Want the pros to handle it?
What Keeps Squirrels Away? Silver Bullet Pest Control Does
Squirrels: tiny, fluffy, and absolutely convinced your attic is a timeshare they paid for. If you’ve ever watched one stare you down from your gutter while chewing your house, this page is for you.
What do squirrels not like?
Squirrels are not picky eaters, but they do have a short list of things they can’t stand:
- Spicy food. Capsaicin (the heat in hot peppers) bothers squirrels. Birds can’t taste it, which is why “hot pepper” birdseed is a real thing.
- Strong smells like peppermint, garlic and predator scent — for a few days, until it rains or they get used to it (the full smell ranking).
- Surprises. Motion-activated sprinklers make a squirrel’s day worse. They also make the mail carrier’s day worse. Aim carefully.
- Slippery, wobbly things. Cone and tube baffles on feeder poles are squirrel kryptonite.
- Nothing to eat. No bird seed on the ground, no open trash, no fallen fruit = no reason to hang around.
- Steel. They can chew wood, vinyl, plastic, foam and aluminum screen. They cannot chew through galvanized steel mesh and flashing. This is the one that wins.
What makes squirrels go away (and actually stay away)?
| Method | Does it work? | Our honest take |
|---|---|---|
| Sealing roof gaps with steel | ✅ Yes, long-term | The only real fix for squirrels in the house — after they’re out (never seal one in). |
| Trimming branches 6–8 ft from the roof | ✅ Yes | Cuts off the squirrel on-ramp. Cheap and easy. |
| Baffles on bird feeder poles | ✅ Yes | Put the feeder about 5 ft up and 8–10 ft from anything they can jump from. |
| Hot pepper on plants and seed | 🟡 Sort of | Works on gardens and bulbs. Reapply after rain. |
| Peppermint oil, garlic, vinegar | 🟡 Briefly | A squirrel inconvenience, not an eviction notice. |
| Fake owls and rubber snakes | ❌ Not for long | Squirrels figure out in about a week that the owl never blinks. Then they sit on it. |
| Ultrasonic gadgets | ❌ Rarely | Squirrels have heard a lot worse than a buzzing box. |
| Mothballs | ❌ No | Using them outdoors or in attics goes against the label, and the fumes are bad for people and pets. |
How to keep squirrels away from your house — by area
The roof and attic
This is where squirrels cost real money: chewed soffits, fascia and wires. Look at your roof corners (roof returns) from the ground with binoculars. Fresh chew marks or a dark hole = they’ve found a door. Read the 9 signs of squirrels in the attic and how to squirrel-proof your gutters.
The yard and garden
Pick up fallen fruit and nuts, cover new bulbs with hardware cloth before you mulch, and dust plants with hot pepper. Squirrels dig where the soil is soft, so don’t make it an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Bird feeders
Baffle, height, distance. Or embrace chaos and buy a second feeder just for the squirrels — some people call that “a distraction feeder”; squirrels call it “lunch”.
Your porch decorations
It’s October in New Jersey, so yes — they’re eating your pumpkins. See does hairspray keep squirrels away from pumpkins?
Already inside? Here’s what actually works
Once a squirrel lives in your attic, no smell or spray will make it move out — especially a mother with babies. The fix is a one-way door: the squirrel leaves for breakfast and can’t get back in. Then every other gap gets sealed with steel. That’s squirrel proofing, and it’s what we do all day across Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties.
Watch: how we seal animals out
What to look for
More pest questions, answered
- What Smell Do Squirrels Hate the Most? The Nose Knows
- Does Hairspray Keep Squirrels Away From Pumpkins? Your Jack-o'-Lantern Deserves Better
- There's a Squirrel in My House! Don't Panic
- Squirrel-Proof Gutters
- Raccoon Deterrents
- What Keeps Mice Out of Your House? Steel, Caulk and a Little Attitude
- Does Pine-Sol Keep Mice Away? Clean Floors, Unbothered Mice
- How to Get Rid of Rats Permanently
- Getting Rid of Mice in the Attic
- Rodent Exclusion
- Dryer Vent Mesh Cover
- All pest questions, answered
Squirrel & raccoon guides
- Squirrels in the Attic: 9 Signs and What to Do
- Noises in the Attic: Squirrels, Rats, Mice or Raccoons?
- How Raccoons Get Into Attics (and How to Stop Them)
- Raccoon in the Chimney: What to Do (and What Not To)
- One-Way Doors: How Squirrel & Raccoon Exclusion Works
- Squirrel Damage to Soffits, Fascia, Vents and Wires
Our wildlife services
- Squirrel Proofing in New Jersey
- Raccoon Proofing in New Jersey
- Animal Proofing & Wildlife Exclusion in New Jersey
- Chimney Animal Proofing & Chimney Caps in New Jersey
- Wildlife Damage Repair in New Jersey
- Animal entry point sealing
Common questions
What keeps squirrels away permanently?
Taking away access and food. Trim branches, baffle feeders, and seal every gap in the roofline with galvanized steel after the squirrels are out.
What do squirrels not like?
Hot pepper (capsaicin), strong smells like peppermint, sudden water from motion sprinklers, slippery baffles — and steel they can’t chew through.
What makes squirrels go away from my attic?
A one-way door on the entry hole so they leave and can’t get back in, followed by sealing all other openings. Smells and noise won’t evict a squirrel with a nest.
Do fake owls keep squirrels away?
Only for a few days. Squirrels quickly learn that a plastic owl never moves.
Schedule today
Call 973-510-2585, text us or request a free quote online. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed and insured in New Jersey.