Squirrel Proofing Your Bird Feeders ~ Natural Remedies

Photo by Emma Richford

Squirrels and chipmunks seem to think bird feeders are your way of offering them a tasty treat - and can go to great lengths to get at your birdseed. This little chipmunk managed to remove the cover to my squirrel proof feeder and dive inside for a delicious treat of nuts and berries. Unfortunately, once inside, he wasn't able to escape (don't worry, after taking a few pictures we released him unharmed.)

If you, like me, enjoy all wildlife and wouldn't dream of harming squirrels and chipmunks - but want to keep them out of your bird feeders, there are some tricks to repelling squirrels you can try.

• Squirrel proof feeders - The first option, of course, it to invest in squirrel proof feeders. As you can see, these aren't 100 % foolproof, but they go a long way toward keeping squirrels out of your feeder.
• Squirrel baffles - These can be placed either over or under the bird feeder and look like a large shallow bowl.  When a squirrel leaps onto it from above, it tips him off. Those installed below the feeder tip as he tries to climb up to the feeder, blocking his access.
• Squirrel repellents - There are a number of natural products sold to repel squirrels. Garden.com (see link at the bottom of post) offers several products for repelling squirrels.

                                                   Home Remedies

• Soda Bottles - Hang the bird feeder on a horizontal wire (or clothesline) and string empty soda bottles on the wire. Drill a hole in the cap and in the center of the bottom of the bottle. Run the wire through the bottle. Place several on each side of the feeder. As the squirrel runs along the wire to reach the feeder, the bottles spin, throwing him onto the ground.
• Stove Pipe - Sink a 4-foot section of galvanized stove pipe into the soil to a depth of four inches. Place the pole for your bird feeder in the center of the stove pipe. Squirrels cannot climb the stove pipe to access the feeder.
• Grease the Pole - Greasing the pole to your bird feeder with nontoxic grease prevents the squirrel from climbing the pole and provides some entertainment for you, as well. The down side of greasing the pole is that the grease tends to "wear off" quickly and needs to be replaced frequently.
• Cayenne Pepper - Many report that adding a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a bag of seed makes an effective squirrel repellent. Seal  the bag tightly and shake to distribute the cayenne pepper throughout the birdseed. Although squirrels dislike the taste, birds are apparently immune and continue to visit the feeder unaffected by cayenne pepper.  From my experience, squirrels soon adapt to the flavor (or it dissipates) and they return within a few days.

                                     Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!
For more information about keeping squirrels out of your bird feeders, visit How to Get Rid of Squirrels.

---

Garden.com - A Bird Sanctuary - 1000's of Birding Products In Stock