Ethan Clarke
Squirrels are known to chew on a variety of materials, including plastic. While the exact reason for their attraction to plastic is not fully understood, there are several possible explanations for this behaviour. One theory suggests that squirrels, like other rodents, have constantly growing front teeth that need to be filed down by gnawing on hard objects. Plastic, with its tough and durable properties, may provide an appealing surface for squirrels to maintain their teeth. Additionally, during the breeding season, pregnant female squirrels may chew on plastic as they search for suitable nesting spots, seeking warm and dry places that are safe from predators. Beyond nesting, squirrels may also chew on plastic out of curiosity, boredom, or simply because it tastes good to them. While this behaviour can be frustrating for humans, understanding the underlying reasons can help us implement effective deterrents and find ways to coexist peacefully with these playful creatures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for chewing plastic | To grind down their ever-growing teeth |
| Other materials chewed | Wood, aluminium, copper, bones, rocks, tree bark, wires, concrete, glass, vinyl siding, fascia, and house siding |
| Deterrent solutions | Taste repellents like capsaicin, hot pepper spray, peppermint oil, perfumey soap, rodent repellant spray, bitter apple |
| Other solutions | Trapping, shooting, bird feeders, trimming trees, baffles on utility lines, getting an outdoor dog |
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What You'll Learn
Squirrels chew plastic to file down their front teeth, which grow constantly
Squirrels are classified as rodents and have well-developed jaw muscles and chisel-like front teeth that can chew through just about anything. These front teeth are kept sharp by gnawing on hard objects such as woody plant materials, seeds, and nuts. Since their teeth grow constantly, squirrels must file them down by chewing on hard substances, or their teeth will grow so long that the squirrel will starve.
Squirrels will chew on plastic, aluminum, and copper, which are no match for their strong teeth. They may also attempt to chew on concrete or glass, but these harder materials are more resistant to damage. Squirrels have been observed chewing on plastic items such as plumbing drain pipes, vinyl siding, plastic edging in gardens, plastic handles of tools, and electrical wires.
To prevent squirrel damage to plastic items, deterrents such as taste repellents like capsaicin (a hot pepper spray) or peppermint oil can be used. Providing squirrels with alternative chew toys or feeders can also give them a more natural outlet for their gnawing needs.
In addition to chewing on plastic, squirrels may also chew on the siding and fascia of houses, especially during the breeding season when pregnant females are searching for a cozy place to raise their young. They may be attracted to the attic of a house as a warm and dry nesting spot that is safe from predators. Once squirrels have gained entry, they will continue to chew to file down their teeth, resulting in further damage to the structure.
Overall, while the exact reason why squirrels chew plastic is not fully understood, it is clear that their strong teeth can cause significant damage to plastic items and structures.
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Plastic furniture is attractive to squirrels
Squirrels are known to chew on a wide variety of materials, including plastic. They have been observed chewing on plastic items such as plant pots, plastic tables, plastic toys, and plastic components of cars and boats. They have also been known to chew on other materials such as wood, wiring, aluminium, copper, and even concrete and glass, although they cannot do much damage to these harder materials.
Squirrels seem to be particularly drawn to plastic furniture made from recycled plastic. This may be because recycled plastic furniture is often used in parks and public spaces, which are attractive environments for squirrels due to the abundance of food sources and potential nesting spots. Additionally, recycled plastic may have a different texture or smell that is more appealing to squirrels than other types of plastic.
Squirrels may also be attracted to plastic furniture due to the presence of certain chemicals or coatings. For example, some types of wiring are coated with a soybean-based substance that tastes good to squirrels. Similarly, certain chemicals in recycled plastic may be appealing to squirrels, although more research is needed to confirm this.
Regardless of the reason for their attraction to plastic furniture, squirrels can cause significant damage with their powerful jaws and sharp teeth. They can quickly destroy plastic items, leaving owners frustrated and facing costly repairs or replacements. Therefore, it is essential to take steps to deter squirrels from chewing on plastic furniture, such as using repellents or providing alternative chewing options.
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Squirrels may chew plastic to gain entry to a nesting spot
Squirrels have been observed to chew on plastic, and while the exact reason for this behaviour is not always clear, there are several possible explanations. One of the most common reasons is that squirrels need to keep their front teeth filed down as they grow constantly. They typically achieve this by gnawing on hard objects such as woody plant materials, seeds, and nuts. However, in urban settings, squirrels may turn to plastic objects as an alternative.
Squirrels may also chew plastic to gain entry to a nesting spot, especially during the breeding season. Pregnant female squirrels search for warm, dry, and safe places to raise their young, and an attic in a human home can seem like an ideal location. Squirrels only need a small space of about two inches wide to gain entry, and they can use their sharp teeth to chew through plastic and create an opening.
In addition to nesting, squirrels may chew plastic out of curiosity or boredom. They are known to be inquisitive creatures and may simply explore their surroundings by chewing on various objects, including plastic. This behaviour can be observed when squirrels chew on wiring, plumbing pipes, or other plastic items without necessarily needing to gain access to a specific area.
Furthermore, chewing provides nutritional benefits to squirrels. They not only obtain food by cracking open nuts but also gain additional nutrients from chewing on bones, rocks, and tree bark. Chewing on plastic could be driven by a similar instinct to obtain minerals, especially if the plastic contains traces of soy or other substances that appeal to their taste.
To prevent squirrels from chewing on plastic, property owners can take several measures. These include using taste repellents like capsaicin (hot pepper spray) or applying substances with unpleasant tastes, such as "Bitter Apple." Providing alternative chewing options, such as strategic squirrel feeders or toys, can also help distract them from chewing on unwanted items.
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Squirrels chew plastic wiring, possibly due to its soybean coating
Squirrels have been observed to chew on plastic items, including wiring, plumbing drain pipes, vinyl siding, plastic edging, plastic handles of tools, and even recycled plastic benches. While the exact reason for their attraction to plastic is not fully understood, several factors may contribute to this behaviour.
One possible explanation is the instinctual need for squirrels to gnaw. As rodents, squirrels have constantly growing front teeth that need to be filed down through chewing hard objects. In the wild, they typically chew on woody plant materials, seeds, nuts, bones, rocks, and tree bark to keep their teeth sharp and at a manageable length. When faced with human-made materials like plastic, squirrels may chew on them due to the satisfying resistance these materials provide for their teeth.
Additionally, some plastic wiring is coated with soybean-based materials, which may be attractive to squirrels. The presence of soybean coatings could explain why squirrels seem particularly drawn to certain types of plastic wiring. The taste or smell of the coating might be appealing to them, making the wiring an appealing target for their chewing habits.
Beyond the instinctual need to gnaw, squirrels may also chew on plastic wiring for nesting purposes. During their breeding seasons in spring and late summer, pregnant female squirrels search for warm, dry, and safe spaces to raise their young. Attics, fascia, and house siding can provide the ideal nesting spots, and squirrels will use their strong teeth to gain access to these areas. Once inside, they may continue chewing on plastic wiring or other materials to create a comfortable environment for their nests.
To deter squirrels from chewing on plastic wiring and other unwanted items, several strategies can be employed. These include using taste repellents like capsaicin (hot pepper spray) or commercial products like "Bitter Apple," applying substances with unpleasant smells such as peppermint oil or perfumed soap, and planting peppermint, marigolds, mustard, or nasturtiums near affected areas, as squirrels tend to avoid these plants. Providing alternative chewing options, such as strategically placed squirrel feeders or chew toys, can also help redirect their gnawing behaviour away from valuable plastic items.
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Squirrels may chew plastic to obtain minerals
Squirrels have been observed chewing on plastic items, such as plastic pots, plumbing pipes, and recycled plastic benches. While the exact reason for this behaviour is not fully understood, one possible explanation is that squirrels may be seeking to obtain essential minerals that are present in some plastics.
Squirrels, like all rodents, have constantly growing front teeth that must be filed down through gnawing on hard objects. In the wild, they typically chew on woody plant materials, seeds, nuts, bones, rocks, and tree bark to keep their teeth sharp and at a manageable length. If their teeth become too long, squirrels risk starvation as they will no longer be able to eat.
Plastics are no match for a squirrel's strong teeth, and some plastics may contain minerals that are beneficial to squirrels. Researchers have documented rodents chewing on rocks to obtain calcium, magnesium, and other essential minerals. It is possible that squirrels are attracted to certain types of plastic that may contain similar minerals.
Additionally, chewing is an instinctual behaviour for squirrels, and it helps them deal with stress. Captive rodents deprived of chewing materials have been observed to suffer from stress-related illnesses, including ulcers, bone loss, and cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, it is possible that squirrels chew on plastic not only for the potential mineral content but also as a way to relieve stress and maintain their mental and physical health.
To prevent squirrels from chewing on plastic items, individuals can use deterrents such as coating surfaces with unpleasant-tasting substances like capsaicin (a hot pepper spray) or "Bitter Apple," or using rodent repellent sprays. Providing squirrels with alternative chew toys or feeders can also help redirect their gnawing behaviour away from plastic items.
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Frequently asked questions
Squirrels are rodents with strong jaw muscles and constantly growing front teeth that must be filed down. They chew plastic because they can, and once they start, they tend not to stop.
You can use taste repellents like capsaicin (a hot pepper spray) or a product called Bitter Apple on the plastic items. You can also try planting peppermint, marigolds, mustard, and nasturtiums—plants that squirrels don't like.
Squirrels will chew on just about anything, including plastic from plumbing pipes, car wiring, vinyl siding, plastic garden pots, and recycled plastic benches. They also chew on fascia and house siding, especially during the breeding season when pregnant females are searching for a place to nest.
Squirrels need to grind down their ever-growing teeth, so they chew on hard objects like woody plant materials, seeds, and nuts. Sometimes they seem to chew just for fun, destroying things for the sake of it.
