This is a good way to encourage squirrels to bite you. Squirrel feeders may also make squirrels too unafraid of humans if you spend time near your squirrel feeder, or worse, try to feed squirrels by hand.
When squirrels learn of a food source, they keep coming back expecting food and will go after it if they cannot find it easily. Squirrel feeders may seem like a good way to keep squirrels away from your bird feeders.īut they’ll only attract squirrels to your yard and make them more aggressive. These spinners are questionable in terms of ethics and are battery-powered, and therefore need battery replacements every so often to be effective. They work by rotating the perch on the feeder when a heavy animal like a squirrel climbs onto it, sending them flying off dizzy and deterred. Squirrel spinners are generally a bad way to deter squirrels. Having greased-up feathers also makes it harder for birds to fly, which impacts all kinds of functions. This grease, in turn, makes them more vulnerable to predators, and it can cause illness. Never use grease, oil, or petroleum jelly to deter squirrels.Īpplying grease to the pole leaves both squirrels and birds vulnerable to getting grease stuck in their fur or feathers. Read on to learn about the worst ways to keep a squirrel off your feeder.
There are many myths about good ways to keep squirrels off a bird feeder, and unfortunately, some of them are ineffective and even dangerous. This method is humane because it causes squirrels to slide down the feeder pole, but it doesn’t hurt them or use dangerous chemicals. PVC pipes are also harder for squirrels to climb, although many birders find them less aesthetically appealing than copper or metal. Copper Poles or PVCĬopper poles are harder for squirrels to climb than other metal or wood pipes. It just keeps them from getting too close. This method is effective and humane because it doesn’t negatively impact the squirrels. Squirrels and other rodents are repelled by the scent of Irish Soap.Īn easy way to keep them away from your feeder pole is to hang a sock with Irish Soap in it nearby. Simply attach the slinky to the top of the pole and let it hang down.Īnd squirrels will be unable to climb the pole due to the natural elasticity of the slinky and the physical barrier it provides.įor a demonstration of how this works, see the following video: Slinkies are also effective for deterring squirrels. This Wrap-Around Baffle from Woodlink sold on Amazon is especially convenient, made from durable steel but pliable enough to wrap around most poles. This particular baffle is made to be long-lasting and is UV protected.Ĭone baffles may either attach with screws or wrap around the pole and then attach to themselves.
There are two kinds of squirrel baffles that you can buy: cylinder baffles and cone baffles.Ĭylinder baffles like the Squirrel Defeater from Songbird Essentials on Amazon usually attach to the pole with nails or screws. It wraps around the pole and physically blocks squirrels from climbing up to the feeder. Often the best way to deter squirrels, a baffle sits above or below the feeder (usually below, for a shepherd’s hook feeder). Other methods, like grease or oil, should be avoided for health and safety reasons. Most of them are based on the idea of providing a physical barrier. There are a few different methods you can use to keep squirrels off your shepherd’s hook pole. Ways to Keep Squirrels Off a Shepherd’s Hook Pole Ways to Keep Squirrels Off a Shepherd’s Hook Pole.
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