Bird feeders bring joy and peace to many bird lovers' homes, allowing you to witness the numerous species of birds that live in your area. Beyond offering a fun way to watch birds, a bird feeder can improve the health of birds, too.
Maintaining a squirrel-free, uninterrupted bird-feeding experience is vital if you want to attract the birds in your area. Many birds are prey animals, so they'll avoid dangerous or scary situations — like a hungry, angry squirrel eating from their feeder — even if there's food involved.
We've rounded up the best tricks to keep squirrels away from bird feeders so you can provide birds with a safe haven in your garden.
1. Place Feeders Properly
Squirrels are incredibly agile –— even when you think you've placed your feeder in the best spot, they'll still find a way to get to it. The best strategy you have to keep squirrels from eating all the bird food is the 5-7-9 rule.
Squirrels can't jump more than 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet horizontally and 9 feet from above. Using this rule, you can place your bird feeder in a spot where a squirrel can't access it. Make sure there are no trees, branches, bushes or fences within these parameters, and you're good to go.
2. Use Spices and Seasonings as Natural Repellents
Capsaicin — the compound found in chili peppers that makes them hot — affects squirrels the same as it affects us. They'll stay far away from it, but birds don't mind it, as they don't perceive heat and spiciness like we do. You can use this to your advantage by spraying your feeder with a capsaicin-based spray or adding dehydrated cayenne pepper to your seed mix.
3. Add Obstacles and Barriers
Even with other techniques, you may still struggle to keep squirrels off bird feeders. If this is the case for you, here are some ways you can make it more difficult for the squirrels:
- Use a squirrel baffle: Baffles are plastic or metal domes that attach to a feeder to prevent squirrels from accessing the feed. A squirrel will find it much harder to reach your bird feeder if you use a baffle both above and below your feeder. The bonus of a baffle on top of a feeder is it provides shelter from the rain for the birds.
- Place your feeder on a pole: In an open area, you can place your feeder on a pole more than 5 feet above the ground. A slippery metal pole with a large diameter is best so the squirrels can't grip onto it.
- Hang your feeder using wire: Use a thin wire to hang your bird feeder 9 feet below your roof, a pole or a tree branch. The squirrel won't be able to jump to it or climb the wire. You can also string a wire between two trees and place your feeder in the middle. Then, cover the wire using plastic piping or bottles so they roll when a squirrel tries to walk across it.
4. Squirrel-Proof the Bird Feeder Environment
You can optimize the area around your feeder to keep squirrels from eating out of your bird feeders. Here are a few of our suggestions:
- Keep the area clean: Seeds that fall out of your feeder will attract squirrels and other pests. Clean the area below your feeder frequently or purchase de-husked seed mixes to reduce the mess.
- Don't overfill the birdfeeder: Squirrels need to eat a lot of food, and if your bird feeder doesn't provide enough, they'll have to find other sources.
- Use squirrel-repellent seed: Purchase a mix that contains safflower seeds, nyjer thistle or white millet, as squirrels don't enjoy eating these foods.
5. Try Electronic and Technological Solutions
If you want to try out some squirrel-repellant tech to protect bird feeders from squirrels, here are a few options:
- Motion-activated devices will take a picture when they sense movement, like a bird or squirrel near your feeder.
- Ultrasonic repellents are electronic devices that emit high-frequency sounds to deter squirrels.
- Smart feeder systems only release food when a bird is near.
6. Invest in Squirrel-Resistant Feeders
An effective way to keep squirrels out of bird feeders is to purchase a squirrel-resistant feeder and place it out of reach. There are multiple types of bird feeders available that keep squirrels away in a humane way. These can be the most effective solution to your squirrel problems, so even if you own a feeder, you may want to consider upgrading.
The types of feeders with built-in protections include:
- Weight-activated feeders: When a squirrel lands on this feeder, it triggers the weight-sensitive mechanism that closes any holes or doors that provide access to the feeder.
- Spinning feeders: Much like the weight-activate feeder, this feeder activates when a squirrel rests on it. Instead of closing up holes, the feeder spins gently, making it hard for squirrels to hang on.
- Caged feeders: These feeders are enclosed in a cage with openings perfect for small birds only.
Although platform feeders attract certain species, this type of feeder does increase the likelihood of attracting squirrels as well since the food is exposed and easier for the squirrels to grab. You should also consider how easy a feeder is to clean and restock, as a clean feeder with fresh food is safer for birds. Finally, make sure each element of the feeder is strong and sturdy enough to handle squirrel damage, like chewing and scratching.
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