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Squirrels have a strong sense of smell and can be deterred by various scents they dislike. Effective options include peppermint oil, rosemary, garlic, cinnamon, white vinegar, coffee grounds, and predator urine. Squirrels also have a strong aversion to capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot, making capsaicin-based repellents a good choice for protecting specific areas like gardens or bird feeders. For a DIY solution, you can create a garlic and vinegar spray and apply it daily. Additionally, placing strong-smelling items like certain soaps or dryer sheets near where squirrels frequent can also be effective.

Yes, bats can cause quite a bit of damage to the attic. Their weight and movement from flying around can damage insulation, and they can chew through wiring and the walls. As if this isn’t enough, they leave their droppings throughout, which carry harmful bacteria and is dangerous for humans to breathe in, not to mention the extremely foul-smelling odor.

Groundhogs love to eat a variety of plant matter. This includes beans, peas, sunflowers, tender greens such as leafy vegetables, clover, dandelion, and alfalfa, and sweet fruits such as apples and berries. Groundhogs eat up to a pound and a half of plant matter each day, so household gardens often become their prime target.

Several bugs can look like ticks but aren’t, including beetles, bed bugs, spider beetles, and weevils. Aside from different types of beetles, the most common confusion is between ticks versus bed bugs. In any case, since a tick is an eight-legged arachnid, you can quickly differentiate by the number of legs, as all insects have six legs.