How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Birdfeeder

Many gardeners erect birdfeeders with the hopes of attracting and enjoying backyard birds. Before long, neighborhood squirrels discover them too, and move in to steal the seed. Keeping neighborhood squirrels out of your birdfeeder can seem like a losing battle. It doesn't have to be. All it takes is a little patience and some trial and error to see what works best.

The Squirrelly Facts

To truly appreciate squirrels (and learn to live with them peacefully), it helps to know what drives their behavior-what makes squirrels do what they do. The squirrels you see raiding your birdfeeder are probably one or more of several common species of tree squirrels: Fox squirrels, Red squirrels, or Gray squirrels. These species are most active in morning and late afternoon. During mid day they usually retire to their nests or nap on nearby tree branches. Solitary by nature, tree squirrels don't hibernate in the winter, although they sometimes nest in small groups to stay warm. Here are a few interesting facts about squirrels:

• The life of a squirrel isn't easy. In the wild, squirrels have a fairly high death rate. Although they can live to approximately 12 years of age, most don't live beyond 3-5 years. Predators and accidents (mainly car strikes) contribute to their mortality rates, but food availability probably predicts a squirrel's survival more than any other factor.
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• Squirrels spend a lot of time eating. They have a very fast metabolism and need a constant supply of foods high in fat for energy. Squirrels typically eat more than their body weight in food each week.

• Squirrels are opportunists. Squirrels' diets consist mainly of nuts, seeds, berries, tree buds and insects. What they eat depends on what is available at any given time. Food supplies change from year to year due to weather conditions and other factors, so for an animal that constantly needs to eat, a steady food source like a birdfeeder is very appealing.

• Squirrels plan ahead for the hunger gap. In the fall, squirrels prepare for winter by hoarding and burying hundreds of nuts and seeds. They rely on their sight and a keen sense of smell, not their memory, to find them again. This habit of burying nuts, is actually to our benefit. Most seeds are never found, A few of these later germinate, helping to sustain the re-growth of our hardwood forests.
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• Squirrels' teeth grow very fast. Squirrels' teeth are designed for gnawing through the tough outer hulls of seeds and nuts. Their teeth grow long quickly, so they must find hard materials in their environment to gnaw on (e.g. twigs, birdfeeders, wires, hoses) to keep their teeth clean, sharp, and short.

• Tree squirrels are natural athletes. They can jump from 4 to 6 feet vertically and distances of 8 to 10 feet between objects. Toes and claws adapted for life in the trees make it easy for squirrels to cling to objects while hanging upside down.

Winning the Birdfeeder War

Gardeners have found the following 3 tactics to be the most effective in discouraging squirrels from visiting birdfeeders. You may have to experiment with one or more before finding a solution that works for you.

Baffling them. If your birdfeeder hangs from a pole or is attached to a post, place a stove-pipe or pyramid-shaped baffle underneath the feeder to prevent squirrels from accessing the feeder from the ground. Purchase one, or make your own. To be effective, the bottom of the baffle needs to be at least 5 feet off the ground and 8 to 10 feet away from nearby objects. To prevent access from above, use a dome or umbrella-shaped baffle above your feeder. Make sure it's large enough to cover the feeder completely and that your feeder is least 8 to 10 feet away from buildings, branches and other objects the squirrels might climb.

Excluding them. Try enclosing your existing feeder in a wire mesh cage that has openings large enough for birds to get inside, but are small enough to exclude squirrels. Another option is to buy a "squirrel proof" feeder. Some feature weight activated trap doors that close off access to feeding holes whenever any animal as heavy as a squirrel steps on the perches.

Others are stationary hoppers protected by an outer shell that spins when activated by a squirrels weight. You can expect to pay more for these types of feeders up front, but you'll make up for it quickly by buying less seed.

Changing seeds. Squirrels raiding birdfeeders favor nuts, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn. One way to eliminate their visits is to offer seeds that are less appealing. For example, safflower seed attracts cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and grosbeaks. Squirrels (and other feeders hogs like grackles and starlings) don't care for them. Nyjer seed (also called thistle seed) is a favorite of goldfinches, purple finches, pine siskins, and even mourning doves, but squirrels won't bother with it.

How NOT to Battle Squirrels

At times squirrels can seem like a nuisance, but like backyard birds, they are really just going about the business of survival. There are many strategies for keeping them out of your birdfeeder, but the following methods are NOT recommended as they are either considered unnecessarily harmful (for squirrels and birds) or they just plain don't work.

• Live trapping and relocating. This won't prevent squirrels from invading your birdfeeder. What it will do is allow a new round of squirrels to move into formerly occupied territory.

• Using products advertised as "slippery". Using gels or other petroleum-based products may prevent squirrels from climbing up poles to reach feeders (at least temporarily), but when accidentally brushed onto feathers, can mean certain death for birds.

• Feeding seeds coated with capsaicin (hot peppers). Birds don't seem to be irritated by capsaicin, but squirrels and other wildlife (and companion animals) are. In an effort to alleviate the burning sensation it causes to their skin and eyes, animals can cause themselves serious injuries-even blindness.

Learning to Enjoy Them

Many people find the antics of squirrels very amusing and actually enjoy feeding them. After all, watching squirrels clown around in an effort to secure food can be an interesting and entertaining way to learn about nature. One way to keep them distracted from your birdfeeders is to provide them with their own feeding station. From "picnic tables" that hold corn cobs to feeders that bounce up and down on cables, there are countless squirrel feeders designed with your amusement in mind.