Squirrel Proofing

Let's face it. If you have squirrels in your area, chances are they will assume EVERYTHING you put out is for them. They don't know the difference between your bird feeder and the squirrel feeder you want them to use. Bottom line is they will choose to feed where their favorite food is or on the feeder that is most comfortable for their chubby little butts!! Squirrels can be cute and fun to watch until they dominate or even destroy one of your bird feeders! Don't despair and don't lose sleep over these tree rats! Here's some tips on living with these mischievous critters.

The best thing to remember is a well fed squirrel is a happy squirrel. Squirrels can eat their own body weight (approximately 1.5 pounds) every week. The best way to keep your squirrels OFF your bird feeder is to give them their own feeding station. Research has shown that squirrels are very territorial. When fed continuously away from your bird feeders, they will mark the area as their own and protect it from other squirrels entering the area.

You can beat squirrels at their own game, but you need to know a few things about them. Squirrels can jump up to 20 feet. They have long, muscular hind legs and short front legs that work together to aid in leaping. A squirrel can fall more than one hundred feet without hurting itself. A squirrel can use its tail for balancing as it leaps from branch to branch. It can also use its tail as a blanket to wrap around itself in cold weather, as a protection when fighting and as a form of parachute if it falls from a high tree. Squirrels are problem solvers. You may think you have them beat, but they will work on beating you! Keep in mind you may have to adjust things a little in the beginning. It may take several attempts at getting it right so don't despair at first!

If you want to keep them off of your existing feeders, you HAVE TO GET THEM OUT OF THEIR REACH! We know this is easier said then done, but you have to make sure they cannot climb, jump or hop onto your feeders in anyway. We always suggest putting 10 feet of air around your feeder. Make sure the feeder is at least 10 feet away from any tree, bush, fence, surface, etc.

If placing a feeder out of their reach is not possible, you can always resort to a squirrel proof feeder. There are many simple and elaborate squirrel proof feeders available to foil these fury bandits. The best ones we've seen have a cage protecting the feeder from squirrels, but still allow the smaller birds to feed. If that's not enough, we have other squirrel proof bird feeders that are designed to keep squirrels off based on their weight.

Picture of Backyard Squirrel

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A Happy Squirrel is a well fed squirrel!

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