As small prey animals, squirrels understand instinctively that they always need to be vigilant in watching for potential predators and making a quick escape if they see one. Many calls to Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Okanagan are because of squirrels, and some homeowners have wondered if they can take advantage of squirrels’ fears to deter them from their property. There are some animals that squirrels are afraid of, but trying to achieve squirrel removal through fear isn’t a very efficient approach and could have unintended consequences.

Owls

Owls are formidable birds of prey, and small animals such as rodents make up a significant part of their diet. However, owls are active at night and squirrels are active during the day. Therefore, owls do not have many opportunities to hunt squirrels. Nevertheless, squirrels and owls may cross paths at dusk, when owls are just waking up and squirrels are getting ready to go to sleep. If an owl spots a squirrel, it will likely try to kill and eat the rodent.

Squirrels recognize owls as predators and are unlikely to keep hanging around where they are present. While you can’t keep an owl as a pet, you can install an owl nesting box on your property. This provides a place for owls to raise their young, which is beneficial to the environment as some species of owls are endangered due to habitat loss. Owls may not use a box in an urban setting, and it may not be a good idea if you have outdoor cats or small dogs as pets.

Another option is to put an owl decoy on your property to scare squirrels. Unfortunately, this may not be an effective long-term solution. Eventually, the squirrels will figure out that what looks like a formidable predator never attempts to catch them, and they are likely to lose their fear of it. You can make the decoy seem more threatening by moving it around your property from time to time to make it seem as though it is stalking prey. 

Dogs and Cats

For many families, a home isn’t complete without a dog or a cat, sometimes both. Though domesticated, cats and dogs are natural predators. When they see a squirrel, they often bark, growl, hiss, and make aggressive motions toward it. If the dog or cat does not catch the squirrel, the rodent may nevertheless become so terrified that it runs away.

If you already have a cat or dog in your home, it may help to frighten squirrels around your property. However, you should not obtain a pet as a squirrel deterrent, nor should you send your pet outside specifically to chase squirrels. Chances are good that the squirrels in your neighbourhood outnumber your pets, and even in the animal kingdom, there is safety in numbers.

Furthermore, if wild animals cannot escape from danger, their instinct is often to fight back. This is true even of small, timid creatures such as squirrels. A squirrel could bite or scratch a dog or cat that gets ahold of it, hoping to force the predator to let it go. Squirrels can also expose dogs and cats to parasites and diseases. It is not worth the risk of your beloved pet getting sick or hurt to deter squirrels from your yard.

How Can Wildlife Control in Okanagan Deter Squirrels From Your Property?

Part of our process involves protecting your property from future wildlife intrusion. This involves sealing entry points so animals can’t get in and can be done independently of squirrel removal as a preventive. Learn more about the steps involved in our process.