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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.

The time of day that most snakes are active is at night. This is when they prefer to hunt since they can do so under the cover of darkness, out of sight of predators and the prey they stalk. However, some snake species prefer very hot temperatures and are strictly active during the day.

Armadillos have very strong smelling capabilities to track down insects efficiently. But this superpower is actually a double-edged sword because their extreme sense of smell also causes them to be more sensitive and deterred by strong odors. To keep them at bay, you can place small amounts of substances like vinegar, ammonia, and mothballs around your property and near armadillo hotspots.

Although you can technically flood an armadillo out of its hole, it’s important to remember that this can be potentially fatal to the animal. Armadillos sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day, and if you perform this technique while they’re deep in sleep, they may not awake soon enough to save themselves.

While there are plenty of DIY home remedies for pests, trapping and fumigation costs are worth the investment when dealing with a serious infestation that is hard to get rid of, like termites,  bed bugs, or mice.

DIY traps and sprays might help eliminate a few ants or the occasional mouse, but they're no match for a full-blown infestation. Call an extermination pro to locate where pests hide, how to treat the issue at the source, and how to keep it from returning.