent
One of the easiest ways to turn your property into a feline-free space is to make a homemade cat repellent spray to keep cats away. This spray has ingredients that repel cats and is easy to make with just a few supplies.
- Dish soap
Combine the vinegar and water in a spray bottle and swirl it. Squirt in some dish soap, place the cap on the bottle and shake to ensure mixing.
Spray around your property in areas where the cats go. This includes gardens, bird feeders or other food sources, or a sandbox, which is basically a big outdoor litter box.
What Damage Does Squirrel Cause On Patio Furniture
We have mentioned that squirrels can destroy your patio furniture by nibbling the wood to entertain their ever-growing front teeth. Also, they will often tear up the upholstery to steal the stuffing inside.
Taking away some of the stuffing in your cushions can leave them saggy and unpleasant. You may have to refill them to restore their proper functionality.
Torn upholstery can also leave the furniture exposed to weather elements like rain. Most outdoor sofas or cushions have water- or weather-resistant fabrics for protection. Creating holes in this material means it can no longer hold up against the elements.
Squirrel excrement on your furniture can create room for the growth of mold and mildew, even for furniture that is resistant to these fungi. This excrement is also a common method of disease transmission.
Squirrels may also contaminate your furniture with disease-causing pests. These rodents carry ticks, fleas, and mites that they can leave on your furniture. These, along with their droppings on the furniture, can make your family and pets sick.
In any case, these fuzzy little animals can cause irreparable damage to sections or entire parts of patio furniture. The worst part is that cushions torn apart by squirrels are unlikely to benefit from any warranties as manufacturer’s warranties usually do not cover damage from acts of nature. This means you have to shoulder all the expenses by yourself.
Let Your Dogs Or Cats Spend More Time In Your Yard
If your yard is securely fenced and your cat cannot escape and find danger, you might consider letting your dogs or cats spend more time in your backyard. It is important to note that this is not as good of a deterrent as it sounds, but it might help. Many people think they can just get a dog or cat to take care of their rat problem. After all, there are plenty of barn cats that are kept solely for their mousing capabilities. While cats can help keep your rodent population down, it is highly unlikely that a cat or dog will completely eradicate it. Although, it is possible that your cats and dogs may be able to run off rats if your yard is mostly bare and there is nowhere for them to hide.
There are plenty of folks with large dogs, small dogs or multiple cats that still have rat problems. This is often the case even when the dogs or cats are good hunters or ratters. Rats are smart and there are just too many places for them to hide. Remember, your rats probably know your yard better than you do, so they likely have hiding places that would never even occur to you.
Some folks swear that just the smell of cats or dogs is enough to deter rodents from occupying an area, but there are more folks that will tell you the rats in their yards do not mind the smell of their pets at all.
Keep Your Yard Clean To Prevent Visits From Strays
As always, preventative measures are some of the most effective tactics for keeping unwanted visitors away. Clean up your yard so there isn’t anything there to attract strays in the first place.
The main thing to look for when cleaning is anything that may be a food source. This means no feeding any of your own pets outside, and keeping bird feeders in areas where cats can’t get to them. It also means cleaning up after yourself whenever you are grilling food or having an outdoor barbeque.
Make sure your trash cans are inaccessible and that you clear away any spots that attract small prey like mice. Seal up any entrances or holes in garages or sheds where strays might seek shelter.
Additionally, monitor your property for any areas with cat urine and wash it away with an enzyme cleaner. Cats return to spaces that are marked with urine.
If skunks are a problem in your yard, in addition to cats, you can employ some of the same remedies listed here. However, a skunk deterrent can also be made from ammonia or dog urine to repel these cute but frightening creatures and ensure that they go elsewhere.
Now that you know what keeps cats away, you can use these techniques to cat-proof your property. It is easy to prevent these furry felines from visiting without causing them any harm.