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How To Stop Squirrels from Chewing a Log Home


My wife and I live in a log home we built in Eastern Tennessee 20 years ago.  About 8 years ago, I noticed chew marks on the outside corners of my log ends and wandered what animal was doing it and why?  My dog was much too old and not aggressive enough to chase squirrels.  Then, one day I heard something chewing on the back deck, looked out, and to my surprise it was a squirrel!  Being a Builder, Home Inspector and Building Inspector in the log home mecca of Sevier County, TN; and just having a nerdy interested in such things, I did some research, asked around, and compiled a strategy to deal with the problem.
I like natural solutions that deal with these type problems because I do not want to harm the environment.  I live here too!  One pest control operator I spoke with said the squirrels are chewing to get at the salt in the wood.  (This makes sense because I used a borate solution on my logs prior to staining to deter wood boring insects.)  So, I decided to try getting a “salt lick” from my local farmer’s supply store.  I placed it in the vicinity of where they were chewing and it seemed to work.  They lost interest in chewing logs for a while, but returned when the salt lick dissolved and disappeared.  If you try this, you should place the “salt lick” in an area of the yard away from your house, but preferably covered from the rain.
Another strategy I discovered was using a mixture of essential oil of peppermint, cayenne pepper and red chili pepper mixed in a sprayer.  Spray the outside of the logs with the mixture.  Squirrels do not like the smell or bitter taste of the peppermint and peppers and will avoid the area. This will deter them for a while, but is not a permanent solution.  
I later discovered I had "flying squirrels" chewing on my log ends.  The way I discovered them was I set a trap.  Once I determined what the culprit was, I consulted experts to determine my next course of action.  The best way to remove flying squirrels is to trap them.  But, if you do not take them at least 10 miles away before releasing them, they will find their way back.  Also, when you find one, there are likely 8-10 more in the same family group that will need to be trapped.  
So, in my opinion, the most permanent solution is to remove vegetation growing in close proximity of your home, live trap the animals and relocate them.  

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