Discover the Best Homemade Squirrel Repellents 

Squirrels are common outdoor pests that might find their way into your garden, digging up flowers or munching on vegetables. While they might be cute to look at from afar, they can be quite destructive. As a result, many homeowners actively search for convenient ways to get rid of squirrels in their yard.

Thankfully, preventing squirrels from wreaking havoc on your property doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some of the best homemade squirrel repellents to keep your yard free of this pest.

Are Squirrels Common Pests?

In many areas, squirrels are considered pests due to their destructive nature in yards and gardens. For example, many squirrels will dig up flowers or soil, eat bird seed out of feeders, and feed off garden fruits and veggies. Some common reasons squirrels can be destructive include their attempts to bury food, search for food, play tricks, find shelter, or have babies. 

Best Homemade Squirrel Repellents 

Here are a few simple homemade squirrel repellents to try in your yard.

Hot Sauce and Dish Soap Solution

Tabasco is a go-to for pest control, and it acts as a simple homemade squirrel repellent. To create an efficient solution, you can mix half a bottle of Tabasco with a few drops of dish soap and a few cups of water. Add the solution to a spray bottle and spray it liberally around your garden.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is yet another simple homemade squirrel repellent. Simply mix the vinegar with some water in a spray bottle and spray some of the solution around your yard. However, keep in mind that apple cider vinegar can kill plants, so you’ll want to dilute it as much as possible.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a simple “homemade” squirrel repellent that really doesn’t require any preparation. All you need to do is sprinkle some cayenne pepper around your plants to deter squirrels from the area, as they hate this specific spice and similar ones. You can even try adding some crushed red pepper to the bird seed in your bird feeder if you’ve noticed squirrels overtaking it. This should immediately drive — and keep — them away from the area.

Peppermint Oil

You can purchase peppermint oil or make your own from scratch. Simply crush fresh peppermint leaves and mix them with olive oil, rapeseed oil, or another carrier oil of your choosing in a jar. Then, close the jar, shake it, and store it in a cool place for a few days before straining it.

To use peppermint oil as a homemade squirrel repellent, mix it with water or apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle, then spray it around the portion of your yard where squirrels tend to occupy. Most likely, squirrels will be turned off by the strong scent of peppermint. A word of caution with this homemade squirrel solution: If your pet goes into your yard, be sure you spray the peppermint oil away from any areas they enter. Peppermint oil can be toxic to cats and dogs.

Common Ingredients in the Best Homemade Squirrel Repellents

The best homemade squirrel repellents listed above include common household ingredients such as peppermint, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, dish soap, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce.

When in doubt, create a diluted solution with one or all of these ingredients to spray around your plants and drive squirrels away. This will ensure a pest-free garden.