Although squirrels are entertaining to watch, they may be an annoyance to those who are attempting to draw in birds. Their sly food thefts leave the birds you want to save with little nourishment.
Here’s a fast response if you’re pressed for time: Squirrels find black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, safflower seeds, and suet blocks less appetizing. Squirrels may be kept at bay by carefully placing bird feeders.
This in-depth guide covers bird food varieties that squirrels are less likely to consume, clever feeder solutions that keep them out, and habitat adaptations that help birds get the nutrients they want without providing for squirrel activity.
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds and Squirrel-Deterring Bird Foods
Using black oil sunflower seeds is a good strategy to keep squirrels from stealing from your bird feeders. Squirrels find it challenging to break open these seeds due to their thin shell and high oil content. Birds, however, have easy access to the nutrient-rich seeds therein.
Finches, cardinals, and chickadees are just a few of the bird species that love black oil sunflower seeds.
New York Seeds
Another excellent choice for keeping squirrels away are nyjer seeds, also referred to as thistle seeds. Though birds like goldfinches and pine siskins like them, squirrels cannot successfully manage these tiny seeds.
The greatest places to serve nyjer seeds are in specialty feeders with tiny openings that let only birds use them. Your feathery companions will still get a pleasant meal while the squirrels are kept at away.
Safflower Seeds
If you want to deter squirrels from visiting your bird feeders, sunflower seeds are a great option. Squirrels generally don’t think safflower seeds are very tasty, even if many birds do. Offering safflower seeds can draw cardinals and house finches to your yard while keeping squirrels away from the meal.
Both you and the birds stand to gain from this circumstance!
Cakes or Logs Made with Suet
To draw in insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees, suet cakes or logs are a common option. These high-energy sweets are produced with animal fat and often include berries, seeds, and almonds in addition to other components.
Suet attracts squirrels, but you can keep them away by using feeders designed to keep squirrels out or by putting the suet in a hard-to-reach place.
To guarantee that your attempts to outwit these cunning robbers are effective, keep in mind that you should spend money on high-quality bird feeders and squirrel-proofing methods. You may observe a variety of bird species visit your feeders while keeping squirrels away by utilizing squirrel-deterring bird feeds such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, safflower seeds, and suet cakes or logs.
Squirrel-Repelling Bird Feeders
When it comes to bird feeders, squirrels may be an ongoing issue. They have a bad reputation for breaking into bird feeders and taking the bird food, leaving little for our feathered companions. On the other hand, squirrel-repelling bird feeders are available that are made especially to keep squirrels away from your bird food.
The following three varieties of bird feeders work very well at thwarting these cunning robbers:
Feeders in tubes
Because they are an excellent deterrent to squirrels, tube feeders are a popular option among bird lovers. Usually, these feeders are made with tiny feeding openings that squirrels cannot fit through.
Squirrels are frequently kept from accessing the seed by a metal cage that surrounds the openings. To further discourage squirrels from using the feeder, some tube feeders also have adjustable perches that may be adjusted to only fit smaller birds.
Suet Holders
Another good deterrent to squirrels eating bird food is a suet cage. Birds enjoy suet as a high-energy diet, but squirrels also find it appealing. Suet feeders are typically made with thin wire grids that only let birds access the suet, to keep squirrels away.
Because they are bigger than other animals, squirrels are unable to get through the grids and reach the suet. Another way to make it harder for squirrels to get suet feeders is to hang them high above the ground.
Balance-Based Feeders
A brilliant solution to the squirrel issue is the use of weight-sensitive feeders. The purpose of these feeders is to block access to the bird seed in the event that a squirrel or other big animal gets onto them. The feeder’s mechanism is designed to sense the animal’s weight and shut off the feeding holes.
This allows birds to freely eat while successfully keeping the squirrel from reaching the seed. If you want to discourage squirrels from using your bird feeders, weight-sensitive feeders might be a very worthwhile purchase.
Recall that determining the ideal feeder for your particular squirrel issue may need some trial and error. More persistent squirrels may use a variety of strategies to get at the bird food.
Although no feeder will completely keep squirrels out, these solutions may significantly restrict their access and offer the birds a better opportunity to eat.
There are several alternatives available at www.birdwatchers.com and www.wildbirds.com if you’re interested in buying any of these squirrel-deterrent bird feeders.
Slippery feeder poles and habitat modifications to keep squirrels away
It’s well known that squirrels can climb almost anything and are skilled acrobats. But when it comes to bird feeders, there are methods to outwit these sly felines. Installing slick feeder poles is one efficient way.
The smooth surface of these poles prevents squirrels from gaining traction and climbing up to the feeders. One way to create a slippery surface is to use a metal pole coated in a slippery substance or to add a lubricant like petroleum jelly.
The birds will be able to eat in peace and quiet since squirrels will find it difficult to reach the feeders if the feeder pole is made slick. For the lubricant to be effective, it is crucial to periodically check and reapply it.
Positioning and Aligning Feeders
Squirrels might also be discouraged by the placement and distance between bird feeders. To make it more difficult for squirrels to access the feeders, place them away from overhanging branches or buildings that they may leap from.
Placing feeders at least ten feet away from trees or buildings that squirrels may use as launching pads is ideal.
Establishing a “squirrel-free zone” surrounding the feeders is another useful tactic. A conical device called a squirrel baffle, which may be positioned above or below the feeder to stop squirrels from climbing on top of it, can be used to do this.
It is imperative that the baffle be positioned such that squirrels cannot go around it and reach the feeder.
You can drastically lower the likelihood of squirrels robbing your bird feeders by putting these environmental improvements into practice. To discover the ideal answer for your particular scenario, don’t forget to experiment with alternative strategies and combinations. Cheers to observing birds!
Don’t Add Those Enticeing Extras
Avoid adding any extras to bird food that squirrels won’t consume as these furry robbers may get drawn to it. It’s important to be thoughtful about what you provide the birds since squirrels are known for their abilities to locate and get food sources.
Remain Clear of Nuts and Seeds
It’s better to avoid adding nuts and seeds to your bird food since squirrels have a natural fondness for them. Rather, choose mixes with less-appealing components to squirrels, such as safflower seeds, cracked maize, and millet.
These mixtures nevertheless provide the birds the vital nutrition they need without tempting the squirrels to rob the feeder.
Don’t use fruits or sweeteners.
Fruits and other pleasant tastes can draw squirrels in. It is thus advised to avoid adding sweets to your bird food, such as honey or molasses. Don’t add dried fruits or berries either, since squirrels may find them too tempting.
Use simple, natural items to ward against these cunning animals.
Examine Bitter Substances
You may want to try adding bitter chemicals to your bird feed if you’re having trouble with squirrels. Because squirrels are turned off by bitter flavors, you may dissuade them from coming by adding crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the meal.
This method should be used with caution as some birds can also be sensitive to certain flavors.
Recall that you are looking for a balance that will attract birds while keeping squirrels away. You may trick these sly robbers and make your backyard a bird-friendly space by eschewing enticing add-ins and sticking to components that are less tempting to them.
Squirrel-proof feeders for when all else fails
It’s time to think about getting squirrel-proof feeders if you’ve done everything to keep squirrels away from your bird feeders without luck. To make sure that only birds can access the food, these specialty feeders are designed to thwart these cunning robbers.
How are feeders designed to keep squirrels out?
Squirrels cannot access the bird food in squirrel-proof feeders because of their creative designs and mechanisms. The weight-activated feeder is a popular kind of squirrel-proof feeder. These feeders are made with perches that are limited to holding the weight of birds.
A squirrel’s weight activates a mechanism in the feeder that shuts off access to the food when it attempts to open.
Cage feeders are yet another kind of squirrel-proof feeder. Smaller birds may reach the meal in these feeders because they are contained in a wire mesh cage, which also keeps bigger squirrels out. Additionally, squirrels cannot reach through the cage’s construction to take food.
Why squirrel-proof feeders are beneficial
There are several advantages to using squirrel-proof feeders:
Protection for bird feed: You may be confident that the bird feed you put out is only used by the proper birds by using squirrel-proof feeders. This keeps the birds well-fed and helps attract a broad range of bird species to your yard.
Durability: Metal and sturdy plastic are common materials used in the construction of squirrel-proof feeders. These feeders are designed to last a long time since they can resist the power and tenacity of squirrels.
Entertainment: It’s always entertaining to watch squirrels try to figure out how to get past feeders designed to keep them out. Observing their nimble movements and astute tactics while vying for the food may be really entertaining.
Squirrel-proof feeder selection advice
Take into account the following elements while choosing a squirrel-proof feeder:
Design: Seek feeders with creative patterns that have been shown to successfully discourage squirrels. As previously noted, weigh-activated feeders or cage feeders come to mind.
Construction: Select feeders with materials that are strong enough to resist squirrel efforts to eat them down or destroy them, such metal or premium plastic.
Capacity: Take into account the feeder’s size and the quantity of bird food it can accommodate. When choosing feeders, go for bigger ones if a lot of birds frequent your yard.
Cleanliness: Seek feeders that are simple to construct and maintain. Frequent cleaning contributes to the feeder’s hygienic and healthful upkeep, guaranteeing that the birds have access to wholesome sustenance.
Recall that while squirrels are renowned for their tenacity, no feeder can provide complete squirrelproofing. However, purchasing squirrel-proof feeders greatly lowers the likelihood that squirrels will take bird food, allowing you to peacefully observe the beauty of birds in your yard.
Final Thoughts
Although squirrels are quite cunning when it comes to thieving from bird feeders, you may outwit them with the correct tactics and solutions. Squirrels are discouraged but birds are welcomed when less-palatable food is offered in clever feeder devices strategically positioned.
You may now enjoy watching birds eat as squirrels hunt other sources of sustenance using a variety of specialized tactics. A few little adjustments turn bird feeding from a free-for-all into a nourishing natural experience that benefits both local and migratory birds.
