Without a doubt, the best way to deal with squirrels in your home is to make sure they don’t get in in the first place. If you live in an area with lots of trees, you can guarantee there’s a high squirrel population in the area. Luckily, there are many squirrel control tactics to employ to decrease the risk of the squirrels making your home into theirs. 1. Remove food sources Squirrels will go where there’s food. Bird Feeders are a very common source of food for squirrels. Make sure any birdfeeders you use are squirrel-proof. Feeders that cut off the food supply when weight is applied are good at keeping squirrels out while still allowing birds to eat. Alternatively, you can mix your birdseed with cayenne pepper. The heat of the pepper will make the seed unappetizing to squirrels but won’t affect the birds. 2. Keep Garbage areas clean and lids secure Household garbage can also be a good source of food for squirrels, as well as other rodents such as rats and mice. Store your garbage in a robust garbage can with a tightly-fitting lid to avoid attracting squirrels. 3. Cut tree branches Squirrels use tree branches like highways to get where they want to go. If tree branches touch the roof of your home, you’re asking for squirrels to investigate the building. Cut back any branches that come close to the house. The largest squirrel species in BC, the Eastern gray squirrel, can jump up to nine feet horizontally, so you may need to cut tree branches back quite aggressively. 4. Block access Inspect your roof and look for any holes that squirrels could use to get inside. Remember that these rodents don’t need a lot of space; about 1 inch can be enough to let them get in. Also remember that like rats, squirrels are capable of gnawing through material such as wood, so you’ll need to use something stronger. Metal flashing or quarter-inch galvanized steel mesh can be a good solution to block up holes. Check soffits, junctions where different areas of the roof meet, and anywhere pipes or wires enter the house. Do this before squirrels get inside to avoid problems down the line.