How To Squirrel Proof Your Birdfeeder

You've put up a bird feeder to enjoy the wild birds that visit your garden but unfortunately

the squirrels are eating the food and scaring off the birds. The squirrels will not, of course, harm the birds but will prevent them from enjoying the food you've put out for them and may discourage them from visiting again. This defeats the object of putting up the bird feeder in the first place so what can you do to discourage the squirrels so the birds can feed in peace and you can enjoy seeing them?

There are several steps you can take. If you have trees or shrubs in your garden position your bird feeder away from them in an open area. Squirrels like to jump from the cover of the trees straight on to a feeder and dislike being out in the open. Placing your bird feeder away from the trees will not totally stop the squirrels from visiting it but will be a big discouragement.

Tube bird feeder, the kind made from wire mesh with small holes for the birds to reach the seeds can be used. Hang it from a pole which squirrels cannot easily climb. Large plastic baffles above and below the bird feeder are effective, if not very attractive to look at. They need to be large enough though to discourage the squirrels. You can use large two liter soda bottles which will considerably slow them down.You can buy specially made squirrel guards to attach to poles. These should be fitted five feet from the ground to prevent the squirrels climbing up to the feeder. They are effective as long as there are no trees or shrubs nearby from which the squirrels can launch themselves.

Another method is to add some cayenne pepper to the bird feed. Squirrels will dislike the taste and soon learn not to visit your feeder. The birds can't taste the pepper and will continue to visit.

Commercial, squirrel proof bird feeders are available which employ a range of design features designed to deter the squirrels. They range from those with perches that are too light for the squirrel to sit on to feeders that spin and dump of the squirrel. They range in effectiveness so it's a good idea to check out reviews online from actual users of the feeders before you buy one. Feeders surrounded by wire cages which can be accessed by the birds long beaks but not the squirrels are effective but some with clever, complicated designs can often be defeated by the squirrels in a few days. Don't be tempted by a cheap feeder as the poor construction material can often be chewed through easily.

If you love to watch the birds and are bothered by squirrels eating the bird seed and deterring the wild birds from visiting your garden you may need to employ a combination of the above to defeat them. However it is not an impossible task and the squirrels will hopefully go elsewhere for their food if you follow the tips in this article.

by: janet bugby

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