How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders – Especially In Fall & Winter!

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Did you know that with just a few simple tips and tricks, you can easily keep squirrels away from your bird feeders and make feeding birds enjoyable again? This is especially important in the fall and winter when birds rely on feeders the most!It’s frustrating to watch squirrels quickly empty a freshly filled bird feeder. They have an incredible knack for locating feeders right after you’ve filled them! Birdseed isn’t cheap, and constantly replacing it due to squirrel raids can get expensive. Fortunately, you can safely deter squirrels without harming them and still provide food for your feathered friends.Squirrels are usually unfazed by anything when it comes to eating—especially when it involves competing birds. In fact, they often scare away the very birds you want to attract. No matter where you place your feeder, squirrels seem to find a way to get to it!

Once they discover your feeder, they’ll keep coming back for more, treating it like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Some squirrels may even go so far as to break feeders just to get to the food inside. But with a few clever strategies, you can protect your birdseed and keep those pesky squirrels at bay!

Squirrels visiting bird feeders and eating the seed.
While they might be cute and fluffy, squirrels can wreak havoc on bird feeders. They can quickly eat all the available seeds, leaving nothing behind for hungry birds.

What’s more, squirrels are rarely deterred from their eating habits—especially by visiting birds. In fact, they often scare away the very birds you want to attract and feed. Even worse, no matter where you place your feeder, squirrels seem to find a way to access it!

One thing is certain: birdseed isn’t cheap! Constantly replacing it because of squirrel raids can become quite costly. Fortunately, with a few simple tricks, you can effectively keep squirrels away without harming them and ensure that your birds get their share of food safely!

How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders

Keeping squirrels away from your bird feeders requires a combination of strategies. When these tips are used together, they can effectively redirect squirrels to seek out easier meals elsewhere.

One of the most effective methods is to place your feeders in locations that are difficult for squirrels to access from the start!

Locating Feeders For Success

Squirrels are surprisingly agile and can jump up to 5 feet high and 7 feet across. This means they can easily reach feeders if they are located too close to trees or structures. To prevent squirrels from accessing your bird feeders, avoid placing them directly in trees or beneath buildings. Even positioning the feeder a few feet away from these objects can give squirrels the leverage they need for a quick leap.

A squirrel easily reaching for birdfeeders and seeds from far away.
Squirrels are well known for their acrobatic stunts, including jumping from nearby structures or trees.

Squirrels are like little acrobats, capable of performing impressive feats just to snag a snack. They can dangle upside down and use their agility to jump and reach bird feeders with ease.

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To effectively keep them at bay, the best approach is to mount your bird feeder on a tall pole or post. Position the post in an open area, away from trees and structures, to prevent squirrels from launching an aerial assault. This setup serves as a strong first line of defense against their nimble antics!

Use Squirrel Baffles – How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders

Now that your feeder is out in the open, it’s time to protect the pole and make it impossible for squirrels to climb up! One of the simplest and most effective solutions is to use squirrel baffles.

Squirrel baffles are affordable and easy to install on most bird feeders and poles. These are large, dome-shaped metal covers that can be attached to the top or bottom of your bird feeders. They create a barrier that prevents squirrels from climbing up, ensuring that your birdseed stays safe and secure for your feathered friends.

squirrel baffle - squirrels and bird feeders
Baffles are a great way to keep squirrels from getting to bird feeders.

The slippery dome shape of these baffles makes it nearly impossible for squirrels to grip the sides; they simply slide off and have to jump away in frustration. When installed on top of the feeder, baffles also deter flying squirrels from swooping down from above, while those placed underneath prevent squirrels from climbing up to reach the feeder.

For the baffles to be most effective, it’s crucial to ensure your feeder is installed at least five feet off the ground. This height prevents squirrels from easily jumping from the ground and bypassing the baffles altogether, maximizing your chances of keeping them away from your birdseed.  (Affiliate Product Link: Predator Guard Squirrel Baffle)

Use A Slinky – How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders

It might sound a bit unconventional, but a metal slinky can be surprisingly effective at keeping squirrels away from your bird feeders. Much like a baffle, the slinky creates a challenging obstacle for these clever critters.

To set it up, simply slide a metal slinky over the top of the bird feeder post and let it extend downward. Secure it in place with zip ties at the bottom of the feeder. Make sure to choose a metal slinky, as plastic versions won’t withstand cold weather or the gnawing of persistent squirrels. This simple trick can add an extra layer of protection against those pesky visitors!

As long as your feeder is positioned at least 5 feet high, squirrels will likely try to grab the post to climb up. However, with a metal slinky in place, they’ll just end up grasping that instead, causing them to tumble back down to the ground. Over time, this will discourage them from trying to access the feeder.

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For an even more effective squirrel deterrent, consider using a slinky in combination with a baffle. Together, they create a formidable defense against those crafty critters, making it much harder for them to feast on your birdseed!

Doctoring Your Feed – How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders

In addition to using baffles and slinkies, you can also make your bird feed less appealing to squirrels. One effective strategy is to add ingredients that squirrels tend to avoid. Squirrels typically gravitate towards peanuts, dried fruit, and sunflower seeds, which are also favorites among many birds.

To deter squirrels, consider incorporating safflower seeds into your bird feed mix. Squirrels generally dislike safflower seeds, but most birds enjoy them. By adding these seeds to your feeder, you can help discourage squirrels from making frequent visits while still attracting your feathered friends!

Affiliate Link: Safflower Bird Seed

safflower seeds for birds - squirrels and bird feeders
Most birds like safflower seeds – but squirrels do not!

The Spicy Trick

Another effective method for deterring squirrels from your bird feeders is to add hot pepper spice to your birdseed mix. While humans and other mammals can feel the burn from capsaicin—the compound that makes peppers spicy—birds are unaffected by it.

By incorporating a small amount of hot pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or any other hot pepper powder into your birdseed, you can create a mix that squirrels will find unappealing. Just a sprinkle is sufficient, as a little goes a long way.

If you prefer not to make your own spicy mix, you can also find commercially available birdseed that already contains hot pepper. Just remember to keep any spicy products away from children and pets, as they may not appreciate the heat! (Affiliate Product Link: Wild Delight Sizzle N’ Heat Bird Food)

Keep Bird Feeder Areas Tidy – How To Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders

Finally, it’s essential to keep the area under your bird feeders clean. Birds can be quite messy eaters, often pushing seeds out of the feeder and onto the ground below. This fallen seed can attract not only hungry squirrels but also raccoons and other pests.

If squirrels notice that there’s a steady supply of food on the ground, they may start bypassing the feeders entirely and go straight for the source instead. By regularly cleaning up fallen seeds, you can reduce the chances of attracting these furry visitors, making it less likely that they’ll raid your bird feeders.

A squirrel eating birdseed that is has fallen onto the ground.
Leaving a mess below a bird feeder allows squirrels and other pests easy access to food. Once that food is gone, they will then move on to the feeder itself.

You can tackle the mess in one of two ways: clean up the fallen seeds every few days, or add a seed tray to the bottom of your feeder. A seed tray helps catch the seeds and debris, preventing them from spilling onto the ground. While this method may not completely eliminate the issue, it can significantly reduce the chances of attracting squirrels to your property and feeders.

Cheers to keeping squirrels at bay and enjoying birdwatching throughout the year!

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