If we didn't already have enough pest problems in Illinois, now we're fighting squirrels off our pumpkins.  Never thought I'd ever type those words, but here we are.

This is the first year I've actually decorated the front of my house for Halloween.  I got eight pumpkins to line along my porch steps and they look so cute!

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Via Emily
Via Emily
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I thought someone would eventually steal one, but instead squirrels have been digging in them.  Not the worst problem to have, honestly.  Saved me time from carving the pumpkins myself.  So, shoutout to all the squirrels for making my life a little bit easier carving them for me.

Not everyone wants their decorations destroyed, though.

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If you're trying everything in your power to save your pumpkins from squirrel destruction, I have a few solutions that may, or may not, work.

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Canva
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Illinois Pumpkin Lovers: How To Keep Squirrels Away From Pumpkins

  • Rub your pumpkins with petroleum jelly
  • Sprinkle cayenne pepper around and inside each pumpkin
  • Vinegar has a strong odor that repels squirrels
  • Spray hairspray on pumpkins; squirrels don't like sticky texture
  • Place decoys near pumpkins to scare them away

The one solution I saw is kind of a stretch, but squirrels stay away from the smell of predators' urine.  If you REALLY want this madness to stop, get coyote urine (can be found at many home improvement or hunting stores) and spray it all over your pumpkins.  Be prepared for some unusual smells on your porch, though.

Now, you have two options: protect your pumpkins or let squirrels carve them for you!

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