Garden Notes

Garden Pests

I am not a fan of squirrels. They dig up and eat spring bulbs and are forever planting trees in our yard. They raid our bird feeders and can become predators, eating bird eggs and killing baby birds. I have seen squirrels harassing nesting robins and in the conflicts that I witnessed, the robins did defend their eggs. However I am not sure that a smaller bird could win against a creature that is so much bigger. Consequently, I feel that a large squirrel population makes my yard less welcoming to birds and I try to discourage them.

I do maintain a few bird feeders in our yard and have found that squirrels can devour an entire feeder full of food in almost no time at all and will waste a lot of the food by tossing it on the ground. In their efforts to get the birdseed, squirrels will chew and claw through both wooden and plastic feeders, often ruining them so they can no longer be used. So what are the options for discouraging those pesky squirrels?

Research

1. Use food squirrels don’t like – Try using safflower seed. Many desirable birds like it while squirrels and many undesirable birds do not.
2. Mix some cayenne pepper into the food. It will not affect birds but will upset the squirrels.
3. Use a squirrel cone – Putting a metal collar (not plastic) on the post the bird feeder sits on can help deter squirrels. However, since squirrels can jump distances of 10 feet or greater, you must place feeders well away from trees, wires, porches and other launching points to make it more difficult for squirrels to get on the feeder.
4. Use a slippery post – Consider using metal or PVC poles to support your bird feeder. These materials make it hard for the squirrel to climb the pole and reach the food. For added protection, grease the pole with WD40 to make it extra slippery. The squirrels hate the stuff and the birds don’t seem to mind it a bit. (This tip came from my sister Mutsie and she swears by it.)

I hope these tips help keep the squirrels out of your feeder, but in the end squirrels are a fact of life. While it is possible to deter them from enjoying frequent meals at the bird feeder, an occasional squirrel visit should be expected.