How Do I Keep Squirrels From Eating My Halloween Pumpkins?

How to Keep Squirrels from Eating Your Pumpkins

1. Petroleum Jelly. A think coat of gunky, sticky ointment will keep squirrels at a distance.
2. Hot Sauce.
3. White Distilled Vinegar.
4. Pet Hair.
5. Peppermint or Garlic Spray.
6. Deer Repellent.
7. Distract ‘Em.
8. Scare ‘Em.

How do you get squirrels to not eat your pumpkins?

So applying hot sauce or cayenne pepper may deter squirrels from feasting on your pumpkins,” says Hartzer. The easiest way to get squirrels to avoid your pumpkins: Just sprinkle a spice with capsaicin in it — like red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper — on and around your pumpkins.

How do I keep animals from eating my Halloween pumpkins?

How to Keep Critters from Eating Your Pumpkins!

1. Hairspray. You read that right – hairspray!
2. Cayenne Pepper/Hot Sauce. Just like with textures, some animals will avoid strong, off-putting scents.
3. Vinegar.
4. Petroleum Jelly.
5. Distraction.
6. Animal Repellent.

What can keep squirrels away?

Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use food sources and shelter. You can repel squirrels using scents they hate such as, capsaicin, white vinegar, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, cinnamon, predator urine, garlic, dryer sheets, Irish Spring Soap, and rosemary.

What is eating my pumpkins at night?

In the garden; aphids, beetles, snails and slugs, squash bugs, and vine borers will prey on pumpkins. Ants are also attracted by pumpkins, whether on your porch or in your garden. Rabbits, foxes, moles, and deer will also eat your pumpkins.

How do you protect a jack o lantern from a squirrel?

Petroleum jelly: Cover your pumpkin in a heavy coat of petroleum jelly or a vapor rub. Squirrels don’t like sticky substances. And a thick coat of the jelly can last for weeks. Lacquer spray: Coat all sides of your pumpkin with lacquer spray and let dry until hard.

Does bleach deter squirrels?

Furthermore, the unpleasant bleach smell encourages these little visitors to leave, making it an ideal repellent for squirrels.

Will squirrels eat pumpkins?

To squirrels, pumpkins are an irresistible treat that they’ll do almost anything to eat. If you want to save your pumpkins from the squirrels, you’ll need to fight back. Covering pumpkins with a scent they hate is one of the best ways to ward them off.

What do squirrels hate the most?

Squirrels hate the smell of pepper, mint, mothballs, predator urine, skunks, coffee, and cinnamon, among others. Squirrels have an excellent sense of smell, which they use to find food buried up to 1 foot underground and stay away from danger.

What smell do squirrels hate the most?

A List of Smells Squirrels Hate

• Cider Vinegar. Squirrels object to the scent of cider vinegar, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
• Spicy Odors. “Hot” and “spicy” scents can be practical for preventing squirrels.
• Distinctive Smell of Mothballs.
• Skunk-Like Smells.
• Animal Urine.
• Plant Mint to Repel Squirrels.

Do coffee grounds keep squirrels away?

Coffee grounds will often keep squirrels away. However, they need to be replenished frequently and may not be a good fit for every area that needs to be squirrel-proofed.

Do pumpkins attract rodents?

Rodents. Rodents such as mice and rats enjoy nibbling on pumpkins, especially if they’re cut open to reveal the soft and delicious fruit. Other rodents may also come to sample your pumpkins, such as squirrels and chipmunks.

What is eating holes in my pumpkin leaves?

Beetles – Beetles are the most common but easily treated pests on pumpkins. Spray your vines with a mild pesticide and they should disappear. Snails and slugs – Snails and slugs love to eat the tender flesh of very young, giant pumpkins.

What animals eat pumpkins and gourds?

Birds aren’t the only pumpkin fans in the great outdoors. Squirrels, deer, raccoons and most other wildlife mammals will be happy to help you make good use of your leftovers. “All the wildlife will eat it,” says Masabni. “I have seen squirrels go inside the [jack o’lantern] opening and raccoons clawing to get in.”

Does vinegar keep squirrels from eating pumpkins?

‘Vinegar does deter squirrels from eating your pumpkins as squirrels do not like the smell of it. Acetic acid is what squirrels do not like.

What can you put on pumpkins to keep animals away?

Tired of finding your jack o’ lanterns chewed up by hungry neighborhood critters? Here are some tips to safely keep them away.

1. Petroleum Jelly.
2. Hot Sauce.
3. White Distilled Vinegar.
4. Pet Hair.
5. Peppermint or Garlic Spray.
6. Deer Repellent.
7. Distract ‘Em.
8. Scare ‘Em.

What can you spray on pumpkins to make them last longer?

Pumpkins shrivel up because they run out of moisture. Spraying it every day with water mixed with a few drops of bleach will keep it moist and ward off bacteria.

Does aluminum foil deter squirrels?

Rodents hate the feeling of foil between their teeth, too, so placing strips of foil in your garden mulch will help deter squirrels and some bugs. If squirrels are eating the bark of your tree, you can also wrap the trunk in foil.

Does vinegar keep squirrels away?

Squirrels have an extremely strong sense of smell which is what allows them to thrive during the fall and winter. Due to it’s pungent aroma, squirrels are sensitive to vinegar and stay away. You can spray a diluted solution of white vinegar near areas where squirrels frequent to repel them.

What happens when squirrels eat pumpkins?

It’s good to know that pumpkin is safe for squirrels, especially, since they love it eating it.

What do you do with uncarved pumpkins after Halloween?

Uncarved pumpkins can last up to 12 weeks before they start to rot. So if your pumpkins are still whole and firm, hang on to them to add to the Thanksgiving dinner table for festive decor. If they’re still going strong after Thanksgiving, give them a coat of red and green paint and keep them around for Christmas!