There’s nothing more frustrating than laboring over growing pumpkins in your yard or carving jack-o’-lanterns to add to your front porch fall decor only to have them destroyed by greedy garden visitors.
Pumpkins are squirrel favorites, and these ubiquitous, clever climbers can be tricky to exclude completely from your yard.
“It’s unrealistic to expect that you’re not going to have any damage when you’re growing a food source that animals are attracted to,” says Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist David Drake.
If the damage stays within a level you’re willing to tolerate, he says it might not be worth the time, effort, or money to take further action.
Check out these expert-approved methods for how to keep squirrels from eating your pumpkins this fall.
Keep Your Yard Clutter-Free
“Squirrels and other critters thrive in messy, unkempt lawns, so be sure to keep your leaves raked throughout the fall to prevent them from frequenting your property,” Wildlife Biologist Thomas Ward says.
Consider removing or squirrel-proofing bird feeders, trimming overgrown shrubs, and covering sources of standing water such as rain barrels or watering cans to keep squirrels out of your garden.
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Electric Fencing
Tree squirrels are agile jumpers and climbers, so, unlike with some ground-dwelling wildlife, fencing isn’t typically an effective exclusion strategy.
An electric wire along the top of your fencing could act as a deterrent. However, Drake explains this isn’t the most practical option in urban landscapes.
“If there are kids or pets that aren’t aware of the electric fencing, it could create some conflict with neighbors,” he says.
Cloches or Netting
Using a barrier, such as wire cloches or netting, to protect pumpkins in your patch can be effective. However, this won’t be a suitable solution when you want to display DIY decorative fall pumpkins.
Drake recommends selecting a small mesh size to prevent squirrels from gnawing or pushing through it.
“You’ll also need to securely stake down netting to prevent the squirrels from squeezing under it,” he says.
Store-Bought or Homemade Repellents
Drake says that squirrel repellents can be hit or miss. However, if you select ones that aren’t harmful to you, your pets, or your plants, it can be worth giving them a whirl—provided you aren’t expecting miracles.
Contact repellents tend to be more effective than odor repellents. “If you’re going to try anything, pick a taste-based repellent that you apply to the produce,” Drake says. He suggests using capsaicin (chili pepper extract) could work.
However, with any of these types of products, they will need regular reapplication, it will likely involve some trial and error, and you might need to switch things up to prevent habituation.
Anecdotally, things like coffee grounds, garlic, and peppermint oil are common recommendations for getting rid of squirrels in your yard, but there’s no scientific evidence to suggest these will work.
If you’re opting for commercial squirrel repellents, look for EPA-approved, labeled-for-use products and follow instructions carefully.
“Read the back of the packaging because some taste repellents—for example, those with the active ingredient thiram—cannot be applied to edible food crops,” Drake says.
While he says it’s unlikely the repellent would penetrate the thick skin of a pumpkin, you should tread with caution. These types of taste repellents might be better reserved for applying to your decorative pumpkins that won’t end up in soups or salads.
Natural Predation
“It may be possible to attract predators and use natural predation to keep squirrels in check,” Drake says. “Things that eat squirrels include hawks, owls, foxes and coyotes.”
If these animals are around, Drake suggests not scaring them out of the neighborhood. You might even want to erect a perching pole to attract raptors, and if your dog can run free in the yard, this might help limit the damage in your pumpkin patch.
Noise Makers
Certain sounds might scare squirrels away from your pumpkins.
“However, if you don’t introduce some randomness, move the options around, or change what you’re using, then the squirrels can become habituated, and the action will have lost its effectiveness,” Drake cautions.
Wildlife specialist Sadie Gilbert suggests trying wind chimes, recordings of predator calls, or a portable radio set to a talk show station.
Keep in mind that noise deterrents aren’t always the best choice in urban environments—your neighbors might not appreciate being subjected to a constant din.
Plus, Drake says that, depending on the decibel of the noise and the specific municipality, there may be municipal ordinances that prohibit loud noises being used.
Visual Deterrents
Things that move, reflect light, or mimic the appearance of predators can help deter squirrels from snacking on your pumpkins. Drake suggests stringing twisted mylar tape across the top of your pumpkin patch rows.
According to Gilbert, some other options include plastic hawks or owls, strobe lights (they would also fit in well with Halloween decor), pinwheels in the ground, and rubber snakes.
Motion-Activated Deterrents
Gilbert suggests trying motion-activated squirrel deterrents. These can include lights, sprinklers or noise-makers. If you’re opting for sprinklers, set their aim carefully, so they won’t spray the mail person or other human yard visitors.
Trapping
“Trapping and relocation is a viable option, but it’s not as simple as people think,” Drake says. While it might help for a particular nuisance squirrel, it’s not usually an effective long-term strategy.
For starters, after you get rid of one squirrel, if you haven’t taken measures to keep these common critters out of your yard, it’s likely more will quickly take its place.
Secondly, you need the right tools and techniques to trap squirrels humanely, and then you have the issue of relocating them. Rules on squirrel trapping and relocation vary across states. However, you’re typically not allowed to relocate anywhere other than within the immediate vicinity, just outside your property.
Drake explains that relocating outside the squirrel’s original habitat creates welfare issues. They may not survive in an unfamiliar area, and they can spread diseases and unrest in established squirrel populations in those areas.
Professional Inspection or Assistance
If squirrels are doing more than just picking over your pumpkin, regardless of what measures you take, consider taking advice from a professional wildlife removal company.
“They can conduct an inspection on your home to identify potential entry points and seal them,” Ward says.
They can also offer advice on what to do differently as part of an integrated pest management strategy to keep squirrels out of your home and yard.
FAQ
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Don’t try the much-touted homemade hack of spraying hairspray to keep squirrels away from your pumpkins. Not only is this highly flammable product a fire hazard, but spraying this toxic chemical on edible crops isn’t a sensible strategy.
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There isn’t one best squirrel repellent. Instead, employing an integrated pest management strategy to minimize pumpkin damage is better. “The more you mix and match deterrents from each category, the more effective you’ll be,” Gilbert says.
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Laying down strongly scented dryer sheets is another hack that’s unlikely to keep squirrels away from pumpkins. The scent will dissipate quickly, and there’s no guarantee it will deter these critters. Plus, the sheets typically contain harmful chemicals that aren’t good for your soil or the beneficial wildlife in your yard.