When Squirrel-proof won’t cut it.
You may be asking yourself, “Am I having deja-vu?”. The answer is no, the squirrels are back again and this time they’ve eaten not only your feed but your feeders, too. Have we reached the breaking point? Yes, I think we have. Sure, there are squirrel-proof feeders, baffles and guards to keep the rodents from accessing the feed, but squirrels are relentless. Here’s how to lose a squirrel in 5 ways.
Isolate Your Feeders.
To avoid squirrels using trees, railings or other items to launch themselves onto your feeders, isolate them away from branches or decks. DO NOT hang your feeder from a tree branch – you’re advertising for an all-you-can-eat squirrel buffet. Squirrels can leap nearly 10 feet so consider this when placing your feeders.
Can’t Beat’Em? Feed ‘Em.
I understand this may feel as if you are waving the white flag or bowing down to your squirrel friends, however, this is no defeat. Divert the squirrel’s attention from your bird feeders by placing a squirrel feeder in the distance with peanuts or specialized squirrel feed.
It’s Safflower Hour.
Instead of sunflower seed or your current feed, try safflower seed. Safflower seed is popular with Cardinals, Finches, Chickadees, Doves and more. However, the fur-nuisances don’t care much for Safflower seed and therefore should pay less attention to your feeder.
Flip ’em, dip ’em or tip ’em.
Ensure your feed is untouched by getting a bird feeder that allows birds to snack but keeps squirrels out. 3 excellent choices are the Droll Yankee Squirrel-proof Series: the Flipper, the Dipper and the Tipper. These feeders are equipped with weight-sensitive feeding trays to flip, dip or tip the pesky squirrels off of your feeder.
Keep the Scene Clean.
Clean up and remove any debris or spilled, leftover seed that can be found under the feeder. This will help prevent the squirrels from stumbling upon your feeders and also keep ground-feeding birds from eating the old, possibly spoiled seed.