How to Squirrel Proof Your Bird Feeders

One of the main challenges that many homeowners who have bird feeders on their property have, is to find a way to squirrel-proof them. Squirrel-proofing bird feeders are necessary for those persons with birds as pets or have a feeder for birds to use as they like. This is because squirrels are notorious for attacking bird feeders in search of food. Squirrels generally like most of the food that is left out for birds to consume.

Many homeowners with bird feeders find themselves during the winter months in a battle with squirrels fighting over the food in the bird feeder. Squirrels are well known for being very persistent in attaining their goal. They are always ready to take on any device and any design in their quest for food. They will do anything to get at the food in the bird feeder, from climbing up on limbs of trees, poles, and fences to housetops.

Here are some tips on how to squirrel proof your bird feeders.

One of the simplest ways to squirrel proof bird feeders is to prevent squirrels from getting into the feeders. There are two basic ways to do this. First you can place the feeders in a location where the squirrel cannot get to it. The other way is to use a bird feeder which is designed in a manner that prevents access by squirrels, wherever in the yard it is placed.

This is why some feeders have large plastic domes on top. This design makes it difficult for squirrels to get into the feeder and they usually end up giving up and moving on. There are also other feeders that have complex designs, are more expensive, and more sophisticated that stop squirrels from gaining access by employing a mechanical principle. They use a counterbalance that will shut the opening if an animal that has a similar weight as a squirrel tries to get at the food. Some newer devices have an external cage that is too small for a squirrel to get in but small birds can.

Another solution is to employ a homemade system. Here a feeder will be suspended via a horizontal wire that is fitted with baffles. A baffle is designed in such a way that it prevents squirrels jumping or climbing a pole to get to the feeder from the floor of the yard. One simple design uses an empty one litre soda bottle. Here the line is run through the bottle and strung so that it is rotating without hindrance along the line, the squirrel is unable to get past it and is frequently dumped on the ground trying to do so. If you use a couple of them around the feeder then most squirrels will not get to the food in the bird feeder.

One other approach that may be simple to do is to make the food in the bird feeder unappetizing to the squirrel. You can consider using foods such as Suet cakes and white millet seeds as these are not deemed worthy by squirrels, of their efforts.

These are just some of the approaches you can take to squirrel proof bird feeders, and there are many other methods available for you to use.