SQUIRRELS
When you look out into your yard, along with your favourite birds, there may be a variety of other wildlife present. Squirrels are among one of the common backyard visitors that could likely be sighted in your surroundings. Keep in mind that having any source of food out will attract wildlife in general.
Squirrels play a crucial role in our environment. They are responsible for seed dispersal and end up planting millions of trees yearly, unknowingly becoming advocates in sustaining our ecosystems. Additionally, they are food sources for other mammals like foxes and other larger birds of prey such as hawks. As frustrating as squirrels may be at your backyard bird feeding station, they are important to have around.
So, how do you combat the squirrels at your bird feeders? We have a number of safe solution suggestions for you!
Location: The placement of your feeder is something to consider when you are trying to keep squirrels off. Squirrels have a jumping distance of approximately 10 feet and they have a jumping height of about 4.5-5 feet. If you can place a free standing pole somewhere in your yard with a 10-foot radius from launch points (deck ledges, roof ledges, tree branches, etc.) then you will have better luck with keeping squirrels from being able to jump from above or the side onto your bird feeders.
The location, in combination with the use of a bottom baffle to keep squirrels from being able to jump onto the pole, will be an effective method of keeping both squirrels and other rodents off of the feeders (this includes rats, mice, voles, and chipmunks). Using a properly designed baffle is key, as they are accurately sized with proportions to successfully stop squirrels from getting past the cone or bell shaped device. Placing a baffle at least 4.5-5ft high is required in order for it to be the most effective. Please refer to the photo below for feeder placement and to avoid any squirrels having access. Click here to browse our Advanced Pole System options.
If you cannot possibly find an area in your yard to place the feeder at least 10 feet away from launching points, then you can also add a hanging baffle on top of your feeder station to block any squirrels descending from above onto your feeders. A baffle from both the top and the bottom access points of the feeder would be the next best option if the space in your yard is limited from being able to place a free standing pole in a strategic location.
Be mindful that if there is a deck ledge nearby (ten feet or closer), squirrels will be able to make their way over by jumping sideways to the feeder and bypassing the other obstacles. Our local wildlife have the impressive ability to adapt, but there is always a way to co-exist in peace and harmony.
If location and baffles are not helping with squirrel problems, you can turn to specific kinds of food.
Hot Pepper: Capsaicin is the chemical component in hot peppers that gives them their spicy flavour. We, as mammals, have the pain receptors that cause our tissue to react to the spicy food. Squirrels, mice, voles, rats, raccoons, and even bears, all have the same "pain response". When these mammals try the hot pepper food, they will tend to dislike the intense heat and learn to leave the food alone. Birds do not have these nerve receptors, ultimately being unbothered by the taste.
We carry a variety of different hot pepper foods, including loose seed, seed blends, suet, and other specialty food treated with capsaicin. See below for a selection of the products we offer at WBU Belleville. Click on the product title for further information on each item.⇓
Sunfire® Chips
Fiery Feast®
Hot Pepper No-Mess Seed Cylinder
Hot Pepper Cranberry Cylinder
Hot Pepper SuperSuet® No-Melt Cylinder
Hot Pepper SuperSuet® Cake
Hot Pepper SuperSuet® No-Melt Cake
Hot Pepper Cranberry Cake
Hot Pepper Bark Butter Brick®
Hot Pepper Bark Butter®
Hot Pepper Bark Butter Bits®
Blaze the Hot Pepper Squirrel Seed Cylinder
Hot Pepper No-Melt Suet Stackable®
Hot Pepper No-Mess Stackable®
Hot Pepper Cranberry Stackable®
Hot Pepper Cranberry Bell
Safflower: Alternatively, there is a specific type of food that can assist in combatting squirrels that are helping themselves at your bird feeding station. This bird food is a seed called Safflower. This food is considered to be bitter tasting for squirrels. It can also be used to deter blackbirds such as Common Grackles and European Starlings. We carry two varieties, safflower and golden safflower, also known as NutraSaff™. Check out below for some safflower products we offer. Click on the product title for further information on each item.⇓
Safflower
Nutrasaff™ (Golden Safflower)
Safflower Cylinder
Golden Safflower (NutraSaff™) Cylinder
Squirrel Feeders: If you don't mind the opportunist behaviour of squirrels, but may not necessarily want to feed them what you are giving the birds, you can choose to offer other more inexpensive foods in a different area of your yard. Dedicating a "squirrel zone" with food at easier access will be likely to divert their attention away from the bird feeding station(s). These types of foods could be cracked corn or ear corn, for example. We have a squirrel feeder that is designed to hold an ear of corn. Check it out below with a link to the product on our online shop.
Squirrel Table and Chair
Squirrel-Proof Feeders: If you would prefer not to feed the squirrels at all, consider our squirrel-proof line by Canadian brand Brome Bird Care Inc. They are designed with a spring mechanism that closes down as soon as the weight of a squirrel is on it (this applies to both Red Squirrels and Eastern Grey Squirrels - black, grey, and brown coloured).
Canada's own Brome brand feeders are quite effective and truly squirrel-proof. Once squirrels have discovered that it requires a large amount of energy, with little to no pay off, they will leave the feeder alone. Keep in mind that the placement of the feeder should be at least 18" away from a ledge or branch that they may sit on and reach into the feeding ports without having to jump onto the feeder itself. Making sure to place the feeder correctly will maximize the effectiveness of the feeder. Each feeder comes with a user manual. Check out the options we have below in the Brome Bird Care line. Click on the product title for further information on each item.⇓
Eliminator™ Squirrel Proof Feeder
Fundamentals Squirrel Proof Feeder
Squirrel Buster® Mini
Squirrel Buster® Suet
We also carry a weight-adjustable squirrel-proof Peanut Feeder and Finch Feeder.
Exclusion Cages: As an option to add to a feeder. The bird feeder would be placed inside the cage, allowing smaller birds access, but blocking squirrels from getting to the food source. This would be successful in keeping European Starlings out of the feeder as well. Check out some options we have below, with links to the products online.
Tube Feeder Cover - 1 1/2" (Green)
Tube Feeder Cover - 1 1/2" with Metal Tray (Green)
Seed Cylinder Cage
We also carry a suet cage in store or if you'd like to place an over the phone order, call us at 613-771-0571.
Finch Feeders: Using a specialty feeder, such as a finch feeder, will result in squirrels being unable to reach into the very small ports of the feeder for the finch food.
We carry a variety of finch feeders, in both tube or mesh style, and they will work to block the access of squirrels from being able to take the food right out of the feeder. They are typically not going to be very comfortable trying to hold onto the feeder, although they can if they try, but not for very long. They will tend to become tired of trying and eventually give up. The feeder itself has metal hardware and is considered "squirrel-resistant" but not squirrel-proof. Squirrels will typically not enjoy chewing on anything made of metal.
This type of feeder will allow smaller birds such as Goldfinches, House Finches, Chickadees, and even some Woodpeckers to access the food source. This will likely not eliminate the squirrels from your yard, as they could possibly take advantage of the small amounts of fallen seed around the ground outside of the feeder, but will stop them from being able to take the seed out of the feeder itself. Below is a link to our finch feeder selection.⇓
Shop Finch Feeders