Squirrel Wars - 5 Ways To Win
At Bird Watcher Supply, on line and in the stores, the most frequently asked questions are about squirrels. How do you stop squirrels from eating the birdseed and tearing up the bird feeders? All wooden and plastic feeders can be damaged by squirrels if they can get to them. Most damage occurs when the seed is hard to get to, such as when the feeder is almost empty. Squirrels will chew into wood or plastic to get the last few seeds.
Keeping feeders full, using good quality feeders with metal ports such as those made by Droll Yankees, WoodLink and BirdQuest, or using open-tray style platform feeders where the seed is readily available will help eliminate squirrel damage. But if you are fed up, there are five good ways to stop squirrels from taking over your bird feeders:
1. Squirrel-Proof Feeders - There are several on the market including our favorite, the Flipper by Droll Yankees, and its cousins, the Tipper, the Whipper and the Dipper. All four are weight-activated, allowing birds to feed but not squirrels. The Flipper is motorized and rechargeable; it spins the squirrels off the feeder, which is quite fun to watch! All four have lifetime warranties against squirrel damage. The Flipper motor, called a power stick, has a one-year warranty, and replacements are available if ever needed. We have customers that have two or three Flippers and swear they’ll never buy a different feeder! Another good choice is the versatile Absolute Squirrel-Proof Feeder from Heritage Farms. It is also weight-activated and the heavy-duty aluminum will last for years! The Absolute is available in a single-sided and a double-sided model, both come with poles and hangers, so they can be mounted either way.
If you are on a budget, another way to go is to use a squirrel-resistant feeder. These tend to be less expensive, but are not as sturdy. Choices include cage feeders such as the Sanctuary by Duncraft, and lighter, weight-activated feeders like the Squirrel-Be-Gone by Woodstream/Perky Pet or the Vista feeder by Heritage Farms. These feeders will definitely slow down the seed consumption and might work if you only have an occasional squirrel, but are not truly squirrel-proof like the choices above.
2. Foods Squirrels Don’t Like - Try using our Cole’s Hot Meats or Cajun Cardinal Blend! Squirrels hate the hot pepper flavor, but birds don’t taste it at all! Cole’s Hot Meats are top quality sunflower meats infused with an exclusive chili pepper and safflower oil formulation. Researched by Cornell University, hot pepper is perfectly safe for birds. Hot Meats are eaten by all your feeder birds! Cajun Cardinal is a mixture of Hot Meats and safflower seed. Safflower seed is not a favorite of squirrels either, and this mixture will make your Cardinals sing! If squirrels are attacking your suet, try Coles Hot Meats Suet cakes! These spicy chili suet cakes are 100% natural, no melt and no waste! Your birds will devour them. During winter months, you can also try Pure Suet cakes or tubs, which don’t have a lot of flavor so the squirrels ignore them, but birds love the high protein and will flock to them.
3. Baffles - A baffle is a device used to prevent a squirrel or raccoon from climbing to a feeder. Baffles can be hung or placed on poles or posts. Baffles only work if used correctly and the magic formula is ten feet by five feet (athletic squirrels can jump ten feet horizontally and five feet vertically). Pole baffles are the easiest to situate. You can use either a straight pole or a shepherd’s staff pole, just make sure that it is tall enough. Place the pole ten feet away from any trees, fence or other structure from where the squirrel might jump. Mount the baffle five feet high on the pole. Make sure any feeders hang above the top of the baffle. Sit back and watch your frustrated squirrels try and try again to beat it! If you want to hang a baffle, the best way is to string a wire between two trees, place the baffle in the middle, ten feet away from either tree, and hang the feeder underneath the baffle. Make sure the bottom of the feeder is above five feet. Metal baffles tend to be most effective. Our favorite pole baffles are the SB1D by Erva and the Wrap Around Baffle by WoodLink.
4. Relocation - Not as effective as some of the other methods, but you can eliminate problem squirrels by using live traps, like the Hav-a-hart brand traps to harmlessly catch and relocate them to another area. Squirrel populations tend to build back up quickly though, so this can be an ongoing effort. Make sure to take the squirrels several miles away and give them a nice, new home with lots of trees! Please do not relocate nursing females.
5. Diversion feeding - You know this really doesn’t work very well, but if you can’t beat them, enjoy them! Come on, they are really cute. Get a squirrel feeder and give them a little corn or some Cole’s Critter Munchies. They can be very entertaining too!
Don’t let the squirrels take all the fun out of bird feeding! By following some of these tips, you should have flocks of birds at your feeders and be able to keep the squirrels at bay. Our staff is well trained to help you solve your unique squirrel problems and help you get the most enjoyment from your backyard habitat!