Squirrels have teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives. Their diet of nuts, seeds, and fruit grinds down their teeth, requiring constant growth to compensate.

When squirrels don't consume enough hard food, they gnaw on wood, metal, and plastic materials several times daily. Christmas lights strung along branches become easy targets for this instinctive behavior.

Unfortunately, no Christmas lights are squirrel-proof. You'll need to try different deterrent methods to find what works for your situation.

Good news for Big Star Lights customers: Our wire insulation does not contain soy-based materials, which can attract squirrels. However, their instinctive gnawing behavior means they may still chew on lights regardless of insulation type.

People have tried all kinds of methods with varying degrees of success. Some physically prevent squirrels from getting into a tree, and others deter the squirrels either by taste, smell, or sound. Below are 10 options you can try:

Use a Squirrel Repeller that emits ultrasonic sound frequencies to deter squirrels and other pests from your light display.

Install bird spikes to block access points. These can be placed on branches or points where they venture near where your lights are installed. Keep in mind that squirrels can jump up 4 ft vertically, and much longer horizontally or downward.

Spray a natural deterrent (obviously avoiding poisons, of course). Some people suggest using hot peppers like cayenne or wasabi paste. Others have had success diluting a mix of ground cayenne and cloves, then spraying it on surfaces. Spraying undiluted apple cider vinegar has also been successful. Of course, these methods will only work until the first time it rains.

Spray or spread granules made from predator urine (such as coyote). Available at most garden and hardware stores.

Blood meal, a fertilizer normally used to increase nitrogen levels in gardens, may also help deter squirrels. It is thought the smell is not appealing to them.

Relocate bird feeders and other food sources away from your Christmas light displays.

An owl decoy may work for your situation, although this could lose its effectiveness after a while when the squirrel clues in that it's not real.

Wrapping trunks in sheet metal that span at least four vertical feet (they can really jump!) will prevent squirrels from climbing them because their claws can't grip it. Of course, this will only work with trees that don't come close to roofs or other tree branches to gain access with (unless you wrap those trees too).

Install electric collars around tree trunks. These are expensive and typically require professional installation from pest control services.

Have a dog? Allow it to safely chase your resident squirrels off your property. This can provide endless entertainment as well!

Finding the right solution requires trial and error. The most effective method depends on your specific squirrel population and property layout. You may need to combine multiple approaches.