Let me clear up one thing right away: you are not going to get rid of squirrels that live in trees, because trees are where squirrels are supposed to live. What you actually want is to stop them from using those trees as a highway to your roof, attic, and bird feeders.
That is a winnable fight. It comes down to three moves: put a barrier on the trunk, cut the branches back from your house, and make the trip unpleasant. Here is how I do it.
Block the trunk with a baffle
A baffle is a cone or cylinder of metal wrapped around the trunk so a squirrel cannot climb past it. It is the single best tool you have.
Put it about 6 feet up, with the wide end facing down, so the squirrel cannot get a grip or jump past it. Use galvanized steel, at least 18 inches across, so they cannot reach around the edge.
The catch is that squirrels jump. If the tree is close to your house or another tree, they will bypass the baffle entirely. So you need baffles on every tree within jumping range, and you need the branches trimmed back.
Prune the branches back
Squirrels treat an overhanging branch as a bridge. Cut any branch that comes within about 8 feet of your roof, chimney, or attic vent, and any branch touching a power line or another route to your house. Keep that clearance every year.
A note on safety: never trim near power lines yourself. Call a tree service for anything close to a line. And when you prune, do not take more than about a quarter of the canopy in one year, and cut at the branch collar so the tree heals clean. Still deciding whether to handle this yourself? My DIY vs. pro quiz asks five questions and gives you a straight answer.
Make the tree unpleasant
Capsaicin sprays on the trunk and big branches give squirrels a hot, burning taste they remember, without hurting the tree. Spray from the ground up to about 6 feet, and reapply after rain or every week or so.
Skip the mothballs and ammonia. They do not work outdoors, and they can harm the tree and the soil.
Other things that help
- Remove fallen nuts, acorns, and fruit from around the base so you are not ringing a dinner bell.
- Stop feeding them on purpose. A handout teaches them your place is reliable food.
- A motion-activated sprinkler near the base surprises them and trains them off.
- Put an owl box up if you have the space, natural predators do free work.
One more thing: before you trap or relocate any squirrel, check your local rules. In a lot of states squirrels are game animals, and moving them is regulated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when they are installed right: metal, about 18 inches wide, 6 feet up, with no nearby branch or structure the squirrel can jump from. Get any of those wrong and they are useless.
A gray squirrel can jump about 8 feet flat, and a bit vertically. That is why trees closer than 8 feet to your house or to each other are connected highways.
Done right, no. Prune in late winter or early spring, cut at the branch collar, and do not take more than about a quarter of the canopy in a year.
Not really. The smell fades fast outdoors, especially after rain. Capsaicin spray works better because it is a physical burn they remember, not a smell they can walk away from.
You do not need to. A tree nest is exactly where a squirrel belongs. Your goal is to break the path from that nest to your house, not to evict the squirrel from the tree.
