Many people receive joy from feeding the birds that fly about their yards. They may even love it so much that they invest in bird feeders to place around their yard, hoping to catch rare sightings of the warbler. The problem with installing feeders is they attract other critters, particularly squirrels. Squirrels are the acrobats of the animal kingdom and try as you might, they always seem to find ways into your bird feeders. That said, if you are interested in how to keep squirrels out of bird feeder, there are ways. 

Keeping Squirrels Out of the Bird Feeder

Squirrels are determined and clever animals, especially with food. As foragers, they constantly search for their next meal and meal stockpile. Bird feeders provide a feast with easy access.

Homeowners have options. One of the most effective solutions is to stop feeding the birds, temporarily at least. If you notice an increase in squirrel traffic, try eliminating the bird feeder until the animals find another place to eat. You can try putting the feeders back out when the squirrels stop checking your yard for food.

Most people don’t like the idea of removing their feeders. Thankfully, homeowners still have a few options to squirrel-proof their yards.

1. Buy a Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder

A squirrel-proof bird feeder can help deter the animal. The feeders use a cone-shaped or circular baffle around the top and bottom of the feeder. The baffle can provide enough of an obstacle to prevent most squirrels from gaining access to bird food.

For squirrel-proof bird feeders to be effective, you need to install them correctly. Do not install the feeder near a tree or any other easily climbable structure. Squirrels can use the structures as a bridge or jump-off point to access the feeder.

Squirrel-proof feeders can help prevent most squirrel food thieves, but not all. Usually, if a squirrel is determined enough, it will find a way.

2. Create Obstacles

Sometimes the best method for keeping squirrels away from bird feeders is to make their journey as challenging as possible. Install obstacles that force the squirrels to use more energy. If the animal finds the path to the food is not worth the reward, they may ignore it for an easier meal someplace else.

You can install extra baffles or attach a slinky to the feeder pole. The slinky will make the squirrel’s climb more difficult. If you hang feeders from clotheslines or wires strung between two trees, try attaching empty water bottles or thread spools, anything to make the trip to the feeder more of a challenge.

3. Use Foods Squirrels Don’t Like

Many homeowners assume squirrels eat everything birds eat, but that’s not true. Squirrels don’t like safflower seed, white proso millet, or nyjer seed. If you use these foods in your feeder, squirrels will likely search elsewhere for their next meal.

4. Clean Under Feeders Regularly

Birds are not the neatest eaters on the planet. They will create a mess around the feeder base as they find their preferred seeds and eat what they can. Some feeders come with seed catchers, but even those will not catch everything. If a lot of seed falls and stays on the ground, it will attract wildlife, including squirrels and rats, and motivate them to get to the food source. To prevent such motivation, you must clean up excess seeds regularly.

Hiring a Qualified Wildlife Control Service

When you need squirrel removal in Surrey, working with humane wildlife control services is vital. Squirrels are not eating your bird seed to be pests; they are only trying to survive. Squirrels are constantly searching for a secure place to call home. They look for places that provide them with protection from predators, as well as a safe place to store their food.  Squirrels are resourceful rodents and will take advantage of any available space to build their home even your house. 

Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to schedule a property assessment to find any vulnerable areas that wildlife may find to get into your home. Our highly trained technicians will ensure that your home is protected and remove any wildlife in a quick and safe manner.