Sarah Metlova
How To Keep Birds And Squirrels Out Of Your Garden – There’s nothing worse than pulling out a fresh feeder full of bird seed and moments later seeing this guy staring back at you.
What should be a feast for your favorite feathered friends ends up being a “tree rat” buffet. (My girlfriend got her nickname from the squirrels that get into her feeders.) Squirrels can be a pain for backyard birders. Empty bird feeders scare away birds and can even damage your feeders, rendering them useless.
How To Keep Birds And Squirrels Out Of Your Garden
I had a squirrel that liked my stone house so much that it stole the entire feeder. In short, squirrels can be a real pest.
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But as anyone who has been in the bird feeder business for any length of time will tell you, there is no such thing as a squirrel-proof bird feeder. With enough determination, they will eventually get seed.
Therefore, more barriers are needed in birdseed to keep squirrels under control. If you apply at least three of these tips, you are more likely to be successful in keeping squirrels away from your feeders. Use all the tips and you’ll have a squirrel-proof backyard fort.
Squirrels are very restless and are less likely to approach a feeder in an open, well-lit area where predators can easily see them. Placing a feeder in the middle of the yard is a great way to make squirrels think twice before going for a snack.
Squirrels have difficulty climbing smooth, vertical surfaces such as metal poles. Placing a bird feeder on a post is a good way to deter them. There are some caveats. The diameter of the pole should be larger than the squirrel can easily wrap its arms around.
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A squirrel can climb small thin poles; It’s not easy, but it can be done. A 4” diameter pole is a good place to start. The bigger the better.
Using metal instead of wood or PVC pipe also helps. Both wood and plastic can scratch and provide enough strength for a squirrel to climb. The metal remains flexible.
Squirrels are excellent jumpers; They were made for it. Even if you put your bird feeder on a pole, if it is within walking distance of trees or buildings, squirrels will come to it. Keeping feeders within easy reach is probably one of the most important tips for keeping your bird feeder. I can jump about four feet vertically and three feet horizontally.
A deflector is a dome or cone-shaped device (like this one) that can be placed above or below a feeder to prevent squirrels from getting to it. If you have a serious squirrel problem, I suggest you go with the double whammy and put a grate above and below the feeder.
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It is especially important to use deflectors for feeders within a distance of jumping trees or buildings, or for feeders located at the edge of the forest for more shy birds.
Speaking of shy birds – learn how to attract a northern cardinal to your feeder with this top tip.
Add the seeds to the feeders a little at a time. Squirrels are looking for a constant supply of food. If they find out that the selection is small at your location, they will look elsewhere for better supplies.
Not overfilling the feeder is also important for the health and safety of your birds. Rotten and moldy birdseed can make birds sick and spread disease. Unless you have enough feathered visitors to fill your feeders daily, there is no need to set up a feeder full of seeds.
Keeping Squirrels Out Of The Garden
Birds cannot taste capsaicin; They lack the taste receptors to feel its warmth. But if you have a persistent squirrel, you’ll want to think twice before returning to the feeders if you find some warmth.
Apply a capsaicin-based chili spray to bird feeder posts, which will make the posts too hot and spicy to climb. Be very careful when doing this. Wear safety glasses, gloves and a mask. Pay attention to which way the wind is blowing. Do not touch the posts when filling the feeders.
Use cayenne pepper in it – you can use my recipe and add a few teaspoons of cayenne pepper. Once they take a bite or two, they don’t want more.
As I said at the beginning, there is no such thing as a squirrel-proof bird feeder. Given enough time, these persistent creatures will find a way. However, some good designs are sure to make it difficult for the squirrels. Along with these other tips, this might be enough to deter them completely.
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The best squirrel-resistant designs have weighted leaves. The weight of the squirrel on the perch closes the seed openings.
This is probably the most popular weight-activated perch feeder, but you’ll find that all the decorations give the squirrels plenty to grab onto. However, the openings are well closed under the squirrel’s weight.
This power supply takes a different approach. It’s also weight activated, but instead of closing the hatch, the squirrel’s weight activates the motor that turns the seats… and the squirrel.
You know the old saying. And for many backyard birders, squirrels are just as welcome as birds.
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Many people give up trying to outsmart these intelligent animals and instead welcome them. Once you make the mental transition from pest to friend, you’ll find that squirrels are often just as much fun as your feathered friends, sometimes more so.
My kids and I enjoy watching YouTuber Mark Rober set up the craziest table in his backyard for the squirrels to work for their treats. He also built the Squirrelympics in the backyard. (This hilarious squirrel head is worthy of attention from the commenters.)
Place the squirrel feeder away from the bird feeder. As long as you keep it filled, it will usually be enough to deter them from stealing your birds.
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Hello Rural Sprout readers, my name is Tracy and I’m glad you came across my bio. Originally from upstate New York, I am now an honorary citizen of Pennsylvania, having lived here for the past 17 years.
How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders
He built our hideous log cabin when I was seven, and I spent most of my childhood wandering the woods and getting my hands dirty.
We were always busy. Whether it was crushing apples for homemade cider or trudging through the spring snows of upstate New York to tap trees for maple syrup, there were always jobs for each new season.
As an adult living in the modern world, I still rely on the skills I learned as a child. I love Wi-Fi and knowing pizza is only a phone call away. But I don’t mind never having the adventure of using an outhouse again in the middle of January.
I have an eclectic approach to homesteading, where I use the modern conveniences I want and choose the rural ways of my childhood simply because they make me happy.
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I’m a firm believer in self-reliance, no matter where you live, and the strength and pride that comes from doing something for yourself.
I garden, even when the roof of my apartment is free. I have been knitting since the age of seven, and I spin and dye wool myself. And if you can ferment it, it’s probably in your pantry or kitchen counter. I can’t go more than a few days without traveling deep into the Pennsylvania hunting grounds in search of mushrooms, edible plants, or the sound of the wind in the trees.
My gift of wit and humor through the written word keeps me busy as a freelance copywriter and blogger.
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If you need copy that will attract your readers and keep them glued to your site, I’m your girl. You can find me in Bessemerrites. Expert advice from Bob Villa, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home renovation and DIY. Tried, true, trusted advice
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Solved! How to keep squirrels away from bird feeders If you enjoy feeding the local birds, chances are you’ve seen other uninvited guests stealing seeds for your feathered friends. Keep squirrels away from bird feeders with these 10 tips.
Q: We love to see birds in our yard and have set up several bird feeders that successfully attract them. Unfortunately, the seeds we pull out also attract a lot of squirrels, who pull them up by the roots and make a big mess in the process. How can we keep squirrels away from our bird feeders?
A: Squirrels in bird feeders? Your dilemma is not unusual. Bird feeders are a great way to attract feathered friends, but most backyard wildlife is indiscriminate, and other animals will also be attracted to the bird you offer. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ward off squirrels and other uninvited guests. Read on for some tips on keeping the bad guys away from backyard bird feeders.
Squirrels like birdseed (such as nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit, and corn), but they don’t like everything that birds eat. So stock your bird feeder with safflower seeds, black seeds and white millet, which squirrels don’t have.
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