Nature Archives - Page 2 of 41

Deer are timid animals that get frightened very easily, which can be a pain for deer hunters when they leave an area. One question you may have on your mind is "do squirrels scare away deer?" Deer aren't known to be afraid of squirrels and some hunters have even spotted both animals in the same area together. Generally, deer aren't bothered when squirrels are around. However, if they are making too much noise, the deer may take off. Are you worried that squirrels may be scaring deer away from your area? You've come to the right spot. Today, we're going to discuss if squirrels scare away deer and what you can do about it. Keep reading to learn more. Are Deer Afraid of Squirrels? Deer aren't afraid of squirrels. However, if there are squirrels in the area, you may notice that they cause a deer to stop in its tracks. In some cases, the deer will even take off away from the area. Don't let this sight fool you. The squirrel isn't scaring the deer away. What's really happening in this situation is that the squirrel is barking. This is a defense mechanism that squirrels use so other animals don't view them as prey. It is more than likely that the squirrel is frightened by the deer's presence and that is why it began barking. Squirrels also bark to let other squirrels in the area know of danger nearby. Even though squirrels are tiny, the barking noises they make are big to deer. This is because deer have very large and sensitive ears. Their hearing is their top defense against danger, which is why even the slightest sound can scare away a deer. How to Deter Squirrels So They Don't Scare Off Deer If you want to keep squirrels away from your property so the deer continue to come back, you will need to do some things to make your property unappealing to the squirrels. To start with, remove all food sources that could be attracting the squirrels. If you have fruit trees, make sure you harvest the fruit before it falls. Squirrels are also attracted to compost and trash, so make sure your bins are tightly secured. However, two things they hate are mint and chili peppers. Planting these will help to repel squirrels from coming back to your area. If you have vegetable plants or other plants squirrels like, use a barrier to keep them out. It's also recommended to add a thick layer of mulch to your soil. This will make it difficult for the squirrels to dig, which is something they do a lot of. Another thing to consider is your bird feeders. Make sure you don't use sunflower seeds because they attract squirrels. Instead, replaced sunflower seeds with safflower seeds because squirrels hate them. How to Attract Deer When Squirrels Are Around Click Image for More Info If the squirrels aren't barking, the deer don't be intimidated. For the most part, squirrels don't cause too much of a problem for deer. However, there are some things that you can do to keep deer coming back to your land. First off, always consider your location before getting your hopes up. Deer are more likely to frequent properties that are near the woods. Luckily, there are so many plants that deer like to eat, so you aren't out of choices. Planting a food plot is a great way to bring more deer to your area. They are always in the search for food, so having some available will get them to keep coming back. If you have room for an apple tree, it is one of the best ways to attract more deer. Deer are also more likely to come around if there are overgrown shrubs, trees, and grass. Keeping an area of your property near the woods overgrown can encourage more deer visits. It also helps if you use a lure, like a deer urine. This can be sprayed around the border of your property. We recommend using a deer attractant like this one from Amazon. There's no mixing required with this formula. Simply place it on the ground to help attract deer. Final Thoughts Do squirrels scare away deer? Deer aren't afraid of squirrels and they often roam around in the same area. However, squirrels may be intimidated by deer. When this happens, they will start barking to protect themselves. Deers have very sensitive hearing and will be frightened by the noise. Since neither deer or squirrels are a predator, you can keep deer coming back to your property with the squirrels interfering. One of the most efficient ways to do that is with a food plot. However, if the squirrels are too noisy, the deer may be intimidated to return. In this case, you will need to make your property unappealing to squirrels. While there are several things you can do to deter squirrels, some of the options (like placing barriers over food plots) could also deter deer as well.