PROTECTING BIRDS

Making Your Feeder Squirrel Resistant

Reaching Feeders

The squirrel… acrobatic, persistent and a menace to bird feeders everywhere! Making sure your bird feeder is squirrel resistant will ensure a great bird viewing season. Squirrels can jump several feet to reach a feeder, so the first step is making sure you place your feeders away from all “launching” points, including trees, houses, laundry lines, and telephone and cable wires.

If you are hanging your feeder from a tree branch, try and locate it at least twelve feet from any tree trunk or limb and at least four feet up from the ground. This will prevent squirrels from either jumping from the tree or up from the ground onto the feeder.

If you are hanging the feeder off a line, make sure the length of line is at least 8' long with the feeder suspended at least four feet above the ground or snow. Use monofilament fishing wire or piano wire to hang the feeder.

If you choose to pole mount your feeder; make sure the pole is at least 5 1/2 feet in length. This will allow you to place the pole approximately one foot into the ground and still keep the bottom of the feeder four feet off the ground. You may also want to add a squirrel baffle.

Squirrel Baffles

A squirrel baffle - a clear or colored dome - is a good start to deterring squirrels from reaching your feeders.

The sloped, slick surface gives the squirrel nothing to cling to and he will often slide right off.

Baffles can either be placed above your feeder or below your feeder on the mounting pole.

Special Feeders

Another option is a squirrel resistant feeder. Our line of Squirrel-Be-Gone feeders use spring-loaded, weight sensitive technology that shuts off access to feeding ports when a squirrel jumps onto the feeder.

Additionally, a feeder that is surrounded by a metal, chew-resistant cage can keep squirrels from feasting on the seed.

Other Ideas

Another excellent idea for combating the little critters is to use a squirrel repellent which repulses squirrels but will not deter birds from the feeders. These are usually available in granular, spray or concentrate formulas. Since birds do not have a sense of smell, the repellent will not dissuade them from using the feeder.

Finally, you can try “making friends” with the squirrels by offering them their own treats, such as peanuts, cracked corn, dried corncobs, in an area that is out of the way of your bird feeders.

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