Squirrel just jumped on balcony now. How can I discourage them fast?

coffeeman · Mar 6, 2021

One squirrel just leaped on my balcony. Up a pillar,, on flower vase and jumped to roof. I'm thinking he's scouting for place to bring his friends later and set up shop. Is there anything that I could pour or DUST around to get them to leave house. I believe there are no entry holes that they can use to get in house. Worried they might gnaw holes into attic. Thus nice place to have have young "ens.

I don't want to poison them or stuff like that. Is there anything or anyway to make things uncomfortable for them? All suggestions will be appreciated .

You all STAY HEALTHY AND BE SAFE.........Coffeeman

Captain Dirty · Mar 6, 2021

Your laissez faire et laissez passer attitude may change if they get into your house. Best course is to remove any food. Gardens and orchards are not an issue at this time of year, but bird feeders and composted garbage are. Inspect regularly; a 1-1/4" hole will permit access. I do not know if cat urine is readily available or effective, but cats evicted squirrels from my son's barn loft.

MoKelly · Mar 6, 2021

I’ve heard owl statues can scare away squirrels.

Some even make noises which is more effective.

However, the statues need to be moved every so often so the squirrels don’t get used to them being in one place and get used to them.

From my experience, squirrels are difficult to eliminate especially if you have trees near.

Good luck.

MoKelly

MossRoad · Mar 6, 2021

coffeeman said:
One squirrel just leaped on my balcony. Up a pillar,, on flower vase and jumped to roof. I'm thinking he's scouting for place to bring his friends later and set up shop. Is there anything that I could pour or DUST around to get them to leave house. I believe there are no entry holes that they can use to get in house. Worried they might gnaw holes into attic. Thus nice place to have have young "ens.

I don't want to poison them or stuff like that. Is there anything or anyway to make things uncomfortable for them? All suggestions will be appreciated .

You all STAY HEALTHY AND BE SAFE.........Coffeeman

Once in a great while, we'll get a squirrel run up a tree and jump on our roof. Then it runs across the roof, jumps on another tree, and goes on its way. It's probably just using your roof as a road. I've never seen a squirrel chew through a roof. A wall or gable, yes, usually in a corner, but never a roof. I'd wait and see if its actually doing any damage.

Doofy · Mar 6, 2021

Lead pill or a humane catch-and-release trap. The are cute and fun to watch but they are still rodents and can be very destructive if allowed to go unchecked. They will chew their way in and make a filthy, smelly mess.

Hay Dude · Mar 6, 2021

MossRoad · Mar 6, 2021

Jeeze, it's ONE squirrel and people are telling you to shoot it. God help you if ONE woodpecker lands on your roof, or you see one raccoon, etc...

IT'S ONE ANIMAL.

I could understand some concern if it was a repeat offender and you started seeing damage, but IT'S ONE ANIMAL.

Doofy · Mar 6, 2021

We don't mind one or two squirrels if they stay in the woods where they belong. Once they start climbing walls and roofs, it's time for them to go.

oosik · Mar 6, 2021

An outside barn cat. 40 years out here and I've seen ONE pine squirrel. My nimbuses - chipmunks and mice. The barn cat has handled that very nicely. I have provided the cat with a very nice bunk down area, cat food & fresh water daily. After dispatching 20 to 30 rodents - his mere presence is sufficient deterrent.

MossRoad · Mar 6, 2021

I lived in a heavily wooded neighborhood for the first 24 years of my life. We had dozens and dozens of squirrels run across our roof daily. None ever did any damage to the roof. We did have one get into a storage area in the carport, but that was because there was no door. And one started chewing the trim around the door opening to the carport one year. My dad replaced the damaged board and that was that. If we'd have killed every squirrel that ran across the roof it would have been hundreds, if not a thousand.

We also had hundreds of chipmunks. I think our cat killed one about every day for 15 years or more. Yet we never had chipmunk damage to the house, and the cat never made a dent in the population.