Hungry Squirrel+Cedar Siding = Full Squirrel

A homeowner in central Maryland noticed that squirrels were chewing their new untreated cedar shingle siding...and not just chewing as a means to get into the attic...they were actually eating the stuff. What to do?

Bill Feist, coauthor of Finishes for Exterior Wood, suggested several options. His first line of defense is in line with all other efforts to discourage squirrels from ...well from being squirrely - experiment. One possible solution is a "taste repellent" containing thiram, a fungicide registered with the EPA for general use. Repellents containing thiram at a concentration of at least 1-to-25 have been reported to be effective on squirrels. Another option is the repellent Ro-pel (I'd say some adult beverages were involved in coming up with the name). The main reason Ro-pel works is it gives the squirrel a bitter taste to think about whether he (or she) really wants to eat the stuff he's chewing on or not. Some birdseed includes a repellent based on capsaicin. The capsaicin compound is found in chili peppers...it's the "hot" in hot sauce. The EPA has registered it as an animal repellent that won't cause adverse effect on people or the environment. Unless of course you decide to drink a bottle of Texas Pete...I'd say you'll probably have some adverse effects with that... In fact Miller Hot Sauce Repellent contains 2.5 percent capsaicin. It is a taste based repellent for use on ornamentals and fruit trees. Squirrel Away is another capsaicin based repellent used as a birdseed supplement.

Of course if you get a squirrel that likes hot sauce you may be up the proverbial creek without the proverbial paddle. That's when a physical barrier may need to be considered. Although unsightly, they do offer one more avenue of defense. Their are several different options in physical barriers including drywall corner bead, wire mesh, etc...all with descending degrees of physical beautification factors. There is one other means of physical barriers that include high speed propellant based powder...but that wouldn't be politically correct. Cheers.