Tips to keep pesky squirrels out of car engines and attics

DEAR READERS >> I’ve been deluged by questions about squirrels and how to keep them out of places you don’t want them, primarily the attic and the engine of cars. So here is my best squirrel advice.

Vehicle nesting

Let’s look first at squirrels nesting in the engines of cars, or using them as storage bins for their acorns. We’re in a perfect storm at the moment. Squirrels are starting to get serious about laying in a stock of food for the winter, plus the night temperatures are creeping down and squirrels and other creatures are looking for warm places to lay their heads.

Couple those things with the pandemic lockdown, which has meant we’re not driving our cars as much, giving squirrels and rats a chance to get into the cars and settle in.

Rodents in cars cause considerable and expensive damage by chewing wires and hoses. One reader had acorns in the air conditioner blower motor basket, which cost $400 to replace.

Car repair experts recommend a simple fix — peppermint oil. Put about 40 drops of the highly concentrated oil in a water bottle and, after cleaning out the engine, spray it down. The smell will last about three days, then you’ll need to reapply it. You also can soak cotton balls and place them throughout the engine compartment, or soak rags in the oil and put them under the car.

Leaving the hood up on your car can also discourage the squirrels from nesting in the engine compartment, and there are devices that use ultrasonic sounds and flashing lights. Some of them are battery operated and others connect to the car battery. Leaving a light on inside the compartment also might work.

Attic tenants

For squirrels in the attic, there are a few things to try. If you’re not able to access the attic area, you may need to enlist a nimble and willing friend or hire professionals.

First, scope out areas where the squirrels are gaining access to the attic. If you have tree limbs that are close to the house, you should prune them away. Seal all the entrances that you find, except for one. You want to make sure you don’t entomb any creatures inside.

You’ll want to make sure there are no babies in the nest, then install a device that allows the squirrels to exit through that one entrance, but blocks them from coming inside. If that’s not possible, then use some of the methods below to drive the squirrels out, then block the hole.

Peppermint oil is a good choice for that, as is hot pepper or rags soaked in ammonia. You’ll also find some devices on the market designed to scare away squirrels and other animals, using ultrasonics and flashing lights. Place one or two in your attic and see what happens.

Once you’re certain that the squirrels have departed, forever or just for the day, quickly seal up the entrance to prevent them from coming back.

If none of those things work, you can try trapping. Get a humane trap that captures, not kills. Once trapped, you have to release the squirrel on your own property, so be sure you’ve closed off all the entrances before setting the squirrel free.