How to Squirrel Proof Your Bird Feeders

Follow our helpful tips to keep squirrels away from your bird feeders.

You put up bird feeders to attract your feathered friends. However, your bird seed will likely also attract different creatures: squirrels.

These pesky creatures think you put out that store-bought seed just for them. Keep the bushy-tailed bandits off your bird feeders with a few of Blain’s Farm & Fleet’s helpful tips.

Find the Right Feeder Spot

Squirrels can jump up to six feet in the air. Make sure you place feeders at least 12 to 15 feet away from any surface a squirrel can jump from. This includes things like trees, shrubs, or houses.

If squirrels can still jump and reach your feeders, you may have to move them even further.

Use a Squirrel Baffle

You can use a squirrel baffle to keep squirrels off of bird feeders. There are two types of squirrel baffles.

The first is a domed wrap-around baffle. It can either go on top of a bird feeder or wrap around a feeder pole. The second kind is a pipe baffle, which you can mount on a bird feeder pole.

Be sure to hang feeders on the bird feeder pole at least five feet off of the ground. To hang multiple feeders, use a pole extension, and then place the pipe baffle below the feeders. This will prevent gray and red squirrels from climbing the pole to reach the seed.

Use a Squirrel-Resistant Bird Feeder

Use a squirrel-resistant bird feeder in any situation where there are gray squirrels. It lets small birds, such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals, and finches feed, but excludes gray squirrels.

Even if gray squirrels get on the feeder, they can’t get inside the cage to access the seed. This feeder is ideal for decks, trees, and hanging close to houses.

Use Food Squirrels Won’t Like

One of the easiest ways to dissuade a squirrel from your bird feeders is to serve something they won’t want to eat. Try switching to a seed that squirrels don’t like, such as safflower seed.

While the squirrels won’t like it, you’ll still be able to attract plenty of birds. Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, house finches, and mourning doves all enjoy safflower seed.

Squirrels also don’t like spicy things. So you could add a little cayenne pepper or some hot pepper seeds to the food. Birds can’t taste spice the same way we can, so it won’t bother them.

Give the Squirrels Their Own Food

Finally, divert squirrels from bird feeders by providing them with their own feeders and squirrel toys. Specialized squirrel feeders are unique and attractively designed accessories that can hold whole ears of corn. The feeders give squirrels their own yummy treat and helps keep them off your bird feeders.

For more tips on tending to your backyard birdie friends, check out our Wild Bird Care Blog.