Birding & Feeders

Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeding: Strategies That Actually Help

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Squirrels are clever, persistent, and great jumpers. No single trick stops every squirrel, but combining a few makes a big difference.

Get placement right first

Squirrels can leap roughly 10 feet sideways and drop from above, so put pole-mounted feeders well away from trees, fences, roofs, and decks.
Mount the feeder so its bottom is at least 4–5 feet off the ground.

Add a baffle

A cone or cylinder (torpedo) baffle on the pole below the feeder blocks climbing. A dome baffle above a hanging feeder stops squirrels coming down from a branch. Pole baffles · Hanging dome baffles

Choose a squirrel-resistant feeder

Weight-activated feeders close the ports when something heavy grabs the perch. See weight-activated feeders
Caged feeders let small birds in but keep squirrels (and big birds) out. See caged tube feeders
Metal ports and lids resist chewing better than plastic.

Change the menu

Safflower seed is eaten by cardinals, chickadees, and titmice, but many squirrels avoid it.
Nyjer in a finch feeder rarely interests squirrels.
Hot-pepper (capsaicin) treated seed and suet deter mammals; birds can't taste the heat.

Or feed them separately

Some people put out corn far from the bird feeders to keep squirrels busy. Just avoid attracting rats by cleaning up spills.