![]() Sprinkling some on your bird food or mixing it with a bird blend can be an effective way to squirrel-proof a bird feeder. The heat of peppers doesn’t bother birds, but squirrels are very sensitive to it. Hot pepper, particularly cayenne pepper and chilli peppers, contains a compound called capsaicin. But why is this the case? Capsaicin to the Rescue The hot pepper method is a popular solution endorsed by many bird nerds and wildlife authorities. You can also add extras to your poles, like thread spools or discs, to further deter these pesky squirrels. Squirrel-proof bird feeder poles typically have a slick surface that squirrels find hard to climb. A variety of baffles, like dome-shaped or cylindrical shields, can also be placed on or above the bird feeder to block a squirrel’s path. Make sure your bird feeder pole is at least 10 feet away from the nearest trees or fences to prevent squirrels from leaping onto it. Positioning is vital in setting up your bird feeding station. These include using a variety of baffles and bird feeder poles that can be made squirrel-proof. Putting up physical barriers is another way to keep squirrels from reaching your bird feeder. By incorporating these into your birdseed blend, you can make the bird feeder less attractive to squirrels whilst still providing a reliable food source for your favourite birds. For example, squirrels are not particularly fond of nyjer seeds and safflower seeds. Open wounds from ripped skin and fur can fester and lead to blood poisoning, other infections, and death.Different seeds have different appeal to birds and squirrels. Many types contain toxins, so see above, and they can cause harm and injury to themselves when they trying to come unstuck. Never use glues or any other type of adhesive on poles or mounts. Poison is only fit for Shakespearean tragedies. You or your children, or your pets, may also run afoul. Not only is this an horrific thing to do to a living creature, the risk of that poison then entering the environment and wreaking further death and damage down the line is too ugly to contemplate. Like the birds, they are also wild animals looking for their next meal. Squirrels comprise a vital part of every ecosystem like all living things and deserve the respect and compassion you reserve for species you favour. Whatever your view of the Sciuridae, you should never resort to violence, passive or not. For good bird health, remember to clean your feeders anyway regularly using a 1:10 mild bleach solution, making sure it is completely bone dry before filling it up again. This is known as the 5-7-9 rule in birding circles.Īlso, as above with the no-waste seeds, if you do use husked seeds then always incorporate some kind of tray to collect dropped husks, and sweep up daily beneath the feeders. Like birds, we know that squirrels love sunflowers, but they do not like safflower, nyjer, or white millet, which many types of songbirds’ love, so adding some of this among your regular seeds and corn can put them off. In that case, there are ways to try and make the food itself less attractive. Sometimes you just have no choice where you put the feeder. Let’s face it, though, you either don’t have that much room anyway or your particular squirrels have spent a few years at Cirque du Soleil up in the flyers. ![]() Placing “ spinners ” like PVC piping or plastic bottles with both ends cut off around the wire can help them lose their grip. ![]() Suspending a feeder using very thin metal or piano wire can be very effective, or hang the feeder using two wires horizontally between two trees, remembering to keep those 7 feet of distance from each end. ![]() If you have this sort of space, placing your feeder outside of those parameters usually solves your issue right away. ![]()
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