Squirrels and chipmunks may look harmless, but anyone who gardens or keeps bird feeders knows how quickly these little animals can become a headache. They dig through flower beds, raid bird feeders, chew on plants, and sometimes find their way into sheds, attics, and other parts of a home.
There is a small distinction between the two. Chipmunks belong to the squirrel family, but they are much smaller. Squirrels can reach around 16 to 20 inches in length and weigh up to about 1.5 pounds, while chipmunks usually weigh only a few ounces.
Since both animals depend heavily on their sense of smell while searching for food and moving around, certain strong scents may make an area less appealing. Many of these options are inexpensive and easy to try around a garden or yard. Keep in mind that scent-based repellents tend to wear off and may need to be reapplied.
Citrus
The sharp smell of lemon, orange, and grapefruit is often unpleasant to squirrels and chipmunks. Citrus peels are an easy option if you already have them in the kitchen.
Scatter fresh peels around garden beds, near plants that have been damaged, or in spots where you have noticed digging. Citrus-based sprays can also be used around outdoor areas.
The smell won’t last forever, especially after rain, so fresh peels or spray may need to be replaced from time to time.
Related: 17 Smells That Make Rats Say ‘Nope!’
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a strong scent that can make an area less inviting to small rodents. Ground cinnamon is inexpensive and easy to find, while cinnamon oil has a much stronger aroma.
Try sprinkling a small amount around garden borders, plant containers, or other places where squirrels and chipmunks regularly pass through. If using cinnamon oil, dilute it before applying it outdoors.
Don’t expect one application to solve the problem. Outdoor scents fade, and persistent animals may simply get used to them.
Vinegar
Few household smells are as sharp as vinegar. That strong odor may discourage squirrels and chipmunks from hanging around treated areas.
A simple option is to dilute white vinegar with water and apply it to surfaces where rodents have been active. Vinegar can also be used on rags placed near areas you want to protect.
Be careful around plants. Undiluted vinegar can damage foliage and may kill plants if applied directly, so keep it away from leaves and garden soil.
Related: 17 Strong Scents Rats Can’t Stand That May Help Keep Them Out of Your House
Lavender
Lavender smells pleasant to many people, but its strong floral scent may be less appealing to squirrels and chipmunks.
Planting lavender around parts of the garden can add color and fragrance while making those areas less attractive to unwanted visitors. Dried lavender can also be placed in small sachets around sheds, porches, or other protected areas.
Lavender oil is another option, though it should be diluted before being used around outdoor spaces.
Dryer Sheets
The strong fragrance in some dryer sheets has long been used as a homemade wildlife deterrent. People often place them near gardens, sheds, attics, or bird-feeder areas where squirrels and chipmunks are active.
Results can vary quite a bit. Some animals seem to avoid the smell, while others pay little attention to it.
If you try this method, replace the sheets once the scent starts to fade. It’s also a good idea to keep scented sheets away from areas where pets or wildlife could chew on or swallow them.
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Predator Urine
Predator urine products are sold as wildlife repellents because the scent can suggest that a predator is nearby. Products may contain scents associated with animals such as foxes or coyotes.
Apply them around the edges of a garden or other areas where squirrels and chipmunks have been causing trouble, following the product’s directions.
This method can be inconvenient because the smell is unpleasant for people, too. It also needs regular reapplication, especially after rain.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus has a strong, menthol-like scent that can make outdoor areas less appealing to squirrels and chipmunks.
A few drops of eucalyptus oil can be diluted in water and used as a spray around places where rodents are active. Avoid spraying concentrated essential oils directly on plants, since they can cause damage.
The scent will fade outdoors, so repeat applications may be needed. Keep essential oils away from pets, particularly cats, since some oils can be harmful to them.
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Garlic
Garlic is another kitchen staple with a smell that can be difficult for small animals to ignore. Crushed garlic cloves can be placed around areas where squirrels and chipmunks have been digging.
You can also make a simple garlic spray by steeping crushed cloves in water and straining the mixture before spraying it around the garden.
The smell will become weaker over time, particularly after rain. Replacing the garlic or reapplying the spray can keep the scent noticeable.
Cayenne Peppers
Cayenne pepper is commonly used to discourage squirrels from raiding bird feeders and garden beds. The active compound capsaicin creates a burning sensation, making treated food and surfaces unpleasant for many mammals.
A light dusting around plants or other problem areas may help. Some people also add cayenne to homemade sprays.
Be careful around pets and avoid creating clouds of pepper dust that could irritate the eyes, nose, or lungs. Rain and watering will also wash it away, so it needs to be reapplied.
Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds have a strong, bitter smell that some gardeners use to discourage squirrels and chipmunks. Spread a thin layer around areas where you have noticed digging or feeding.
Coffee grounds also add organic material to the garden, though they shouldn’t be treated as a complete fertilizer. Large amounts can create problems, so use them sparingly.
Freshly used grounds will have a stronger smell than old, weathered grounds. Replace them once the scent has faded.
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Marigolds, Daffodils, and Hyacinths
Certain plants may make a garden less appealing to squirrels and chipmunks. Marigolds, daffodils, and hyacinths are often mentioned as options because of their strong scents and, in the case of daffodils, compounds that many animals avoid eating.
Plant them around the edges of garden beds or near areas that tend to attract unwanted visitors. They also add color, which makes this one of the more attractive options for a home garden.
No plant will stop every squirrel or chipmunk, especially if the animals have an easy source of food nearby.
Cedar Mulch
Fresh cedar mulch has a strong woody smell that may discourage squirrels and chipmunks from spending time in treated areas. It can be spread around garden beds, paths, and the perimeter of outdoor spaces.
The scent tends to fade as the mulch ages and gets exposed to rain and sunlight. Adding fresh material when needed can bring back some of the aroma.
Cedar mulch can also help retain moisture and reduce weeds, giving it a practical purpose beyond its scent.
Onions
Raw onions have a strong smell caused in part by sulfur-containing compounds. That odor may discourage squirrels and chipmunks from spending time around areas where onions have been placed.
Chopped onion pieces or peels can be scattered around garden beds, though they will need to be replaced as they dry out or decompose.
An onion-based spray is another option for covering a larger area. Keep any food scraps away from pets that might try to eat them.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint has a powerful menthol scent that many people use as a homemade pest deterrent. Squirrels and chipmunks may avoid areas treated with the strong-smelling oil.
Mix a small amount of peppermint oil with water and spray it around entry points, garden borders, or other locations where rodents have been active. Cotton balls with diluted peppermint oil can also be placed near problem areas.
Essential oils can irritate pets and wildlife, so don’t leave concentrated oil where animals can lick or ingest it. The scent will also fade outdoors, meaning repeat applications are usually needed.
Pepper
Black pepper and other pungent spices can make certain areas less appealing to squirrels and chipmunks. A light sprinkling around plants, garden borders, or bird-feeder areas may discourage them from lingering.
Pepper can irritate the eyes and nose of people and animals, so avoid applying large amounts or creating airborne dust. Keep it away from pets that spend time in the garden.
If squirrels or chipmunks keep returning, scent-based methods work best alongside other measures, such as securing trash, removing fallen fruit, protecting vegetable beds with netting, and using squirrel-resistant bird feeders. Making the food source harder to reach can do more than relying on smell alone.
