Squirrel Problems


Watch out below!!

People that enjoy feeding birds sometimes get angry at the squirrels. These pesky rodents can eat a LOT of bird seed. They can also find ingenious ways to get at the seed - despite our best efforts to stop them.

One solution is to just enjoy the squirrel's antics. Others have come up with some fascinating approaches to discouraging the squirrels from attacking bird feeders.

There are a number of "Squirrel-proof" bird feeders on the market. The Droll Yankees "Yankee Flipper" seems to work the best.

To prevent squirrels from eating your bird seed, you have to make sure they cannot climb or jump onto your feeders. You need nine to ten feet of space around your feeder!

A clear plastic dome above the feeder may help keep squirrels away. If they jump down on the feeder from a tree or roof, the dome will cause them to slide off.

Squirrels can jump about five feet straight up! If your feeder is on a pole, a barrier just below the feeder might help as well.

Some bird feeders are enclosed in a cage. Birds can enter, but the holes are too small for the squirrels.

If your feeders are suspended from a wire, place tubes around the wire. These will rotate as the squirrels try to crawl out to the birdseed and the squirrels will fall off.

Some folks revert to greasing the pole holding the feeder. Try Vaseline or Pam. It might work and the squirrels will put on quite a show.

We have also heard that seed treated with hot pepper may discourage squirrels. Since birds cannot taste the pepper, they are not affected

The squirrels will win. They always do. It will just take them a while. Relax and enjoy their antics as they try to figure it out!