Silver Bullet Pest ControlStraight answers from Silver Bullet Pest Control, a licensed exterminator based in Garfield, NJ, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.
Featured on Telemundo 47 • EPA Pesticide Safety Certified • 4.9 Stars on Google • NJ License 90568B
Text a photo of what you're seeing and we'll tell you what it is and what to do.
To keep squirrels off pumpkins, coat them with a hot pepper spray or a mix of petroleum-free sealant and cayenne, keep them off the ground on a table or step away from shrubs and trees, and toss seeds and scraps from carving right away. Carved pumpkins are harder to protect than whole ones. And if squirrels are hanging around your porch, check the roofline: a well-fed squirrel near the house is a likely attic visitor.
Fall is when squirrels eat and store as much food as they can before winter. A pumpkin is a big, soft, easy meal, especially once it's carved and the seeds and flesh are exposed. In North Jersey, gray squirrels are everywhere: in yards, parks and along street trees in towns like Garfield, Clifton and Nutley. A porch full of pumpkins is a buffet.
| Method | How | Works for |
|---|---|---|
| Hot pepper spray | Spray with water mixed with hot sauce or cayenne; reapply after rain | Whole and carved |
| Raise them up | Put pumpkins on a table, bench or railing away from trees and shrubs | Whole and carved |
| Clean up carving scraps | Bag seeds and guts right away; don't leave them in the yard | Carved |
| Wait to carve | Carve a day or two before Halloween | Carved |
| Use faux pumpkins | Foam or ceramic pumpkins for long displays | Decor |
| Netting at night | Cover a display with garden netting overnight | Whole |
The three situations behind most of these calls in North Jersey:
We get squirrels out with one-way doors and seal the roofline so they can't chew back in. Exclusion, not relocation.
Raccoons tear their way in and do real damage. We remove them from the house and close the opening with heavy-duty materials.
Ground animals cause foundation and yard problems. We find where they live and block access so they move on.
A squirrel that eats on your porch every day lives close by, often in your trees, and sometimes in your attic. Fall is also when squirrels look for warm winter shelter. If you hear scratching in the attic in the early morning, or see chewed soffit corners, see signs of squirrels in the attic and squirrel proofing.
Keep tree limbs about 6 to 8 feet from the roof so squirrels can't jump on.
Use cans with tight lids and bungee cords. Raccoons learn trash night fast.
A sturdy chimney cap keeps out raccoons, squirrels and birds.
Look for chewed soffit corners, loose vents and gaps at roof returns each spring and fall.
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo often lets us identify the pest right away. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.
A licensed tech finds the source: where the pest lives, how it gets in and what draws it.
We use the right method for the pest, placed where it works and kept away from kids and pets.
We close entry points and tell you what to change so the problem doesn't come back.
Call or text 973-510-2585 for the fastest answer, or tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you quickly.
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Hot pepper spray, raising pumpkins off the ground away from trees, and cleaning up carving scraps.
It helps briefly, but the smell fades fast. Hot pepper works better.
It's not ideal. It gets on their fur. A pepper spray is a better choice.
Fall is when squirrels eat and store as much food as they can before winter.
Yes. Seeds and guts left in the yard draw them in.
Yes. Squirrels that feed near your house often look for winter shelter in the attic.
They chew wiring, tear insulation and leave droppings and urine. Raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm, so their droppings need careful cleanup.
Yes. Squirrels gnaw constantly, and chewed wiring in an attic is a real fire risk, which is one reason to act quickly.
It depends on how many entry points there are, the roof height and whether repairs are needed. Estimates are free: call or text 973-510-2585.
We can advise on damaged insulation and droppings cleanup after the animals are out and the house is sealed.
Yes. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and holds NJ Pesticide License 90568B.
Close interior doors to keep it in one room, open an outside door or window in that room if it's safe, keep pets away and call 973-510-2585. We answer 24/7.
Yes. We use one-way doors and seal the roofline. Call 973-510-2585.
Based in Garfield, we serve these towns and the rest of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
