Let’s face it – squirrels are cute. With their bushy tails, tree climbing acrobatics, and generally squirrelly antics, they are fun to watch. Asked to name their favorite rodent, most people, or at least those willing to admit to having a favorite rodent, would probably name the squirrel, with the chipmunk coming in second, except at Christmas, when the chipmunk jumps to the top. That gopher in Caddyshack was cute too, but puppets don’t count.
People who attract birds to the yard by placing bird feeders often have a different opinion of squirrels, and it isn’t a good one. No matter how plentiful the natural food supply is, squirrels will always seem to find their way to the feeders. Then they camp on the feeder, eating all of the seeds and keeping the birds from getting any. If they can’t get the seeds easily enough, they are not above gnawing on the feeder until it is damaged or ruined. Many a feeder has fallen victim to a squirrel’s teeth.
Bird enthusiasts frequently find themselves in a battle of wits and wills with a clever and committed opponent that is determined to get that birdseed one way or another. A sizable segment of the bird feeding business is devoted to protecting bird feeders from squirrels, and people who feed birds are always coming up with new and innovative ways to keep the squirrels away from the seed. Some of them even work.
Placing the feeder where the squirrels will have trouble reaching it is a first step. Most feeders either hang from a branch or some other support, or are mounted on a pole. Pole mounted feeders should be at least five feet off the ground to be out of jumping range, although most squirrels can climb right up the pole. Baffles come in a variety of shapes and sizes – long tubular or wide cone-shaped devices that fasten to the pole to block the path to the feeder – and they work pretty well. We know of people who apply vegetable oil to the pole to make it too slippery to climb. Pole mounted feeders should also be placed at least ten feet from any building or tree that could provide a launching pad for a horizontal leap.
Baffles can also be used to keep squirrels off of hanging feeders. Placing the baffle on the wire above the feeder will prevent the squirrels from sliding down the wire onto the feeder.
Squirrel-proof birdfeeders have become popular in recent years, and they work in a variety of ways. The easiest to find and most used is a green metal feeder that closes off access to the seeds when a squirrel gets on it. Squirrels cannot chew their way in and soon become frustrated and look elsewhere for food. There is an assortment of feeders that utilize a metal cage around the seed compartment, allowing the birds to reach in to get the seeds while preventing the squirrels from getting to them. The MandarinÔ feeders are made of a thick clear acrylic, and have a built in baffle for a roof. These are large feeders that hold 7-10 pounds of seed, and try as they might, the squirrels can’t get to it.
One company makes a feeder with a perch that spins when the weight of a squirrel is on it, tossing the squirrel off. And finally, it must have been someone with a serious grudge who invented a battery powered metal feeder that gives a squirrel an electric shock when it touches the feeder.
Some people offer safflower seeds because squirrels are not supposed to like them, and will not bother with them. Our personal experience suggests that the birds aren’t that crazy about them either, and since the point is to attract the most birds, we continue to offer the seeds that the birds like most, and battle the squirrels in other ways. Another seed mix is sold as a squirrel-proof bird food. This mixture is coated with cayenne pepper, which burns the squirrel’s mouth. It is said that birds are not affected by the pepper and eat the seed without any problems, while the squirrels avoid it.
Some people try stretching a wire or rope between two trees, or between a corner of the house and a tree, and hanging the feeders from the wire, in the hope that the squirrels will not be able to reach them. Fat chance. Without baffles, they just hang upside down and climb along the wire to the feeder, then sit on it and eat all of the seed. Some people try to make their own baffles for the wire using things like PVC pipe and empty soda bottles. PVC pipe probably just makes it easier for the squirrels to reach the feeders. Two or three liter soda bottles can work for awhile, but a clever and persistent squirrel will probably get past them eventually. And real baffles don’t cost that much.
A lot of people like having the squirrels around as long as they stay away from the feeders, and try to distract them by giving them their own food source. Special feeders are available that can be placed where the squirrels can easily find them. One type has a hinged top that the squirrels have to lift to get the food. Squirrel food is a mix of dried corn, sunflower seeds and peanuts, and is available in many stores. Also available are ears of dried corn that can be placed out for squirrels. Feeders designed to hold the corn have a large spike on which the cob can be impaled. Peanuts in the shell can be tossed on the ground to keep the squirrels busy, but if there are bluejays in the yard, they will probably get them first.
Love them or hate them, if you like to feed the birds, squirrels are a factor to be reckoned with, and there will soon be a lot more of them as the first litters leave the nest.
