Get matched with top animal fencing pros in Halifax, MA

Squirrels hate not having access to secure shelter or food sources. Your best line of defense is to make your property less attractive by removing access to these things. There are chemical squirrel repellents, but these have mixed success. According to Pennsylvania State University, you can apply products containing the bittering agent denatonium saccharide to a squirrel's favorite fence, tree, or roof spots. However, you need to reapply repellents regularly, which aren’t scientifically proven effective.

Attempting to squish a scorpion by hand or foot isn’t a good idea, as many can flatten themselves and survive a simple strike—plus, they’ll be provoked and very likely to sting. Instead, it's best to use a sharp or heavy object to pierce or crush the exoskeleton with force. Always wear protective clothing, including thick gloves, pants, and closed-toe shoes, to avoid being stung. Use long tweezers, scissors, or a knife to pierce the exoskeleton or crush it with a heavy object, making sure to twist or press down firmly to ensure the scorpion is truly dead.

While possums don’t typically carry rabies, they can have lice, fleas, ticks, and mites. According to the University of California’s Pest Management Program, possums can also carry diseases like leptospirosis, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and fevers. Possums are also the carriers of a parasite that can pass to horses and cats called Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM).

Some stores sell smoke bombs to drive animals out of spaces, but we don’t recommend you use them, especially in an attic. The smoke can be toxic to humans or pets that may accidentally inhale it. Meanwhile, critters can easily escape the smoke by temporarily leaving the attic, only to return via their usual entry points after the smoke clears.