Florida is home to many species of rodents, including ground squirrels. Ground squirrels are similar to tree squirrels, with a few small differences. A ground squirrel’s tail is shorter and bushier, and their fur is greyer with white dots.
The biggest difference, however, is that ground squirrels hibernate in underground burrows that can be up to four feet deep. These burrows can tunnel underneath your home, putting the integrity of your property at risk. Furthermore, ground squirrels will gnaw on electrical wires, plumbing pipes, and water hoses, creating an expensive headache for you to deal with.
If you suspect ground squirrels have dug underneath your Polk County property, here are a few tips you can follow to help drive them away.
Ground Squirrel Removal Tips
- Make it Noisy. Ground squirrels prefer quiet environments. Noise deterrents can make your outdoor spaces unbearable for them and potentially drive them away. Vibrating stakes and moving lawn ornaments will resonate through the ground. Wind chimes will create additional noise along with the vibrations they create. However, it’s important to move them every week so ground squirrels don’t get used to it.
- Plant Ground Squirrel Repellents. Another method to try involves adding scented plants to your gardening space. Marigolds, daffodils, onions, and garlic smell bad to ground squirrels and could turn them away from your yard.
If the ground squirrels try to eat your garden plants and produce, a pepper spray solution could leave a bad taste in their mouths. Deterrent pepper spray can be found at hardware or gardening stores, or you can make your own by mixing red pepper flakes with water and dish soap. This solution will run off ground squirrels but won’t be harmful to your plants.
- Call a Squirrel Removal Expert. If natural remedies prove to be ineffective at removing nuisance squirrels, then your best bet is to call a licensed and trained wildlife removal specialist. Don’t let ground squirrels cause damage to your Polk County home or business, instead call Critter Control® of Polk County as soon as you notice them on your property.
Your Ground Squirrel Removal Professionals
At Critter Control® of Polk County, our equipped and experienced technicians use low-risk, non-toxic, and humane methods that put the health of the animal first. We provide comprehensive property inspections to determine the extent of the infestation, identify all entry points, and isolate the invasive pests. After efficiently removing all unwanted wildlife from your property, we will repair damages caused by the pests, and seal up exposures to keep them from returning.
To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our fast and effective squirrel removal services, call Critter Control® of Polk County today at 863-204-2815.
