Squirrels are one of the most common nuisance animals in the U.S. If you have a bird feeder or bird house on your property, chances are you’ve had to deal with pesky squirrels at some point or another.
Squirrels can be pesky creatures. If you have ever had one rummage through your trashcan, you know they can be pretty persistent.
Just when you think you have to keep squirrels away for good, they find their way back into your yard.
One of the places they frequent the most is shepherd’s hooks.
Here are a few tips on how to keep squirrels off your shepherd’s hook.
1. Examining Your Shepherd’s Hook
The first step is to closely examine your shepherd’s hook.
Are there any cracks or holes?
If so, that’s where the squirrels are getting in. You’ll need to fill those in so the squirrels can’t get back in.
2. Check artificial turf
Homeowners with artificial turf should check where the turf is pulled up.
This provides an opening for the creatures to get through and wreak havoc on your property again.
Filling these areas will also help to keep squirrels away from shepherd’s hooks.
3. Wrap the base of the shepherd’s hook in burlap or chicken wire.
This will prevent squirrels from being able to climb up the hook and get to your hanging plants or other outdoor décor items.
4. Make sure there is no food left out around the perimeter of your property
Be sure to clean up any fallen fruit from trees and sweep up any crumbs that may have been left behind after a picnic lunch.
Taking away their food source will help keep them away from shepherd’s hooks and other areas of your property where they may try to enter.
5. Trim back any branches from trees that may be hanging over your property line
These branches give animals like squirrels easy access onto your roof or attic without difficulty whatsoever.
If you take away their path, they’ll be less likely to try and enter your home in general, which means keeping them off of shepherd’s hooks will become much easier in the process.
6. Using a repellent spray such as ” Critter Ridder.”
This natural formula uses ingredients like cinnamon oil and capsaicin pepper extract to create a powerful scent that helps keep animals like squirrels far away from treated areas.
You can also try hanging a “squirrel baffle” around your shepherd’s hook. A squirrel baffle is a cone-shaped device that prevents squirrels from being able to reach anything hung on the hook.
You can find squirrel baffles at most hardware stores.
7. Baffles
This can also be placed around the trunks of trees to prevent squirrels from being able to climb them.
This will help keep them away from your roof and attic, and other areas of your property where they may try to enter.
8. Slinkies
This may seem like an odd tip, but it works.
Hanging a slinky on your shepherd’s hook will prevent squirrels from being able to climb up.
The slinky movement will also help startle them and keep them away.
9. Motion-activated sprinklers
Another way to keep squirrels away from your shepherd’s hook is to install a motion-activated sprinkler system around the perimeter of your property.
When the sensor is triggered, the sprinklers will startle any animals lurking around.
This will help to keep them away for good.
10. Irish Soap
Yes, you read that right. Irish soap can help to keep squirrels away from your shepherd’s hook.
Simply rub a bar of soap on the pole of the hook, and they will be less likely to try and climb it.
The scent of the soap is unpleasant for them and will help to keep them away.
11. Copper Poles or PVC pipes
You can also try using copper poles or PVC pipes instead of traditional shepherd’s hooks.
Squirrels cannot climb these materials as quickly as they can climb metal, which will help keep them away from your hanging plants and other outdoor décor items.
By taking some simple precautionary measures, you can deter squirrels from damaging your shepherd’s hook.
