If you're on the hunt for Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders, you're probably on the losing end of a war with these creatures. Bird feeding enthusiasts have long been engaged in a battle with the smart and agile squirrel. But before you begin launching your counterattacks, it is best to learn about the enemy and his abilities.
The Squirrel
A lot of people find squirrels entertaining and fun to watch, however they can also cause trouble for those maintaining bird feeders. Squirrels have a reputation of stealing food from bird feeders. It might become costly to maintain a bird feeder when these critters are around. Squirrels are made smart and naturally curious. Once they discover an easy source of food, like your bird feeder, they can easily empty it and will keep coming back for more.
Squirrels are quite nimble. They can jump straight up from the ground to about five feet in the air. They can make lateral jumps of up to ten feet when starting perched on a tree trunk, and if they get access to a branch over your feeder, they can reach distances of about twelve feet when leaping laterally. They are extremely intelligent, determined and resourceful and have been known to find ways around squirrel-proof bird feeders.
How to deal with the pesky squirrel problem
There are two ways to keep squirrels away from your birdfeeders. You can either divert their attention away from your bird feeders or you can prevent them from entering/approaching your bird feeders.
You can take their attention off your bird feeders by making an area that's just for them. Here are a few suggestions on how to do this.
. Place some fruits strategically at an area away from your bird feeders and where the squirrels can easily find them.
. Prepare some day old bread or cereal grains for your visitors.
. Lure them away with peanuts or peanut butter. They are known to enjoy those.
. Put up a squirrel feeder filled with sunflower seeds, cracked corn, nuts, dried ears of corn and acorns.
. Set up some squirrel toys outside. These toys are available in the market and are inexpensive.
Just remember, make sure to put these "diversion elements" at least 18 feet away from your feeders and at an area where the bird feeders are not visible to the squirrels.
There are some things you can do to prevent the squirrels from approaching or entering your bird feeders. Here are some of them:
. Place your birdfeeder away from tree trunks, limbs, or any other structure. Be sure to set your feeders up at least 6 feet high, and at least 12 feet away from any area that can aid the squirrels in launching aerial attacks.
. Install squirrel barriers for bird feeders, or baffles, above and below your feeders, whichever position that you think would be ideal to keep the squirrels away.
. Hang your birdfeeders between two posts using strong nylon string and place pieces of pvc pipe, smooth metal pipe or any slippery object at both ends to make it harder for the squirrel to move to your feeder.
. Use a squirrel proof feeder that is built with a protective cage. The cage openings must be large enough for small birds to access but not big enough for squirrels.
If they do get to your feeders and raid them, here are some things to try to prevent them from coming back for more.
. Use safflower exclusively as your bird food. Numerous songbirds eat safflower but squirrels normally don't.
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