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How do I keep squirrels off my bird feeder?
Read on for some tips on keeping those rascals away from your backyard bird feeders. Offer foods squirrels don’t like. Place bird feeders away from trees. Get a squirrel-proof feeder pole. Buy a baffle. Attach a slinky to your feeder pole. Get a squirrel-proof feeder. Use seed laced with hot peppers.
How do I stop squirrels from climbing my bird feeder pole?
If the feeder is hung from a washing line, thread the line through a length of hosepipe or a plastic drinks bottle on each side. Use a downward-opening cone or a biscuit tin fixed to the pole below a bird table to prevent squirrels climbing up it. Vaseline or other grease on a smooth pole will also help.
Will Vaseline keep squirrels off bird feeder?
The Center for Wildlife says there are many ways to deter squirrels from climbing feeders, however, Vaseline and other lubricants can harm the animals. “Please do not coat your bird feeders in Vaseline, oil, butter, or anything like that.
What smells keep squirrels away from bird feeders?
Squirrels hate the smell of certain spices, such as garlic, onions, peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, and clove. You can use these to make sprays by mixing the ground spice with water, allowing it to cool, and putting the blend into a spray bottle. You can also use essential oils with these scents.
Is there really a squirrel proof bird feeder?
The best overall squirrel-proof bird feeder is the Droll Yankees Yankee Flipper Motorized Squirrel Proof Feeder (view at Amazon). The sleek design, seed capacity, and rechargeable battery-powered motor to send squirrels flying make it a winner for any backyard.
Will cayenne pepper keep squirrels away from bird feeders?
Spicy Seed: Mammals, including squirrels, are sensitive to the perceived heat of pepper, but birds are not. Adding cayenne pepper or similar spices to birdseed can deter squirrels, but it can wash off and must be used consistently for the best effects.
Does aluminum foil deter squirrels?
A layer of aluminum foil is all the squirrel repellent you need on potted plants. For whatever reason, they don’t like the stuff. As a backyard gardener, I had a problem this spring with varmints digging up my potted tomatoes and sweet peppers.
How do I keep squirrels from climbing my bird feeder pole Slinky?
Use a slinky You can buy a slinky in any store near you. Then, insert that in the bird feeder pole, attach it at the very top, and then just let it fall. When a squirrel attempts to climb up the bird feeder pole with a slinky, it will just be brought back down to the ground.
How do I keep squirrels off my bird feeder Slinky?
A Slinky is another quick and inexpensive solution to stopping the squirrel menace. All it requires is attaching the Slinky to the top of the bird feeder pole and letting it hang down to the ground. When squirrels try to jump on the pole or climb it, the Slinky simply dumps them back to the ground.
How do you keep squirrels and chipmunks out of bird feeders?
Keeping Chipmunks Away From Bird Feeders Use thin, metal poles to mount feeders. Use tight-fitting baffles above and below feeders. Use nets, platforms, or trays to catch spilled seed so it doesn’t fall to the ground where chipmunks will more easily feed. Trim under shrubs and bushes to expose chipmunk burrows.
How do I keep squirrels off my shepherds hook?
The best way to keep squirrels and raccoons off feeders is to use a pole or shepherds hook with pole baffles installed or hanging baffles installed above the feeder. We DO NOT recommend adding grease, oil or petroleum jelly to a pole or hanger to make it too slippery for squirrels and raccoons to climb.
What is a deterrent for squirrels?
Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use food sources and shelter. You can repel squirrels using scents they hate such as, capsaicin, white vinegar, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, cinnamon, predator urine, garlic, dryer sheets, Irish Spring Soap, and rosemary.
Will Irish Spring soap keep squirrels away?
Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden They chomp on flower bulbs and other leaves, dig up your favorite plants, and otherwise love to wreck your garden. Protect it by grating some Irish Spring soap around your plants. Squirrels can’t stand the smell of it and will stay away.
How do you keep squirrels away naturally?
Strong smells are a great way to repel squirrels – certain odors make squirrels wrinkle their noses. They’re said to dislike the scent of coffee grounds and peppermint, or you could make up your own recipe with vinegar, garlic and onions or peppermint oil to spray in the garden.
How do you deter squirrels?
How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden Hide or relocate their food. Be diligent about cleaning up fallen nuts, acorns and berries. Get a dog. Most dogs love to chase squirrels. Turn up their noses. Surprise them. Employ natural predators. Create a barrier. Use companion plants. Cover the ground.
Does cayenne pepper hurt birds?
Hot stuff: The active ingredient in hot peppers, capsaicin, can be found as an additive in some birdseed. Birds don’t react to capsaicin the way mammals do so it does them no harm.
