Feeding birds in your yard can be rewarding , but it can also be frustrating if you don’t know how to squirrel-proof a bird feeder to avoid losing seed to furry diners. From buying specialized feeders to easy, quick tricks, it is possible to keep squirrels from taking advantage of your buffet without birds going hungry.
Squirrels and Bird Feeders
The best types of birdseed, including black oil sunflower seeds, nuts, and suet, are just as attractive to squirrels as they are to birds. At first, it may seem like a squirrel is a welcome addition to backyard wildlife, and many birders don't mind occasional squirrel visits. Other birders, however, may have more severe difficulties with squirrels and their voracious appetites, frequent visits, and domineering attitudes. Unlike birds that will usually share feeders with other visitors, squirrels tend to scare or chase away birds and may stay at the same feeder until it is empty, consuming seeds quickly without any birds getting a bite.
As they try to get to delicious birdseed, squirrels will chew and claw through both wooden and plastic feeders, possibly damaging them so they can no longer be used. Squirrels can also be predators and have been known to eat bird eggs and kill recently hatched chicks, which makes a squirrel-friendly yard less attractive to nesting birds.
There are many ways to make a bird feeder less accessible to squirrels without restricting its appeal to birds. For the best results, try several methods to squirrel-proof a bird feeder to deter even the savviest squirrels.
Location: Squirrels can jump distances of 10 feet or greater, so place feeders well away from trees, wires, porches, gutters, roofs, and other launching points to make it harder for squirrels to get on the feeder. Ideally, mount or hang feeders on a smooth metal pole at least six feet high, and prune back any branches or bushes within a 12-foot radius.
Cages: Place a wire cage around a bird feeder. Squirrels will not fit through small wire openings but that will not restrict smaller birds from feeding. This is also useful for preventing larger bully birds, such as starlings, grackles, and pigeons, from accessing the feeder. Some feeders come equipped with cages, or you can easily add mesh such as chicken wire around an existing feeder. A larger cage can be placed around a feeding station with several feeders inside the barrier.
Baffles: Add smooth plastic or metal baffles above and below bird feeders. The baffles should be at least 15-18 inches wide or long to prevent squirrels from reaching around them. Many squirrel baffles are designed to twirl or tilt if a squirrel climbs onto them, keeping the animal off balance and unable to access the feeder.
Cleanliness: Keep the area around the feeder clean and remove debris and spilled seed from the ground that could be attracting squirrels. This also ensures that ground-feeding birds do not eat old, contaminated, or rotting seed that could be unhealthy.
Spinners: Hang a feeder from a thin horizontal wire strung with spinners to keep squirrels from climbing across the wire. Spinners may be a line of empty thread spools, short lengths of pipe or hose, or empty plastic bottles strung along the wire that will spin and keep squirrels from accessing the feeder. When squirrels try to cross the spinners, they are tipped over and fall away from the feeder.
Feeder Style: If you need to replace feeders that squirrels have already destroyed, opt for special squirrel-proof designed feeders with doors or hatches that will be triggered to close by a squirrel’s weight. This will restrict squirrels' access to seed, but lighter birds will not trigger the hatches and can still feed freely. Alternatively, choose metal feeders or designs with thick, sturdy materials that squirrels will be less able to damage.
Seed: While squirrels will readily sample most types of birdseed, they are less attracted to nyjer and safflower seed, both of which have a slightly bitter taste. By using these seeds exclusively, you close the squirrel snack bar without eliminating feeding the birds.
Spicy Seed: Mammals, including squirrels, are sensitive to the perceived heat of pepper, but birds are not. Adding cayenne pepper or similar spices to birdseed can deter squirrels, but it can wash off and must be used consistently for the best effects. When handling pepper, wear gloves and avoid breathing in the dust. Some retailers have pre-treated seed and suet available with even hotter pepper components.
Traps: If squirrels are a strong nuisance at your backyard feeders, contact local wildlife authorities about the possibility of using humane traps to remove squirrels from the area. Local regulations on trapping and releasing squirrels will vary, and you should follow all wildlife laws meticulously.
Remove Shelter: Be sure squirrels don't make a convenient home nearby by removing possible shelter locations. Take steps to keep squirrels from nesting in old sheds, under eaves, or in attics. The further away a squirrel's home is from your feeders, the less likely they will be to visit.
How to Keep Mice Away From Bird Feeders
What You Shouldn’t Do
While it can be frustrating to try several squirrel-proofing methods only to see seed continually disappear, there are certain techniques that should never be used to control squirrels.
Hunting: Shooting squirrels is illegal in many areas and it is too likely to also injure birds when aiming for squirrels. Even using different weapons such as slingshots, BB guns, or dart guns is not suitable.
Poison: Poisoning seed or setting poisoned bait for squirrels can result in dead birds that sample the bait. Other wildlife may also be adversely affected by improperly used poisons, including raptors that may prey on poisoned squirrels.
Cats: Do not release a cat to hunt squirrels, as the cats are just as much a threat to birds as they are to other feeder guests. Cats will not discriminate about which prey they choose.
Grease: Adding grease or oil to a pole or hanger to make it too slippery for squirrels to climb is not only largely ineffective, but it can coat the animals’ fur as well as birds’ feathers. This can cause illness and vulnerability to predators just as much as an oil spill or any similar contamination.
Glue Traps: Often suggested to eliminate rodents, these traps are dangerous and inhumane, and often trap birds as well. Many squirrels are too large for glue traps to be effective, and instead these traps will cause vicious injuries without eliminating a squirrel problem.
When All Else Fails
Even when using several techniques, it isn’t always possible to completely squirrel-proof a bird feeder. If the squirrels refuse to leave, stopping all feeding for several days or weeks may encourage squirrels to move on to other food sources. It is equally likely, however, that the squirrels will return as soon as new feeders are in place.
Some birders, instead of eliminating squirrels, compromise by creating a squirrel feeding station away from bird feeders. Easier to access feeders with tempting treats such as nuts, corn, and berries may attract squirrels’ attention and let the birds enjoy eating without competition. This also lets nature enthusiasts enjoy the intelligence and antics of squirrels without the frustration of seeing expensive birdseed eaten so quickly.
In the end, squirrels are just as much a part of backyard wildlife as cardinals, jays, and finches. While it is possible to squirrel-proof a bird feeder and deter furry visitors from frequent meals, an occasional squirrel visit is to be expected at any bird feeder.
Adding a not-so-appealing seed to your bird blend might be enough to keep squirrels out of your bird feeders for good. Squirrels don't like nyjer seeds or white proso millet either, so mix some in with your standard-issue sunflower seeds. Hopefully, this low-maintenance trick will be enough to keep squirrels at bay.
Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint. Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels.
The Center for Wildlife says there are many ways to deter squirrels from climbing feeders, however, Vaseline and other lubricants can harm the animals. “Please do not coat your bird feeders in Vaseline, oil, butter, or anything like that.
If squirrels are taking more than their share, try using a feeder with an external cage that prevents squirrels and larger birds from getting at the food or a feeder with large plastic dome called a “baffle.” The squirrel tries to climb onto the feeder and encounters the baffle, which blocks their access.
Apply a pepper-based repellent product, such as Critter Ridder® spray, directly to your feeders to keep them away from your offerings. Squirrels hate the taste and smell, but birds don't notice it. Cover poles: Adding layers of plastic tubing around poles may sometimes deter squirrels.
Tangy and sweet smells can help deter squirrels, as they aren't fond of these. Scents of white pepper and garlic powder are also used to repel squirrels. Rodents are also repulsed by the scent of pepper. Spray growing crops with water and put on some pepper seasoning to keep squirrels from knocking them down.
It kept the rabbits away, too. Bracikowski said the dryer sheets works for squirrels and mice as well. In his summer home, he's going to place sheets by vents and doors to discourage the rodents. In the beginning, he added new dryer sheets to the bamboo sticks every week, then added sheets less frequently.
The pungent smell of pure apple cider vinegar repels the squirrels. ACV is readily available and can be sprayed directly on the plants and flower pots without harming them. Spray it as often as needed to keep the little creatures at bay.
Rodents hate the feeling of foil between their teeth, too, so placing strips of foil in your garden mulch will help deter squirrels and some bugs. If squirrels are eating the bark of your tree, you can also wrap the trunk in foil.
Birds can also ingest the Vaseline, making them sick. The Center for Wildlife said the woodpecker is in guarded condition in a post on its Facebook page.
Well, did you know that birds don't mind spicy seeds? They can't taste the difference. Guess what can? Sprinkle some cayenne pepper or a similar spice onto your birdseed before you put it out. Birds will eat the seed just fine, but squirrels will smell the heat and stay well clear.
Cinnamon can be used to help repel squirrels from key target areas around your property. Since squirrels have a strong sense of smell, you can use that to your advantage by sprinkling strong cinnamon powder in frequently visited areas to irritate their nose and repel them.
Coffee grounds will often keep squirrels away. However, they need to be replenished frequently and may not be a good fit for every area that needs to be squirrel-proofed.
Just hook the metal spring around the pole of your bird feeder and attach it to the very top. Gravity should pull the spring down, and that's all you need to do. When squirrels try to venture up your Slinky-adorned feeder pole, they will weigh down the spring and end up back on the ground!
Hot and spicy smells are a significant turn-off for the squirrels, and they hate this smell. Scents of white pepper and cayenne pepper are said to repel squirrels. For instance, if you want to keep the pests out of your yard, you need to spray some flakes of white pepper on your plants.
Other favorites aren't exactly natural, but the squirrels love them anyway. These additional foods include peanuts, peanut butter, pecans, pistachios, grapes, corn, squash, zucchini, pumpkin, strawberries, carrots, apples, sunflower seeds and even snack items, such as Oreo® cookies.
Irish spring soap is an effective deterrent for keeping squirrels away from your delicious fruits and vegetables. With their keen sense of smell, the squirrels will catch a whiff of the strong Irish Spring scent and steer clear of your precious garden.
Summary. To summarise what frightens squirrels, they are primarily scared of their predators, such as dogs, cats, foxes and owls. You can use visual, aromatic and auditory methods to scare squirrels from your garden by making them believe that there are predators nearby.
It's time to grab your trusty blue and red can of WD-40® Multi-Use Product. This high-performance lubricant will make the surface too slippery for squirrels and other pests to climb, so they will have no choice but to stay away. Simply shake the can well and coat all external surfaces of the feeder and pole.
As for preventing the squirrels from entering your home, consider creating a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Lysol and 3 ounces of Epsom salts, diluted in a quart of water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle and apply it to wood shingles or door frames.
Spray their areas and burrows with 1 cup regular Pinesol per gallon of water. Dilute Tabasco sauce and cayenne pepper in water and spray on plants that are being eaten (a few tsp. of each in about 1 litre of water). Human hair or urine is a strong repellent.
To keep squirrels out of a birdfeeder or other parts of a yard, spray the property with a mixture of tabasco sauce and water or sprinkle ground pepper throughout the area. This can also work for crawlspaces and attics, although if applied as a liquid solution, it may discolor hardwood surfaces.
The only approved method for removal is live trapping. Once trapped, squirrels should be relocated at least four to five miles away so that they will not find their way back to your home. To remove a squirrel from inside your home, set one-way exclusion doors or live cage traps (baited with seeds, crackers or fruit).
Wind chimes can scare away squirrels but only temporarily. The sound created by the chimes can startle squirrels and cause them to run away. However, the squirrels will get used to the sound relatively quickly, so you'll need to replace them often with a different noise in order to keep them away.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Harmful To Birds? Apple cider vinegar is typically between 5-6% acetic acid. If left as is, this is extremely acidic for birds and unsafe.
Is Paper Towel Safe For Birds? Paper towels are safe for birds to play with and for their foraging behavior. Paper towels are non-toxic to birds if they are accidentally swallowed.
The best way to keep squirrels and raccoons off feeders is to use a pole or shepherds hook with pole baffles installed or hanging baffles installed above the feeder. We DO NOT recommend adding grease, oil or petroleum jelly to a pole or hanger to make it too slippery for squirrels and raccoons to climb.
Birds can be messy it seems, choosing at times to toss the seed out of the feeder only to eat it on the ground later. You can avoid these issues by adding a seed catching tray under your feeder.
Seed: While squirrels will readily sample most types of birdseed, they are less attracted to nyjer and safflower seed, both of which have a slightly bitter taste. By using these seeds exclusively, you close the squirrel snack bar without eliminating feeding the birds.
Squirrels love birdseed (as well as nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit, and corn), but they don't favor everything that birds eat. So stock your bird feeder with such fare as safflower seed, nyjer seed, and white proso millet, which squirrels don't care for and they'll likely head elsewhere for their next meal.
Herbal remedies or spices – herbs and spices such as comfrey, ginger, nutmeg, gingko and even basil can cause problems from skin irritation all the way to liver failure in people. Since not many studies have been done regarding herbals and spices in birds, avoid them.
Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, or pepper flakes around your plants when they are ready to bloom. Peppers have “capsaicin” which squirrels hate, so it's a natural squirrel deterrent. Or, make a pepper spray; you can mix dried pepper with apple cider vinegar.
If you are going to do 5 gallons of spray, mix 5 ounces of apple cider vinegar with 5 gallons of water. If you choose to do the apple cider vinegar solution, spray a test patch on a plant out of sight. Spraying apple cider vinegar on pots or hard surfaces such as decks should not damage them.
Scents like white pepper, black pepper, and garlic are naturally unpleasant to a squirrel. The same goes for sweet smells such as peppermint. Try spraying your plants and flowers with water and then sprinkling on pepper or peppermint oil to deter squirrels.
Because squirrels dislike strong smells, a sprinkle of chili powder can discourage them. A spicy scent, such as chilli or black pepper, can be used to deter squirrels. All you have to do is sprinkle it on the soil around the affected flower beds and let it sit for a few hours.
The taste of cayenne pepper does often repel squirrels, and eating moderate amounts of pepper apparently won't harm birds directly. In the American tropics, many birds even eat the red fruits of native wild peppers without being affected by the capsaicin they contain.
Rodent-chasing dogs and motion-activated noisemakers, such as garden spinners, pinwheels, and aluminum pie tins, all make good squirrel deterrents. In addition, if you're watering your lawn anyway, consider using a motion-detecting sprinkler to increase the scare factor.
It's time to grab your trusty blue and red can of WD-40® Multi-Use Product. This high-performance lubricant will make the surface too slippery for squirrels and other pests to climb, so they will have no choice but to stay away.
Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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