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Squirrels rely heavily on their sense of smell and are deterred by a variety of scents. Some of the most effective smells for repelling them include peppermint oil, coffee grounds, white vinegar, garlic, cinnamon, rosemary, and predator urine. They also have a strong aversion to capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot, making capsaicin-based sprays an effective repellent for areas like gardens or bird feeders. For a DIY solution, you can create a spray from garlic and vinegar and apply it daily. Additionally, squirrels dislike strong, fresh scents, so placing items like strong-smelling soaps or dryer sheets in areas they frequent can also help keep them away.

As you know, mice adore peanut butter, but who doesn’t? Beyond that sandwich staple, rodents are drawn to berries, grains, seeds, meat, and, yes, even cheese. They also eat pet food in a pinch and feast on plant materials, leftovers, and anything in the trash. In other words, mice aren’t picky.

It is a myth that smashing a stink bug attracts more stink bugs. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, killing a stink bug will not attract more of them. They are able to secrete a pheromone that attracts other bugs, but they will only release their alarm pheromone when they’re squished—which won’t attract more bugs. 

Unlike for rats and mice, poisonous baits and fumigants aren’t a legal option for dealing with squirrel invasions. So, don’t set any traps up using standard rodenticides. Remember that you typically need a permit for trapping and relocating squirrels found on your property. Some states even specify the types of traps you need to use.