How do I keep squirrels off my bird feeder?

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.

What will keep squirrels away from bird feeder?

A wrap-around squirrel baffle is great for keeping squirrels away from bird feeders. By creating a conical, unstable separation between the pole and the bird feeder, wrap-around baffles deter squirrels from stealing bird seed. Torpedo baffles also keep squirrels away from bird feeders.

Will Vaseline on a bird feeder pole keep squirrels off?

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 way to repel squirrels?

How do I keep squirrels off my shepherd's 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.

5 Ways To Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders

What do squirrels hate?

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.

How do I keep squirrels from climbing my bird feeder pole 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.

What smells do squirrels hate?

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.

What smells deter squirrels but not birds?

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.

Does Irish Spring soap keep squirrels away?

Squirrels can be one of the trickiest garden pests to deal with. 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.

Does aluminum foil keep squirrels away from bird feeders?

Squirrels are notorious for robbing bird feeders at will. With their nimble footwork and ability to spring and fly great distances, they can often foil even the best efforts to keep them away.

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.

Will peppermint oil keep squirrels away from bird feeders?

Use peppermint oil

Deter the squirrels with peppermint oil. Another scent that squirrels do not like is peppermint oil. You can create a spray using 10-15 drops of peppermint oil in 1 cup of water. Mix it up, put it in a spray bottle, and spray around the bird feeders where you want to keep the squirrels away.

Is it OK to put cayenne pepper in bird seed?

Using Cayenne Pepper in bird seed is not harmful to birds at all. People use it in their bird seed feeders to deter squirrels and other rodent pests. This is something recommended by the RSPB.

Do red pepper flakes keep squirrels away?

A squirrel's strong sense of taste and smell are irritated by the capsaicin in hot pepper. Placing hot pepper flakes or spray in an area where squirrels frequent will keep them away.

How much cayenne pepper do you put in bird seed to keep squirrels away?

Most online recipes for pepper in bird seed suggest about 3 tablespoons of cayenne pepper per pound of seed. You can use more, if you like.

Is vinegar a good squirrel repellent?

Squirrels have an extremely strong sense of smell which is what allows them to thrive during the fall and winter. Due to it's pungent aroma, squirrels are sensitive to vinegar and stay away. You can spray a diluted solution of white vinegar near areas where squirrels frequent to repel them.

Does cinnamon keep squirrels away?

Cinnamon can be used to help repel squirrels from key target areas around your property. Since squirrels have a strong sense of smell, you can use that to your advantage by sprinkling strong cinnamon powder in frequently visited areas to irritate their nose and repel them.

How do you make homemade squirrel repellent?

Does Pine Sol keep squirrels away?

Spray their areas and burrows with 1 cup regular Pinesol per gallon of water. Dilute Tabasco sauce and cayenne pepper in water and spray on plants that are being eaten (a few tsp. of each in about 1 litre of water). Human hair or urine is a strong repellent.

Will mothballs keep squirrels away from bird feeders?

Although they are not chemical-free, mothballs have been proven to work as a powerful squirrel repellant. They don't hurt the squirrels, they just deter them from entering certain areas by using a strong smell that they hate.

Do mothballs keep squirrels away?

Distinctive Smell of Mothballs

Repel squirrels by simply placing mothballs beside your plants or in household problem areas, such as the attic. Replace these mothballs when their smell begins to fade, every few weeks or so.

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.

Will wd40 keep squirrels away?

Lubricate Your Pole And Feeder To Protect From Squirrels

It's time to grab your trusty blue and red can of WD-40® Multi-Use Product. This high-performance lubricant will make the surface too slippery for squirrels and other pests to climb, so they will have no choice but to stay away.