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Scents such as peppermint oil, rosemary, garlic, and cinnamon can help deter squirrels from your property. Squirrels also have a strong aversion to the scent of capsaicin, the naturally-occurring compound that provides the characteristic heat in chili peppers. This makes capsaicin-based repellents an effective way to deter squirrels from specific areas like gardens or bird feeders. Additionally, squirrels aren’t a fan of strong, fresh scents, so you may have success placing strong-smelling soaps or dryer sheets near where they frequent.

It is very difficult to remove a colony entirely without using some kind of insecticide. However, some treatments are safer than others. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic powder application that creates barriers that insects can’t pass through. Some pest control companies offer liquid nitrogen treatments to freeze out termites without using pesticides. Some chemical treatments are safer to use around plants, water, and wildlife than others. Bait stations are generally less damaging to the environment than sprayed termiticides.

Rats are at their peak activity at night. They use the darkness as a cover to explore, hunt for food, and quench their thirst. Their super senses, especially their night vision and sharp hearing, are tailor-made for nighttime adventures, helping them navigate. This preference for nighttime shenanigans is because they want to steer clear of daytime dangers and predators. They feel more secure when the sun goes down, allowing them to roam freely while keeping a low profile.

Both insects can damage wood, but there are key differences between termites and carpenter ants that tell them apart. Carpenter ants tunnel through moist wood, leaving behind smooth tunnels and sawdust-like piles, as they don't eat the wood but rather carve it for nesting. In contrast, termites actually consume wood, creating irregular galleries filled with mud and dirt, and leaving behind mud tubes as their signature. In terms of appearance, carpenter ants have segmented bodies with heart-shaped heads and larger front wings, while termites have more oval bodies with straight antennae and equal-sized wings.