Grey squirrels: How to keep them away from your house

None: They’re the same species, Sciurus carolinensis. The black squirrel is simply a genetic variation of the grey squirrel, distinguished by the colour of its fur. The grey squirrel is found in southern Quebec.

Its cousin, the red squirrel, is smaller and prefers coniferous forests, particularly further north and east.

The grey squirrel lives mainly in deciduous forests, parks and residential neighbourhoods, where it easily finds food and trees for shelter. In summer, it typically builds its nest high in the trees using leaves and twigs. In fall, it stores food reserves for winter. It doesn’t hibernate. In winter, it may shelter in a tree hollow or another spot protected from the elements.

Its diet is varied: seeds, nuts, samaras, bulbs, flowers, fruit, insects and eggs.

The best strategy is to make your property less appealing to squirrels and block their access to spots where they could settle in. Here’s how to deal with the most common situations:

1. How to keep squirrels away from bird feeders

Bird feeders are an easy food source for squirrels. A few precautions can make them harder to access, though.

• Install the feeder at least 1.5m above the ground and at least 3m away from anywhere a squirrel could jump from.
• Attach feeders to long metal wires or poles. To make access even harder, you can install a baffle or cone designed for this purpose.
• Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the seeds. Birds aren’t bothered by it, but squirrels are.

2. How to keep squirrels out of your garden and flower beds

Squirrels can dig up bulbs and damage plants. There are several ways to make your garden less appealing:

• When planting bulbs, sprinkle dried blood meal, available at garden centres.
• Use natural or low-toxicity repellents around your plants, such as cayenne pepper, human hair or cat or dog fur. Reapply after every rainfall.
• Spread chicken manure fertilizer. Squirrels hate its smell.
• Choose bulb plants that attract them less, such as daffodils, snowdrops and hyacinths.
• Grow fragrant plants around your bulbs, such as geranium, mint and rosemary.
• Place chicken wire a few centimetres under the soil, above your seeds and bulbs. To better protect your vegetable garden, you can also fence it in and cover it with removable mesh.

3. How to keep squirrels away from trees and shrubs

Squirrels can climb trees and shrubs to reach fruit or make their way to a building. To limit their access, you can:

• Wrap plastic sleeves around shrub trunks.
• Install wide PVC bands around fruit tree trunks to prevent squirrels from climbing them.
• If a squirrel can jump from another perch, install netting attached to thin posts instead.

4. How to keep squirrels from getting into your house

Squirrels can take advantage of a small opening to get into a building and build their nest. To protect your house:

• Reinforce and repair the edges of your roof, and block off access under your garden shed.
• Trim tree branches within 3m of buildings.
• Seal openings with wire mesh with holes measuring 1cm or less.

5. What to do if a squirrel moves into your attic or basement

If a squirrel has already made itself at home in your house, start by encouraging it to leave before trying to capture it.

• Keep the attic or basement continuously lit, or play the radio there. This could encourage the squirrel to leave.
• Sprinkle flour near the exit so you can check the tracks it leaves and confirm whether it’s gone.
• Once the animal is out, quickly seal up the access points to keep it from coming back.
• If the situation persists, or if you can’t figure out where the animal is getting in, you can call a pest control professional.

How much does an exterminator cost?

In Quebec, the cost of hiring an exterminator for a squirrel problem generally ranges from $300 to $1200.

The price mainly depends on the nature of the problem: is it a simple outdoor capture, or a full-blown squirrel infestation in the attic?

Yes, capturing and relocating squirrels is allowed in Quebec since they aren’t a protected species. However, the Quebec government strongly advises against relocating a squirrel more than 75 metres away. Doing so could help spread disease and parasites, and it doesn’t solve the problem. What’s more, if food sources and access points remain available, another animal can quickly take its place.

If you need to intervene, look into the regulations that apply in your municipality, and start with prevention and exclusion methods first.

What if the damage continues?

If prevention methods have been tried without success and an animal keeps causing damage, certain lethal measures may be permitted. They must be carried out safely, quickly and humanely, in accordance with applicable regulations. The use of unregistered chemicals or poisons is prohibited, as is drowning. Be sure to check the regulations in effect in your municipality before taking action.

To avoid needlessly harming an animal or putting people or other animals at risk, it’s best to call in a professional when the situation calls for specialized help.

MINISTÈRE DE l'AGRICULTURE, DE l'ENVIRONNEMENT ET DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES

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