Dealing with squirrels in your backyard can be incredibly frustrating. These pesky rodents will nibble on your plants and run around your fence.
This can be particularly dangerous if you have a dog. Your furry friend will chase the squirrels around and wreak havoc on your backyard.
Even if the squirrels aren’t necessarily harmful to you or your dogs, listening to barking all the time can be annoying.
So, if you’re at your wits’ end with the rodents, I can help you! In this article, I’ll walk you through how to stop squirrels from running on fences.
8 Ways to Keep Squirrels Away From Your Fence
Even though squirrels are rarely dangerous, they can be exceptionally infuriating. They’ll dig holes in your garden, rile up your pets, and stay out of reach by running on the top of your fences.
That’s why many people want to find reliable ways to stop squirrels from running on their fences. The easiest solution involves scaring them away using a lot of noise, but this can be tedious and disturb your home’s peace.
Luckily, there are many other ways you can keep these rodents from wanting to come near your property. Here are some of the techniques you can use:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
You probably didn’t know that squirrels hate the smell of apple cider vinegar. So, if you utilize the scent properly, it can be a powerful deterrent.
All you have to do is pour a few cups of apple cider vinegar into a bucket. Next, grab a sponge and soak it in the liquid.
Then, apply the apple cider vinegar all over your fence posts. As you do that, it’s a good idea to wear a mask.
Even though apple cider vinegar is safe for humans, the pungent aroma can give you a headache after a few minutes.
Unfortunately, the apple cider vinegar method isn’t long-lasting. Once it starts raining, the scent will wash away, and there isn’t much you can do about that.
However, it’s pretty easy to do it all again to keep the squirrels away.
2. Physical Barriers
Another effective method of preventing squirrels from running on your fence is physical barriers. You can buy wire mesh, PVC piping, or other materials at your local hardware store that can make it difficult for rodents to gain traction or balance.
This will create an obstacle that squirrels will have a tough time passing. Plus, the physical barrier method is humane.
However, one glaring disadvantage of this technique is its aesthetic appeal. Building a makeshift barrier on your fence can look wonky and unfinished.
Because of that, you should only rely on this method as a last resort.
3. Mulching
Squirrels often visit your backyard in search of food. They’ll dig through your soil looking for seeds and other nuts.
Thankfully, laying a layer of mulch on top of your garden beds can take care of this issue. The compost material will act as a barrier, stopping the squirrels from finding food.
On top of that, mulch is incredibly healthy for your plants. It can provide your garden beds with plenty of nutrients to keep your backyard looking lush.
Finally, if you opt for this method, I suggest using dense mulch and applying a layer that’s at least two to three inches thick.
4. Radios and Loud Noises
Radios and loud noises can help keep squirrels from wanting to come around. Many people have found success using sound generators, which emit frequencies that rodents find unpleasant.
You can also rely on your dog’s barking to deter the squirrels from your property.
Yet, it’s worth noting that this may not prevent the rodents from running on your fence. Some squirrels are used to being around humans and other animals.
So, a little noise won’t scare them off.
5. Lights
Contrary to popular belief, squirrels don’t like lights very much. Generally, they prefer to go about their business in the dark to feel as though they’re hidden.
That means if you add lights around your fence area, the rodents will more likely keep their distance.
Many people place lights on the fence to see if that helps. This will give you better results than you may think.
Other than that, you can use security lights and point them at your fences to keep them lit and deter squirrels from running on them during the night.
6. Commercial Squirrel Repellents
If you’re looking for a surefire way to keep squirrels away, commercial repellents are the way to go. These powerful chemicals make use of odors that come from natural predators of the squirrels.
For example, the most popular deterrents use urine samples from foxes and other squirrel hunters.
You can spray your fences with these repellents to keep the rodents from running on them. When you buy commercial squirrel deterrents, they should come with instructions about how to use them properly and how often you need to reapply them.
As soon as the squirrels smell this repellent, they’re going to be naturally fearful and will want to keep their distance.
Overall, this method works well and is more effective than apple cider vinegar. But, you may have to spend some cash to get your hands on the repellent.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the squirrel repellents only last for a specific amount of time. Most commercial varieties can stay on your fence for at least four weeks, but some will last six weeks or a little more.
This also partially depends on your climate and how dry it is in your area.
7. Trap and Relocate Squirrels
You can buy simple squirrel traps, use them to catch the rodents, and relocate them away from your home. This is a humane way to keep the critters away from your backyard.
While driving the squirrels a few miles away and releasing them should keep them from hopping on your fence, this isn’t a permanent fix.
There are many squirrels in the wild and it would be a pain to keep doing this all the time. So, this method can work for a short period but you won’t be able to keep squirrels from coming back, eventually.
8. Call In Professionals
If you don’t have the time to deal with squirrels on your own, you can ask for professional help. Calling animal control services is one of the easiest solutions to a rodent problem.
The experts will help you find a permanent fix for this issue. This may be by applying repellents, capturing the rodents, or exterminating the squirrels. The technique will depend on the company you choose to hire.
I recommend finding a service that removes the squirrels humanely, but you should know that this will usually take more time than other methods like extermination.
Finally, keep in mind that this is going to be the costliest solution on this list for dealing with squirrels. Hiring a professional team can burn a hole through your wallet in no time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying to figure out how to stop squirrels from running on fences, there are a few tricks you can try out. These include apple cider vinegar, loud noises, light, and commercial squirrel repellents.
Finally, if you’re short on time, the best way to go is to call in a professional. This method requires the least amount of effort, but it can cost an arm and a leg.
You should also remember that some of these methods will work better than others and it’s kind of hard to get rid of squirrels permanently due to how common they are in many areas.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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