Keep Squirrels Off A Bird Feeder With A Simple Swap That Makes All The Difference

If you are frequently chasing squirrels away from your bird feeder, you are not alone in your battle against these opportunity-seeking rodents. Once squirrels have located a reliable food source (in this case, bird seed), they will do everything they can to access it. Some solutions, such as "squirrel-proof" feeders, may offer temporary reprieve as these intelligent animals often figure out how to access them. Instead of focusing on the bird feeders as points of blocked access to squirrels, you may want to swap out the type of pole they are affixed to with common construction pipes, such as those made with PVC or copper.

While you can use a shepherd's hook to make an easy bird feeder, squirrels can often access these just as easily. This is because the poles are made from thin pieces of metal, so squirrels can wrap their bodies around it and climb to the top. PVC or copper pipes, on the other hand, are wider and smoother than typical bird feeder poles. This can make it difficult for squirrels to wrap themselves around and climb up to reach the bird seed.

While this method is based on anecdotal reports and may not be guaranteed to work 100% of the time against squirrels, it is more effective than typical poles used for bird feeders. Overall, this simple swap can be used in addition to other ways to keep squirrels out of your bird feeder.

First, make sure the pipe you use is at least 4 inches in diameter so the squirrels cannot easily wrap themselves around the pole. You will also want the pipe to be at least 5 to 6 feet tall to discourage squirrels and other animals. You can add extra assurance by running the pipe through a Slinky. This may prevent squirrels from trying to jump off a nearby surface to bypass the pole. Slide the pole through the center of the Slinky as you are installing the pipe into the ground and affix it toward the top near the bird feeders. If a squirrel does jump onto the Slinky, the device should (in theory) pull toward the ground with the weight of the animal. You may also consider an alternative feeding station if squirrels are stealing food from your bird feeder.

The downside of using either PVC or copper pipes to deter squirrels is that, unlike a metal shepherd's hook, there is no place you can automatically hang bird feeders from. In this case, you can wrap metal cables around either type of pipe then lace them through the feeders at the top. If you are using PVC piping, you can drill small holes through the top and feed the wiring through it. Fishing line is another material you could use to keep the feeder in place.