Category Archives: Squirrels

How to Stop Squirrels From Emptying Your Bird Feeders

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Squirrels are thrifty little animals, which is why they are commonly a nuisance to all the bird-watching enthusiasts around Tennessee. Their agility and ingenuity allow them to quickly climb and access any bird feeder pole known to man, while their dexterous paws and fervent appetites allow them to pick and plunder your beloved bird feeders with precision and focus. If you are tired of nuisance squirrels pillaging your bird feeders every time you fill them up, take solace in knowing that something can be done.

Continue reading to learn how to stop squirrels from emptying your bird feeders, year-round.

Squirrel Control Nashville Tennessee 615-610-0962
Squirrel Control Nashville Tennessee 615-610-0962

Squirrel Control in Your Backyard

It may seem like squirrels are just too clever to keep out of your bird feeders, but a little environmental modification might change your mind. By implementing certain changes around your yard, overtime you can stop squirrels from raiding your bird feeders all year-round. Structural and environmental changes are designed to challenge squirrels, making it more difficult for them to access the bird feeder on your property.

Here are the top 5 ways to protect your bird feeders from nuisance squirrels:

➀ Do Not Position Bird Feeders Near Trees

As you may already assume, squirrels or tree climbers. They are excellent at climbing trees, and they can climb from tree to tree without losing an ounce of endurance. Squirrels use trees as roadways to access the things that they want. Bird feeders that are attached to trees or located nearby trees are openly available to squirrels.

Instead of hanging bird feeders on trees or on a pole near trees, consider linking a line from one tree to another, then placing the bird feeder in the middle of the line. Squirrels have a hard time with a tight rope. After too many failed attempts, they will likely lose interest in your bird feeder.

➁ Purchase a Squirrel Baffle

Squirrel baffle can be purchased online through several multi-department retailers or at your local home improvement store. Basically, a square baffle is a plastic, dome-shaped device that is installed underneath the bird feeder. The shape of the device makes it impossible for squirrels to climb over it and access the bird feeder.

➂ Rig Your Bird Feeder Poles

Rather than purchasing a squirrel baffle, you can rig up your bird feeder poles in a way that makes it difficult for squirrels to climb them. For instance, you can use plastic tubing to cover your bird feeder pole. You can even grease up the plastic tubing with petroleum jelly. Squirrels will have a hard time climbing up the slippery pole and will likely move on to easier snacking.

➃ Make a Homemade Non-Toxic Squirrel Repellent

There are many scents, sensations, and herbaceous plants that squirrels hate, like cayenne pepper and black pepper. If you place these ingredients around your property or in the areas of heightened squirrel activity, it can make squirrels turn up their nose and run away. Simply combine these ingredients with water and transfer them into a spray bottle.

You can spray this repellent around the bird feeder perimeter or in areas where squirrels like to hang out. Just be sure to keep children and pets away from treated areas, as pepper and other types of herbs can cause I, throat, and knows irritation. Don’t worry, the birds won’t notice the pepper solution at all!

➄ Join Them!

As the old saying goes, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” One way to deter squirrels from stealing all of your birdseed out of your bird feeders is to simply provide them with their own feeders. You can purchase squirrel feeders and squirrel food any local home improvement store, or online through a compatible retailer. These days they have all sorts of different styles and designs, including the currently trending squirrel picnic tables. You can even build your own squirrel feeder.  Just be sure to set the squirrel feeders far away from your bird feeders, preferably on the other side of your property.

Are squirrels taking over your property and you worry there’s nothing you can do to stop them? Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for prompt and professional squirrel removal and control services in Nashville, Tennessee. We serve both residential and commercial clients of the most competitive rates around.

Related Posts:

Which Squirrel Species are Found in Tennessee?
Why You Should Not Feed the Wild Animals Around Your House
How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers in Nashville

Smoky Wildlife Control Nashville Tennessee
Smoky Wildlife Control Nashville Tennessee 615-610-0962

Which Squirrel Species are Found in Tennessee?

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Here in Tennessee, it is not hard to appreciate all the beautiful nature and surroundings of our state. But with nature comes wildlife, and squirrels are one the most common animals spotted on a daily basis by Tennesseans. This could partly be due to the fact that our state has abundant forested land, wooded lots, and flowing bodies of water, making it easy for squirrel populations to thrive. But squirrels are also prevalent in our metro, suburban, and rural regions because there are 5 different species native to our state! This includes Easter Gray Squirrels, Red Squirrels, Southern Flying Squirrels, Northern Flying Squirrels, and Fox Squirrels.

Continue reading to learn more about these five interesting and distinctive species of squirrel in Tennessee, as well as what to do if squirrels are becoming a threat or nuisance around your property.

Squirrel Removal Nashville Tennessee 615-610-0962
Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Top Tennessee Squirrel Species

Easter Gray Squirrels

As for the most common species of the five here in Tennessee, the Easter Gray Squirrel takes the lead. You can spot these critters in parks and backyards, year-round. Their fur is gray and white, and they have longer fur on their tails. Do not confused this species with the Eastern Fox Squirrel, which is larger and has a reddish underbelly. Gray squirrels are the most problematic species in terms of critter control because they have two litters a year, which keeps their population numbers high.

Southern and Northern Flying Squirrels

Tennessee is home to both Southern and Northern Flying Squirrel species! Although they are not spotted as often as Gray squirrels and fox squirrels because they are so small, you would be surprised as just how common these fellas are around the state. Unlike other species of squirrel, flying squirrels choose to live together in the winter, staying warm and dependent as a congregation. For this reason, they are often found nesting in attics and crawl spaces, thus requiring animal removal services. One of the most tell-tale signs of a flying squirrel infestation is dark stains running down the exterior siding. These streaks are caused by their droppings and urine, as well as the oily residues on their feathers.

Fox Squirrels

Also called Eastern Fox Squirrels and Bryant’s Fox Squirrels, you will know when you are looking at one because they are the largest species in Tennessee. They get their name from their heads and face, that look just like a fox! This species of squirrel prefers to stay away from high-traffic areas like subdivisions and neighborhoods. Instead, you are more likely to spot them in nature, such as the woods or in parks, and almost always up in the trees. They are not much of a ground squirrel.

American Red Squirrels

American Red squirrels are spotted less often than Gray and Fox squirrels, but still very prevalent here in Tennessee. This is mostly because they prefer wooded areas with a lot of pine trees, and spend most of their time up in the trees. In fact, they are also known as Pine squirrels or Piney squirrels, not only because they live in pine trees, but also because their favorite food source is pine cones. They are also called North American Red Squirrel and Chickaree.

Nuisance Squirrel Problems

Squirrels are excellent climbers and small in stature, making them a prime nuisance animal in the Middle Tennessee areas. They infest roofs, attics, crawl spaces, wall voids, porches, and more, causing a long list of costly damage and unsanitary conditions. If you suspect squirrels are getting too close for comfort, or you notice that the numbers are increasing drastically in your area, you need squirrel control preventative maintenance.

Where to Get Squirrel Removal and Control in Nashville, Tennessee

Call Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for safe and affordable squirrel removal in Nashville, Tennessee. Our TWRA licensed wildlife control operators deliver prompt and professional solutions for nuisance squirrel problems, including extraction, exclusion, trapping, clean up, restorations, and more. We can even work with your homeowners’ insurance carrier to perform repairs for animal damages. Our animal control trappers serve both residential and commercial clients in Nashville, TN, as well as all throughout the Middle and Greater Tennessee areas. Request a free quote or advice, anytime. Need emergency animal removal? We offer after-hours service just for that.

Smoky Wildlife Control Nashville Tennessee
Smoky Wildlife Control Nashville Tennessee 615-610-0962