Controlling Squirrels at feeders

19 years ago

If anyone one is having problems with squirrels at birdfeeders - I have found away to control them from emptying a feeder in one day - I use bricks - I lay the bricks flat - one on each side of the feeder - this way the birds have enough room to fly in and grab seed but the squirrels don't - A smart squirrel can figure out how to get a few seeds but will eventually leave because the energy required to get the seed is more than the squirrel has to waste. A full feeder will now last almost a week. My Squirrel problem has disappeared.

Cheers

Jeff

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Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
19 years ago
What kind of feeder are you talking about, Jeff? I can't picture this without knowing the style of feeder, and how you mount (or hang) it.
lovefornature
19 years ago
I am wondering the same thing. He must be talking about some kind of ground feeder.
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nyssaman
Original Author
19 years ago
I am referring to your typical wooden hopper feeder - the ones that look like little houses - I have a pole mounted one that I purchased from wildbirds unlimited - It has the lid that flips up and you pour the seed in - Sorry I should have clarified that. What I do is on the feeding ledge I lay a brick flat on each side - my feeder is probably 14 inches wide so it leaves like an inch and a half on each side of the brick that the birds can get seed - the squirrels on the other hand don't have enough room to get there little noses in to get the seeds.
lovefornature
19 years ago
Ahh, OK. I also have a WBU pole with crooks and such. Do the squirrels climb up the pole, do they jump from a tree?

WBU has a squirrel baffle that can work with your station if they can reach the feeder (by jumping) from the ground. They have extension poles you can add to heighten your pole station also. This would help if climbing or jumping up was the problem.

If they are coming from a tree, I would suggest a large baffle for over your hopper feeder.

Your idea seems to be a great one. But those bricks are probably awful heavy for your pole station.

Always nice to hear new inventive ideas!!!!
laurabs
19 years ago
We have a triple tube feeder hanging from an iron crook type pole. It has 2 baffles to deter the squirrels. In addition I greased the iron pole. I put food on the ground to keep the squirrels from thinking too much about the bird feeder.

Yesterday I saw a blue jay hanging around. The other birds were telling him to stay away, but he looked a bit bedraggled so I put out a bunch of raw peanuts for him in a bowl.

I don't know if the blue jay got any, but I had 3 exhausted looking squirrels and an empty bowl when I checked back an hour later. Here it was 100 degrees out, and I had given them this chore. One of the squirrels was actually wading in the bird bath, soaking his tummy in the fresh cool water, his little sides just heaving.

Durn squirrels.