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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 you keep squirrels from eating bird food?
Suspend your feeders on a wire strung from one pole to another, at least 5 feet from the ground. To prevent squirrels from doing a tight-rope walking trick, string plastic liter-size soda bottles onto the wire on both sides of the feeders. The plastic bottles roll the squirrels right off as they approach.
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.
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.
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 is the best squirrel deterrent?
Squirrel Repellents We Reviewed: DURANOM Ultrasonic Animal Repeller Outdoor. Tomcat Repellents Animal Repellent Granules. Rodent Sheriff Pest Control Ultra-Pure Peppermint Spray. Exterminator’s Choice Vehicle Protection Rodent Defense Spray.
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.
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.
Is it OK to put cayenne pepper in bird seed?
Spice It Up! Fair enough. Guess what can? Sprinkle some cayenne pepper or a similar spice onto your birdseed before you put it out. Birds will eat the seed just fine, but squirrels will smell the heat and stay well clear. You’ll have to re-apply the spice frequently, however, or it’ll wash off or blow away.
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 do squirrels hate the most?
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.
What is a natural squirrel repellent?
Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, pepper flakes, and/or garlic pepper on and around your plants when they are ready to bloom. Birds can’t taste capsaicin, so add some cayenne pepper to those bird feeders to deter squirrels.
Does 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 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.
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.
How do you get rid of squirrels permanently?
16 Ways to Get Rid of Squirrels Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper. Don’t Feed Them. Set Up a Buffet. Mulch It. Use Netting or Fencing. Netting in Action. Be Dedicated. Spray Them.
Does vinegar deter squirrels?
Apple cider vinegar spray The pungent smell of pure apple cider vinegar repels the squirrels. ACV is readily available and can be sprayed directly on the plants and flower pots without harming them. Spray it as often as needed to keep the little creatures at bay.
Can squirrels chew through bird netting?
According to TWP Inc., chicken wire (or hex mesh) is not suitable as squirrel netting for gardens since most rodents can chew through it. You want a heavy-duty material, such as welded stainless steel mesh or wire hardware cloth, to construct your squirrel-proof garden fencing.
