Does Playing A Radio In Your Attic Really Help Keep Squirrels Out?

Squirrels are fascinating creatures known for their entertaining antics — and for causing problems in the garden. Whether you like these rodents or not, there's one issue everyone can agree on: Squirrels do not belong in the attic of a home. Squirrels, and particularly females who are looking for safe spaces to nest, may access attics in an attempt to take shelter at night. When they get into an attic, they can cause serious structural and wire damage, and they sometimes find themselves trapped. The best way to avoid any of these situations is to help prevent squirrels from accessing your home in the first place. 

There are several clever tricks to help keep squirrels out of the attic. One purported squirrel deterrent is to play a radio in the space, so you may wonder if this simple solution could rid your home of the unwelcome guests. Unfortunately, this strategy is not scientifically proven, nor does it work long-term.

Playing the radio is a type of audio scare tactic used to deter squirrels from areas of your home, including the attic. The idea here is that the loud noise of music or talking may prevent squirrels from hanging around. This is similar to visual methods, like bright lights. The problem with playing a radio in the attic is that it won't keep the pests out for long. At best, you might have some success with getting a squirrel to leave the space so that you can seal it up. At worst, if you choose to use this deterrent in the long run, you could be left hearing loud radio playing all night long, in vain.

Aside from the lack of research validating noise as an effective squirrel deterrent, you must also consider these animals' intelligence. Not only are squirrels persistent and athletic, but they are also extremely smart. Playing music or loud speech might scare squirrels at first, but they are likely to catch on relatively quickly and become tolerant of this tactic over time. This is why using the radio is only a short-term solution for scaring squirrels, and not a permanent deterrent.

Instead of relying on the radio, take more concrete steps to get rid of squirrels in your attic. For one, inspect the attic for openings, as well as any vents or other modes of access around the roof. If any squirrels are presently in the space, get a licensed wildlife control professional to humanely remove them first. Once you are certain that the space is squirrel-free, seal off all access points and install metal flashing around them. You may also need to repair windows, vents, and soffits to deny the rodents new entry points. Finally, consider employing natural pest control methods, such as keeping squirrels away from your yard with plants they can't stand.