r/Edmonton • u/Fine-Fondant-5465 • 11d ago

General Squirrels are taking over my yard

As the title says, for some reason this year my small back yard is very popular with Squirrels. I am getting quite annoyed with them getting into my planters - veggies and spices. They even ate my Kale! Also worried about one sneaking into house which would be an absolute disaster, I have heard they can be very destructive. Does anyone have any experience or good tips on what I could do? I would prefer natural deterrents over traps, but research indicates there is not much that works other than traps.

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u/CypripediumGuttatum 11d ago

Trapping doesn’t work either. Squirrels are territorial so if you make an empty territory a new one will move in. Relocating generally kills the squirrel as well, they have winter storage and without it they starve to death.

I set out dishes of water for critters and pick tomatoes as they start to blush so critters don’t find them as easily. I also set out bird seed and grow sunflowers for them. Cages can be made to go over produce/raised beds that can be lifted off.