This morning, I was listening to the organic gardening radio show and a lady called in and said she uses peppermint oil on cotton balls to keep rats out of her attic. I've heard that before. I think she said they're allergic to something in the peppermint oil.
A few minutes later, I noticed a squirrel coming down the limb to my birdcage bird feeder and wondered: if it works for rats, maybe it would work for squirrels. Squirrels are rodents, too. So, I soaked a cotton ball with peppermint oil and put it inside the cage. Twice I saw a squirrel come down the limb, get close to the cotton ball and then leave. I'm not sure if it was afraid of the white "someting different", or if the peppermint oil really worked. I'll let you know. Wouldn't it be great if it works! I know they're hungry, too, but I want them to go find some bugs and stuff and LEAVE MY BIRD FEEDERS ALONE!!
I anxiously await to hear if it works. While we love haing a yard full of trees it does present problems with the feeders and the squirrels.
ReplyDeleteCathy, all afternoon the squirrels didn't go near that birdcage feeder. I'm still not sure if they're not sure about the white cotton ball. But, it does have a very strong smell of peppermint. I'll let you know.
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