7 Easy Ways to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Shed

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It’s pretty normal to see squirrels on your property and you might notice them in your backyard all the time.

For the most part, people don’t consider squirrels to be nuisances. They can be a bit annoying if they start getting into things on your property, though.

For instance, some people wind up having problems with squirrels getting into their sheds and tearing things up.

If this has happened to you recently, you might be looking for specific methods that can keep them out of your shed for good. Luckily, there are several things that you can try that should make a big difference.

Keep reading to learn how you can effectively keep squirrels out of your shed. Most of these ideas are going to be very practical for all homeowners to make use of.

1 – Check for Holes Near Your Shed

The first thing that you will want to do is take the time to check for holes around or near your shed.

There has to be some entrance that the squirrels are using to get into the shed and mess with your stuff. More than likely, there are going to be small holes somewhere right by the shed that you will need to fill up.

If you close off all of the holes that are found near the shed, you’ll be able to effectively prevent the squirrels from getting back in. This doesn’t guarantee that holes won’t be dug again, though.

Regardless, this is a necessary step that will prevent easy entry into the shed and it might deter the squirrels from bothering to come back to your shed.

2 – Buy and Use a Commercial Squirrel Repellent

There are actually a large number of different products out there on the market that act as squirrel repellents.

Basically, you can spray the area around your shed with this special squirrel repellent and it should keep them away from your shed. This method works very well and is most likely going to be your best option when you have a serious issue with squirrels.

Most often, these commercial squirrel repellents are made using something such as fox urine. The reason why this works so well is that foxes are natural predators to squirrels.

When squirrels smell that fox urine odor, they’re going to run away and stay away from that area.

It kind of tricks them into thinking that your shed is some type of fox den. There are other squirrel repellents that use other methods as well but that’s just one of the common ones that people turn to.

Many of these squirrel repellents will last for at least four weeks but some will last for a bit longer than that depending on whether you live in a wet climate.

Advice for Applying Squirrel Repellent

When it comes time to actually apply the squirrel repellent, you’re going to have a better time if you do things in a certain way.

Remember to try to create a barrier that extends a little bit out from the shed itself. You’ll have the best results if you try to create a three-foot barrier using this squirrel repellent.

Also, if you have lots of squirrels in your area, you’re going to have to remember to use the repellent again when the effect has worn off. Generally, you’re going to have to reapply this squirrel repellent every four to six weeks to get the best results.

Take a look at the directions that came with your repellent and follow those properly to take care of your squirrel issue.

3 – Take the Time to Trim Trees

Another problem that you might not have considered is that squirrels can climb and jump on things.

If you have many trees near your shed, squirrels could just be jumping down onto your shed from tree limbs. They might even be getting in through gaps in your roof and this could be problematic.

One of the most practical ways to alleviate this problem is to simply trim your trees well. You should take a bit of time to get on a ladder and trim your trees so that the limbs don’t extend too close to your shed.

If you’re able to keep your shed a fair bit away from the trees themselves, it’ll be less likely that squirrels can jump on your shed from the top.

Of course, if you have large trees that happen to be right near the shed, there might be only so much you can do. It might not be necessary to remove trees just because of these squirrels.

You just want to do what you can to try to make it harder for the squirrels to get into your shed and you can use your better judgment here.

4 – Turn on a Radio in the Shed

Did you know that squirrels will be less likely to want to go near your shed if it’s noisy?

This is an interesting tip that might help you to take care of your problem without going to a lot of trouble. Simply turn a radio on and leave it on near your shed area so that squirrels won’t want to go near it.

Don’t turn the radio on too loudly because you don’t want to bother your neighbors. Just have some subtle noise and see if it makes a difference. Some people have reported that this has been enough to keep squirrels too scared to go near their sheds.

5 – Apple Cider Vinegar Scent

Perhaps you don’t want to spend money on squirrel repellent and you don’t want your shed area to smell nasty either.

Well, one good alternative is to make use of apple cider vinegar scent. Squirrels hate this smell and it should be able to keep them away from the shed if you are able to apply the scent properly.

What most people do is they take a sponge and they soak it in apple cider vinegar. They then place it near the shed and it helps to repel the critters that you’re trying to keep away.

This is a decidedly simple method that might be worth a shot due to its cost-effective nature and how easy it is to pull off.

6 – Make Use of Light

Another thing to know about squirrels is that they aren’t going to be as likely to want to get into your shed if it’s lit up properly.

Squirrels like to sneak around in the dark and do their squirrel activities in relative secrecy. If you make it so that your shed is lit up, that is going to make it a much less attractive target for squirrels.

You can try to place lights on your shed and see if it makes a difference over the next week. Some security lights shining right on the shed might do the trick and it’s easy enough to pull this off.

This is an especially appealing option if you happen to have some lights that you can use already.

7 – Consider Calling an Exterminator

Finally, it is possible to just give in and make a phone call to a professional exterminator.

There are exterminators out there who handle a lot of squirrel infestations and they will be ready to assist you if you just don’t have the time to deal with all of this. They can handle the problem in multiple ways for you too.

Professional exterminators will certainly be able to apply squirrel repellent for you and fill in holes to keep the squirrels from getting in your shed. They might be able to take things a step further by eliminating areas where they are nesting.

You can talk to the exterminators about the specific things that they can do to help you if you decide that you’d like to contact them.

The downside to going this route is that it will cost money and this will be the most expensive solution on this list. It would be more cost-effective to buy commercial squirrel repellent yourself but not everyone wants to do this and some don’t even have the time.

You have to make the right decision for yourself based on your situation.

Enjoy Your Squirrel-Free Shed

Now that you’ve read about what your options are, it should be time to start enjoying your squirrel-free shed.

You need to be able to use your shed to store your tools and to handle gardening endeavors. The next time you use it after using the above squirrel-deterrence methods, you won’t have to worry about things being messed up inside.

This list of options that you have to handle the problem is extensive and you know what needs to be done. Take your shed back and stop worrying about squirrels when you have the answers in hand.

Whether you’re going to use something such as apple cider vinegar or you’re going to get commercial squirrel repellent, you’ll be able to get your shed back to normal soon enough.

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