Quick Answers
There are a few options for deterring squirrels from bird feeders:
– Use feeds that squirrels don’t like, such as safflower seeds or nyjer seeds. Squirrels prefer sunflower seeds.
– Try squirrel-proof feeders designed so that squirrels cannot climb them or get into them. Weight sensitive or cage style feeders work well.
– Put up plastic or metal baffles above or below the feeder to block squirrels from being able to access the feeder.
– Use feeders with weight sensitive perches that close access to the food when a heavy squirrel steps on them.
– Place feeders at least 5-6 feet from trees, fences, or other structures squirrels can jump from. Squirrels have difficulty jumping horizontally.
– Apply slippery lubricants like cooking oil or Vaseline to feeder poles and hanging wires to make it harder for squirrels to climb.
– Use hot pepper powder or capsaicin-based repellents on and around feeders. Squirrels dislike spicy tastes.
– Install a squirrel zapper or electric deterrent that gives squirrels a harmless but startling shock when they try to access feeders.
– Scatter dried hot peppers, garlic powder, or ground black pepper on the ground around feeders to deter squirrels from foraging there.
– Try sound or vibration deterrents near feeders, as squirrels dislike loud noises or shaking movements.
Why Do Squirrels Try to Get Into Bird Feeders?
Squirrels are attracted to bird feeders for an easy meal. Bird seed, particularly sunflower seeds, offers a concentrated and convenient source of food that requires little effort for squirrels to access. This steady food supply allows squirrels to save energy and calories they would otherwise spend foraging over a wider area.
Being intelligent and resourceful animals, squirrels learn that bird feeders provide reliable nourishment once they find them. Squirrels have excellent long-term memory and will repeatedly return to plunder feeders once they know the location.
Some additional reasons squirrels go after bird feeders include:
– Hunger – Squirrels are opportunistic feeders and are prompted to seek out new food sources when food is scarce. This is especially common in winter when natural foods are limited.
– Boredom – Squirrels are playful and will often investigate or try to get into feeders just for stimulation and entertainment.
– Territoriality – Squirrels are territorial and may view bird feeders as being in their domain. They want to assert dominance in their perceived territory.
– Fat and Protein Cravings – Squirrels especially crave foods high in fat and protein like sunflower seeds, which bird feeders provide abundantly.
– Safety – Bird feeders may be approached when squirrels feel threatened by predators and want to avoid being out in the open as they forage.
– Daytime Activity – As diurnal animals, squirrels naturally seek food during the day when bird feeders are typically busiest and best stocked.
– Abundant Populations – High squirrel populations and density in urban and suburban areas increase competition and drive more squirrels to scout for supplementary food resources.
What Bird Seeds and Feeders Do Squirrels Dislike?
When it comes to outsmarting squirrels at bird feeders, using bird seed that squirrels do not like is one of the most effective strategies. Squirrels strongly prefer sunflower seeds over most other bird seed types. Choosing seeds squirrels tend to avoid will automatically make feeders far less appealing:
Safflower Seeds
Safflower is one of the best bird seeds for deterring squirrels. The hard outer shells of safflower seeds are difficult for squirrels to open and get to the kernels inside. Safflower is also less nutritious than sunflower seeds since it has less fat content. The protein in safflower is harder for squirrels to digest as well.
While squirrels will gradually try safflower if no other options are available, they strongly dislike having to work hard to get relatively little payoff. Birds like cardinals, finches, and chickadees enjoy safflower just fine.
Nyjer Seeds
Nyjer seed, also called thistle seed, is small and black in appearance. It comes from the African yellow daisy. The diminutive size and thickness of nyjer makes it unattractive and unrewarding for squirrels to bother with. Nyjer seed is specially suited for small-beaked finches. It also contains plenty of nutrients like protein and omega-3 fatty acids to benefit birds.
Millet
Though not always the case, most squirrels tend to ignore millet as a food source at feeders. Millet is very small and has a low meat to shell ratio. It does not provide enough calories compared to the work required to eat it. Sparrows, juncos, doves, quail, and other birds seek out millet.
Cracked Corn
Whole corn is appealing to squirrels, however cracked corn is not. The sharp edges of the fractured kernels can hurt squirrels’ mouths and make the pieces difficult to pick up and eat. Ground feed and smaller bird species like jays, cardinals, wrens, and smaller woodpeckers favor cracked corn kernels.
Specific Feeder Styles
Certain bird feeder types are inherently better at restricting squirrel access based on their design:
– Tube feeders – Long, hollow plastic or glass tubes protect seed but allow birds to extract it through small holes. Squirrels cannot fit inside or easily get the seed out.
– Nyjer feeders -Specialized nyjer feeders have tiny ports just wide enough for finches. Squirrels cannot access the tiny nyjer seeds.
– Caged feeders – Feeders enclosed in a metal mesh cylinder keep squirrels out while allowing birds to feed through the mesh.
– Suet feeders – Squirrels enjoy suet, but tail prop suet feeders with skinny hanging tails are hard for them to balance on.
– Weighted/counterbalanced – Perches or feeding ports close off when a heavier squirrel steps on them but stay open for lighter birds.
– Dome or covered feeders – Roofed feeders with specialized entry ports make it very tricky for squirrels to be able to reach the seed.
Tips to Further Deter Squirrels
Aside from using particular bird seeds and feeders, there are some additional tactics that can reinforce squirrel deterrence:
Apply Lubricants
Applying slippery grease or gel to feeder poles, hanging wires, and other surfaces squirrels need to climb across creates an unstable and wobbly terrain they tend to avoid. Petroleum jelly, cooking oil, silicone sprays, or commercial bird feeder pole lubricants work well. Reapply regularly.
Install Baffles
Baffles are physical barriers that block squirrels from leaping onto feeders from above or climbing up the pole from below. An upside-down plastic or metal cone, dome, or sleeve around the feeder’s pole are common baffle types. Ensure baffles are smooth and wide enough squirrels cannot bypass them.
Use Dissuasion Feeders
Specialized “squirrel proof” feeders use mechanisms to startle, discomfort, or scare off squirrels in harmless ways. These include feeders that deliver mild electric shocks, make loud sounds, spin when weighted down, or wobble violently upon pressure.
Try Repellents
Non-toxic taste or scent repellents can discourage squirrels from lingering at feeders. Spicy hot pepper powder, capsaicin, garlic, or black pepper flavorings often drive squirrels away. Always avoid harmful chemicals. Reapply repellents after rain or snow.
Remove Access Points
Prune back branches, trees, and bushes near feeders to eliminate squirrel “superhighways.” This forces them to make risky leaps across open spaces. Also raise feeders on poles well above ground level. 5-6 feet high or more is optimal.
Scare Them Away
Use physical harassment like water jets, loud noises, or flashing lights activated by motion sensors when squirrels are spotted at the feeder. They will associate the unpleasantness with the location. Do not harm the squirrels though.
Feeder Location Tips
Where and how bird feeders are situated plays a big role in squirrel prevention:
– Distance from structures – Place feeders at least 5-6 feet away from trees, fences, poles, homes, garages, and other launching points.
– Visibility – Position feeders in open, visible spots so squirrels cannot sneak up without being seen. Avoid shrubs or vegetation right beside feeders.
– Near cover for birds – While keeping feeder area open, do have escape cover like bushes or trees within 10-20 feet so birds feel safe from aerial predators.
– Guard objects – Surround or cover feeder poles with smooth guards like plastic PVC pipe, sheet metal, or aluminum foil to block climbing.
– Feeder density – Having multiple feeders spreads birds out so dominant squirrels cannot hog a single location. Space feeders at least 20 feet apart.
– Clean up fallen seed – Sweep or rake up seed hulls and other leftovers under feeders which attract squirrels to forage below them.
– Night protection – Bring feeders in at night when squirrels are most active. Automatic pulley systems make raising and lowering feeders easy.
When Squirrels Outsmart Defenses
In some cases, particularly clever, determined squirrels may eventually manage to outmaneuver one or more deterrents and break through defenses to eat bird seed. This is frustrating but not completely unavoidable. When this happens, shift strategies and be even more vigilant. Some tips include:
– Installing a different style of squirrel-proof feeder designed with different deterrent mechanisms. Varying feeder types prevents squirrels from becoming accustomed to any one kind.
– Relocating feeders to a totally new spot in the yard that squirrels have not learned to associate with food.
– Combining multiple deterrents like a spin feeder with a baffle and lubricated pole to create layers of obstacles for squirrels.
– Removing feeders entirely for 2-3 weeks before replacing them to break squirrels’ habitual routines.
– Trying new seeds, like nyjer or safflower, or mixing blends that squirrels have not encountered before. Novelty can disrupt squirrel behavior.
– Applying new scent or flavor repellents frequently so smells and tastes are unpredictable.
– Using feeders that only offer seed at timed intervals controlled by an electronic feeder to prevent gorging.
– Making feeder area access uncomfortable with prickly branches, sharp rocks, or chalk line ground barriers.
– Enlisting more permanent solutions like modified fencing, sheet metal guards, or trunk guards on any trees near feeders.
Squirrel Population Management
If squirrel density in the local area seems excessively high, a longer term solution is trying to gradually reduce the local squirrel population through humane prevention:
Modify Landscaping
– Remove dense brush and thick vegetation that provide squirrels shelter and nest sites.
– Eliminate wood piles, tree cavities, and other shelter spots near feeder sites and the home.
– Replace appealing trees like maples, oaks, and hickories with less attractive squirrel habitat like birch, dogwood, and beech trees.
– Use rock landscaping or inhospitable surfaces rather than mulch and flowerbeds squirrels can dig and nest in.
Reduce Food Access
– Frequently harvest vegetables and fruits from gardens so fewer ripen and go uneaten for squirrels.
– Block access to ripening corn cobs and nuts like acorns. Wrap or bag fruits on trees.
– Keep pet food indoors and secure trash in closed bins to limit calories available.
– Use open feeders and unique feed blends neighbors don’t so squirrels cannot move between yards.
Avoid Supplemental Feeding
– Resist putting out nuts, corn cobs, or other treats squirrels will hoard. Never hand feed or befriend them.
– Omit conventional squirrel feeders. Feeders train squirrels that free food exists.
– Remove any residual food after winter or periods when supplemental feeding is necessary.
Peaceful Squirrel Coexistence
Squirrels can be persistent when it comes to stealing from bird feeders but are still delightful creatures most of us enjoy seeing around. With some preparation and vigilant maintenance of deterrents, bird and squirrel lovers can achieve a compromise where each get their needs met:
– Learn squirrel behavior to anticipate problems before they arise. Watch activity patterns around your yard.
– Implement multiple integrating layers of squirrel defenses for best control rather than relying on single solutions.
– Be flexible and willing to experiment with different seed types, feeder models, and habitat modifications over time to find the optimal balance.
– Focus deterrents only immediately around feeders rather than trying to banish squirrels from the entire property.
– Ensure squirrels still have access to natural food sources away from feeders like oak trees so they do not become dependent on stealing bird food.
– Check that deterrents are not harming squirrels but only discouraging interest in feeders. Monitor for injuries.
– Enjoy amusing squirrel antics and intelligence when they are not causing problems! Their acrobatics and play are wonderful to behold.
With some clever adjustments and persistent upkeep, a bird feeding station can operate harmoniously alongside the neighborhood’s native squirrel residents. The two can thrive together.
Conclusion
Outsmarting clever squirrels that covet bird seed takes strategy and diligence. But with the right application of bird seed selection, tailored feeder types, location considerations, and supplementary repellents, squirrel pilfering can be minimized. Be flexible, use multiple integrated deterrents, focus control only around feeders, and be willing to experiment until discovering the best bespoke solution for each unique yard that still allows squirrels their natural place in the ecosystem. With some thoughtful effort, vibrant bird activity and mischievous squirrels can be delightful neighbors.