By turning a pole into a one-way street, you can divert rodent traffic away from feeders, bird houses and more. These bullet-shaped baffles can turn any trafficked pole into a dead-end tunnel for scavenging squirrels. Torpedo baffles also keep squirrels away from bird feeders. By creating a conical, unstable separation between the pole and the bird feeder, wrap-around baffles deter squirrels from stealing bird seed. Here are the three most popular:Ī wrap-around squirrel baffle is great for keeping squirrels away from bird feeders. You can buy a baffle in a variety of different shapes and sizes, so look for one that meets your needs. Any baffle that you believe could put a squirrel in harm's way should not be used.) (An important note: baffles are meant to discourage and redirect squirrels, not harm them. Baffles are also a protective shield, helping preserve bird seed from the elements. Here's how they work: Once installed, they literally baffle the squirrel with their slippery, no-grip surface. Squirrel baffles are wobbly pieces of metal that are affixed to the top of bird feeders and bird houses.

Our recommendation? This classic red and white suet feeder. Visit your local hardware store to find out what type of wire is best for the climate you live in.īecause you're using wire to create a squirrel proof bird feeder, you'll get the added bonus of being able to select any bird feeder you wish. What kind of wire should you use to hang a bird feeder? You can use whatever you wish, as long as it's durable and safe. If you can suspend bird feeders at least nine or ten feet from a pole and at least five feet above ground, you should keep squirrels away. Squirrels are too big to walk on vertically-positioned wire, so they'll have to jump up and down it instead. Still trying to wrap your brain around our previous suggestion? Well, wire is your answer. Can you really identify a good place (that's high enough and distant enough) for a bird feeder that a squirrel can't access? If not, keep reading. On power lines, on roofs, jumping from tree to tree. Think about all the places you see squirrels in your neighborhood. This rule, though, is more appealing in theory than in practice. If you can find a safe space to hang a bird feeder that checks all the boxes of the 5-7-9 rule, you may have some success keeping squirrels from reaching your bird feeder. And they will not jump down more than 9 feet from above. They will not jump more than 7 feet across. So, here's the scoop: In general, a squirrel will not jump more than 5 feet up off the ground. Unless you're dealing with a flying squirrel infestation, in which case, yikes! This tip is all about keeping bird feeders high enough (and distant enough) to keep squirrels off every feeder pole and bird feeder in your yard. Out of interest, our top selling bird feeders include:īirds (including hummingbirds) have wings. We've rounded up thirteen tried-and-true methods to prevent squirrels from eating out of your bird feeders. If you've been looking for actionable, tested tips and tricks to help keep squirrels away, you're in luck. You also may be interested who to keep sparrows out of your birdhouse. Whether squirrels broke into your bird feeders the day you installed them or months down the line, you're probably looking for a safe, ethical way to keep them at bay. How long until your bird feeder turned into a neighborhood bistro for every squirrel in town? A day? A week? A month? When you bought your first bird feeder, you probably filled it to the brim with sunflower seeds, hung it from your favorite tree and got on with your day. (But if you did, we love that! Send us pics!) Agh! Squirrels! While these cute little creatures aren't exactly evil, you probably didn't spend hundreds of dollars on bird houses, bird feeders and bird baths to create a squirrel sanctuary.

Diy bird feeder poles