How to stop squirrels from chewing Christmas lights right now
Understanding how to stop squirrels from chewing Christmas lights is basically a mandatory holiday tradition for some people. You spend hours untangling cords, climbing ladders, and completely spacing out your display, only to wake up the following morning to the dark house and a bunch of cut wires. It's extremely frustrating, not to mention expensive to keep replacing all those strands every single year.
This feels personal, doesn't it? Like the squirrels in your own yard are particularly targeting your house to ruin your festive spirit. However a little more scientific—and a lot more annoying. Most modern wire insulating material is actually constructed with a soy-based plastic material. To a squirrel, your Christmas lights don't just appear pretty; they smell and taste like a snack. Plus, squirrels have teeth that will never stop developing, so they have got a biological desire to gnaw on anything that provides a bit of resistance.
If you're tired of being the neighborhood squirrel's individual electrician, there are many methods to fight. Right here is a break down of what really works and how you can shield your holiday screen.
Use the power of spicy peppers
The most common and arguably most effective way to stop these rodents is definitely to associated with cables taste absolutely terrible. Since squirrels are mammals, they respond to capsaicin—the stuff that makes chili peppers hot—the same way we do. When they take a chew of a wire covered in pepper aerosol, they get the nasty surprise that will usually discourages an additional bite.
You can purchase commercial sprays like Critter Ridder or other animal repellents specifically designed for this. Most associated with these use the concentrated pepper oil. If you want to move the DIY path, you may make a "hot sauce" spray from home. Mix the bottle of the cheapest, hottest hot sauce you can discover after some bit of water and a drop of dish soap (the soap helps it stick to the plastic).
Only a term of caution: in the event that you use this method, wear gloves when you're hanging the lights. You really don't want to touch the treated cables and then unintentionally rub your eye. Also, be conscious that rain or even snow will ultimately wash the piquancy away, so you'll probably need to reapply it each week or after a big storm.
Try physical obstacles for vulnerable places
Sometimes, a negative taste isn't good enough to stop a really stubborn squirrel. In case you have lights running along a deck railing or even a fence—places where squirrels love to run—you might need to get actual physical.
Among the best methods is using plastic split-loom tubing . You've probably seen these products used to manage computer cables at the rear of a desk. It's a flexible black tube that's slit down the center. You can tuck your light wires within the tubing, and the squirrels will have a much more difficult time getting their own teeth around the particular actual electrical cord. It's a little bit of additional work, and it also may not look properly "invisible" during the day, but it's a near-guaranteed method to stop the chewing.
Another option is to use 1/4-inch hardware cloth or wire mesh. If you have lights draped over bushes or small trees and shrubs, you are able to loosely cover the mesh around the plant. It creates a "no-go zone" for the particular squirrels, keeping them far enough apart from the cables which they can't reach them.
Select your lights strategically
Believe this or not, the type of lights you buy may make a distinction in how very much the squirrels trouble them. Many people have found that LED lights are usually slightly less susceptible to squirrel assaults than old-school incandescent bulbs. This might be because LEDs don't get hot. Squirrels are occasionally captivated to the warmth of traditional bulbs upon a cold night, and once they're there, they begin chewing.
Also, look for lights with wider wire insulation . The flimsy, inexpensive strands are significantly easier to get a squirrel to snap within one bite. Several heavy-duty outdoor commercial-grade lights have very much tougher casings that will aren't nearly mainly because satisfying to gnaw on.
Another weird but correct tip: avoid specific colors if a person can. While it's not 100% tested, some gardeners plus holiday enthusiasts trust that squirrels are usually more attracted to crimson and orange bulbs because they look like fruits or nuts. It sounds a bit crazy, but if you're desperate, switching to a cool whitened or blue style may indeed lower the particular "food" profile associated with your display.
The "if a person can't beat 'em, feed 'em" strategy
This one is controversial among homeowners, but it works regarding some. The concept is to supply a "sacrifice" meals source that is significantly more appealing compared to your light cables. If you arranged up a squirrel feeder at the far finish of your yard, stocked with nuts, sunflower seeds, or even corn, the squirrels may be too active eating the good stuff to bother with your soy-based wires.
The danger here is that you might simply attract more squirrels to your home. If you choose this route, create sure the feeder is as considerably away from your house and your lights as achievable. You want to lure them apart from the patio, not invite all of them to a social gathering ideal next to your own expensive LED display.
Use scents that will squirrels hate
Squirrels possess a willing sense of smell, and there are certain odors they absolutely are not able to stand. Aside from the spicy stuff mentioned earlier, you can try using peppermint oil or vinegar .
Soaking some cotton balls in peppermint oil and tucking them into the particular bushes where your own lights are strung can create a scent barrier. Several people also vow by predator urine (like fox or coyote urine), which you can buy at most garden centers. This might sound low, but it signs to the squirrel that a predator is nearby, producing them a lot more cautious about hanging close to to chew on your decor.
Just remember that such as the pepper squirt, these scents fade as time passes. You'll want to be consistent with the application in case you want this to remain effective throughout December.
Timing is almost everything
If a person live in a place where squirrels are particularly active, you might want to rethink when you put your lights upward. Squirrels are often at their many frantic within the late fall when they are trying to fatten upward and store foods for the winter. If you put your lights away in early November, you're hitting that peak window of action.
Waiting until it gets the little colder—usually mid-December—can sometimes help since the squirrels have already settled into their winter routines plus aren't as focused on exploring each new thing in the particular yard. It's not a foolproof program, but it can reduce the duration of the "attack window. "
Check your lights regularly
This sounds simple, yet the best method to prevent the total disaster is usually to stay on best of things. Each night when a person turn your lights on, take a quick go walking and make sure everything is glowing. If you spot a section that's out, check out it immediately with regard to chew marks.
If a squirrel provides just started nibbling, you can utilize some deterrent right then and there to prevent all of them from coming back again to finish the particular job. In case you leave a partially wrecked wire alone, they'll almost certainly return to "clean up" the rest associated with the strand.
Wrapping it up
There will be no single "magic bullet" for how to stop squirrels from chewing Christmas lights , but a mix of these methods generally does the trick. Usually, a good dose of spice up spray coupled with a little bit associated with strategic placement is definitely enough to encourage the local rats that your house isn't worth the work.
It's certainly a pain to have to handle, but don't allow a few fuzzy-tailed vandals ruin your holiday spirit. Along with a bit of persistence (and perhaps a lot associated with hot sauce), you can keep your own lights shining vivid all the way until New Year's. Just keep in mind to keep individuals gloves handy plus stay from the top rung from the ladder!