5 Ways To Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders

[@Turk_2023]

I do feed the bastards and they still go after the suet cakes for birds haha

[@alissamclaughlin1949]

Yep, same here. I put plenty of food down on the ground for them, but nooo, they still have to raid the hanging feeders first, and then they go for the stuff on the ground; so they end up getting ALL the food. Little pigs. It definitely gets aggravating, not to mention expensive

[@jessicageorge9136]

I bought a nice pressure sensitive feeder, and the squirrel figured out how to hang upside down from the roof and grab seeds from the trough!! Thanks for the tips!

[@marie_171]

Thanks for covering the various ways to deter squirrels from birdfeeders. I love squirrels... but not on my bird feeder. I am very tempted to try the feeder in a cage method and also the hot seeds method. Last year I used a baffle, cut some low branches from neighbouring trees and it worked like a charm.

[@alleykatalleykat9058]

I feed these rodents peanuts I tried the hot bird seeds tomorrow they're getting hot paprika and Cayenne pepper. I'm fed up chasing them 😡

[@theNuclearNixons]

It's a neverending battle for me. I feed the squirrel peanuts & sunflower seeds, when she's done with that,she moves on to the bird feeders. Next I have crows and scrub jays trying to steal peanuts & sunflower seeds from the squirrel. I give the scrub jay waxworms every so often mixed with sunflower seeds, but waxworms are too pricey to maintain him. These little critters know me and get excited when I'm out in the yard. Not to mention the hummingbirds. The squirrel has figured how to remove the piece for the hummingbird to drink from and empties the entire sweet water for herself. So now I bought a $2.99 gravity water dish for pets to leave outside in the shade for the squirrel. The squirrel seeks me out and has these poor lil puppy dog eyes so I just can't resist feeding her. The male hummingbirds are so territorial with THEIR hummingbird feeder that they won't share with any other hummingbird, so I have to spread them out so they are out of sight from each other and not fight over it. But I enjoy all the suburban critters, from butterflies, bees, birds, and one determined squirrel.

[@natashascott5685]

I put out the bird food that was spicy hot, and it did not deter the squirrels at all lol. I will check out one of the birdfeeders you did mention. Thank you. 😊

[@deeboard3390]

I was having this problem yesterday with the squirrels, it got so bad I even sat on my porch to sho them away. My husband went and got ammonia and saturated a small towel and rubbed it on the base of the tree that holds the bird feeder. We watched as the squirrel approached the tree and to our amazement, the squirrel wouldn’t climb the tree. I don’t know how long this will last, but this is the next day and so far no squirrels 👏🏽. I also read you can use apple cider vinegar. Hope this helps.

[@bethsecrest8155]

June 2, 2024. I really want to try this!! Can you please give an update on how it worked for you?? Thanks! Fingers crossed!!

[@chrissterman]

Omg I've tried everything but those rodents keep figuring it out how can I be outsmarted by a rat with a bush tail 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@birdnerd5631]

Ah! Haha! I feel your pain! They are so smart and fearless! Don't give up! I have stopped the majority and some of the birds stand up against them!

[@mo_bra3340]

Thank you for explaining the hot pepper oil concept. I recently ordered some suet for my bird feeding station. I saw the hot pepper flavor and thought "do birds really like hot pepper"? Now I understand and will probably start using some to ward off the squirrels. I've also contemplated ordering a separate feeder just for them... so we'll see if that works out. :-) Thanks for all the tips!

[@mimiprays8288]

My squirrels learned to eat hot pepper seed and suet. The also learned to eat safflower seeds, they don't give up. Sigh...and the feeders with a cage around it, the young squirrels just climb inside and have lunch. Only the weight bearing feeders seem to keep them out since they can't climb on it without their weight causing it to cover the holes. I've tried making my own suet with a whole bottle of hot sauce added, they love it. 😵‍💫🤯 I keep trying.

[@birdnerd5631]

Haha! You have got some super squirrels! I don't even know what to say :D

[@SeattlePioneer]

[@fuan2573]

TRY dried paprika powder, $4 per pound, uncooked, super hot 😄very effective to use as rodent repellent for gardening. Easy to find at those Asian grocery store or so. Dont buy Korean hot pepper powder which is not very hot.

[@jimy5095]

Short, precise and informative. Thank you!

[@nybabz]

this is an excellent video, good speaking voice and solid info! thanks so much.

[@romaeterna3106]

Very sensible advice. It seems that the metal deterrents are the options. I have not been able to outsmart my three (2 black and 1 red) persistent and acrobatic squirrels. Most recommended solutions such as dryer sheets and a lot of cayenne pepper do not work. These rascals show the limitations of a Ph.D.

[@lindamiller5026]

A gal suggested placing big rubber snakes on the ground as squirrels hate snakes. I had three in a toy box for my grandsons. I hope it helps.

[@glendae5699]

I’ve tried coles and I mixed it strong the squirrel’s were not deterred

[@gmoops8986]

Is it feasible to stir cayenne into the bird's feed? In my opinion, offering food alternatives for the tree rats only attracts more of the thieves. When that is quickly depleted, they seek the closest easy pickings. I don't wish them harm. There are many ways for that. I just want to deter them. They can find a meal other than food for the birds.

[@birdnerd5631]

I don't think it would do the birds any harm. Sometimes is works to put out food for the squirrels and sometimes it just draws more. I would think it would be alright to mix the cayenne in, but I am not 100% sure, doing some extra research would probably be good. Thanks for watching!

[@jediprice70]

I mixed cayenne pepper flakes and it did not stop the squirrels. I did also a little powder and they didn't care. I did try mixing it around to get the oils from the pepper covering the seeds better, but it didn't slow the squirrel down. I also tried a hot sauce, splashed over the seeds and that didn't stop them. Though the sauce was just Frank's Red Hot Sauce, which is only 450 on the Scoville scale. I'm moving this time to a sauce with habanero and scotch bonnet-level heat.

[@biggip254eaglenation2]

I enjoy the 2 squirrels that I have coming by boguarding the feeder ...Wasting alot on the ground but the birds come by and scoop it up as well .I think I will get a squirrel feeder to seeing it splits them up ... Great Video. THANKS

[@clovisrogers2685]

I put cayenne pepper in all my birdseed very heavily in the birds ate it, but the squirrels also got in my birdfeeder and ate it. They weren’t even phased by it, and I put a lot in there.

[@SeattlePioneer]

After being entertained by LOTS of videos detailing ways to discourage squirrels, I decided I like the squirrels rather than the birds! So now I have squirrel feeders that allow squirrels to display their gymnastic skills for my entertainment. The only problem is that the dratted BIRDS keep stealing the treats!

[@edwardrobaey4265]

Thank you on how to defere squirrels but the other nite I had deer and a fawn but last nite I had a visit from a black bear

[@birdnerd5631]

Oh wow! You have got quite the zoo in your backyard!

[@ale_the_ia9033]

I have to take my sunflower/other nut feeder down every evening and put it back up in the morning. I hang it from a hook in my shed at night. Deer will knock them down, as do black bear who also tear them to pieces. However, I leave my nyjer feeder up all night as deer and bear don’t eat it.

[@staceytempleton1577]

Thank you for making this video I will try some of these options.

[@cusaferstein7277]

What about smells?

[@82raptor]

I like to grease the metal pole starting about 2 feet up and watching them slide down on their tails! Air rifles and .22's also work well!

[@Wisdom2knowthedifference]

We're friends now! 😊

[@Fireinthestubble]

What type of grease do you use?

[@4ever9zxyme]

Yep ! When all else fails , squirrel stew just in time for supper

[@brendalea1606]

I have tried all... nothing works. alaskan squirrels are small so the weight does not effect the feeder.

[@alissamclaughlin1949]

I actually bought some hot bird seed once, and the squirrels weren't crazy about it, but unfortunately, the birds wouldn't touch it either. I thought birds weren't sensitive to spicy food?

[@universalalien848]

wonderful information! fantastic sharing my friend!

[@birdnerd5631]

Thank you! :)

[@AbsolutelyAdorableStudio]

Great tips! Thank you for sharing!

[@Emlane09]

This is driving me crazy! They tore into my buckets too !!! They literally tear up and throw everything around in my yard

[@lloydbrannan1002]

lol I didn't baffle the saffron feeders sure the squirrels stay away but the chip monks love it. Now as far as the weight sensitive feeder forget about it. They will get around them one way or another. If they can't get around it they will destroy it. I had many different kinds and it was a waste of time and money. The only thing they haven't overcome is a 6" stove pipe baffle. If you use PVC they will kept chewing it until its destroyed. I never uses spinning feeder because for me it's to expensive.

[@jolox.]

Great video! Thanks!

[@gosiarhomecooking5123]

Hello, very interesting tips . Thank You for sharing new friend/ Gosia

[@birdnerd5631]

Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed! :)

[@winkbyme8480]

Wow. Thank you

[@UncleVegetable]

You can buy cayenne pepper seeds which don’t bother birds but squirrels hate them.

[@CrazyStoryLady777]

Thank You!

[@7389]

I have tried it all, including barking at them, which only temporarily works. It's also exhausting and embarrassing if the neighbors hear me or like the time the mailman was walking by as I barked. I have limited places to put feeders, so I am going to try mixing some cayenne pepper in with the food. With my luck, the squirrels won't be deterred. 😤

[@matthew-jy5jp]

I have one of those Simple Green boxes that you put the birdseed in in a block. And squirrels keep knocking me down trying to take the whole thing. I put it very close to a bush where the birds all live and the squirrel still climbs into that bush and knocks the block off and tries to take the whole thing. It was I believe $30 for the bird food and $20 for the theater and $50 is a lot at this moment in time for me to be spending on thirds and not my household. Trying to figure out what to do with that I can stop the squirrels from messing with the cage I have until I can get a better one

[@HansDelbruck53]

@3:13 The word is ornithologists, not "orinthologists". Pronunciation is important.

[@Wisdom2knowthedifference]

This 🤏🏼 close to getting a pellet gun. Apologies animal activists.

[@birdnerd5631]

Haha i can understand that :P I got a slingshot that I just scare them away with lol

[@smoothoperator7023]

Glue pads. But the drawback is they just keep hanging around!🤣

[@ontheprairie]

No apologies needed. They are just rats with fluffy tails.

[@michalczuk32]

Fajne karmniki👍. Super video👍. Pozdrawiam😉.

[@birdnerd5631]

Thank you! :)

[@timgray5763]

Just use hot pepper birdseed I don’t bother the birds with the squirrels won’t eat it

[@NG-ki5eo]

coat your pole with olive oil (the spray-on kind makes it easy) and after a couple of failed efforts the squirrels will give up and stop trying

[@gregmartin3425]

I tried but it didn't work. Should I try using my zipper?

[@phillymat]

Feed the squirrels!

[@geethuprakash1004]

but why ....we should consider squirrels too

[@alissamclaughlin1949]

One word: impossible

[@greeniejeannie]

lololol NOPE. not my squirrels.

[@JS-oq5go]

They owe me $100,000.00 in bird seed. I have tried EVERTHING TO DETER THEM 🇨🇦

[@justinsane7128]

My 🐿️ has a deficiency, a lead deficiency.,

[@gopalpatel1133]

poor sound quality

[@reflux043]

Poor hearing! The sound is fine.

[@reflux043]

Poor hearing! The sound is fine.