# Keeping squirrels away from bird feeders **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136 "2004-09-12T15:09:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/1 "2004-09-12T15:09:13Z")
Is there a reliable way short of shooting them? Does anyone know whether fox urine really works? ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/2 "2004-09-12T15:45:38Z")
I have heard (and I even saw this on a TV show once, too) that there is no squirrel-proof birdfeeder on the market. Just when you think you have 'em beat, the little suckers figure out a way. Granted, that was several years ago, so you might be able to buy something now. ---
**Author:** ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/3 "2004-09-12T16:01:08Z")
> [@liirogue](#): > > I have heard (and I even saw this on a TV show once, too) that there is no squirrel-proof birdfeeder on the market. Just when you think you have 'em beat, the little suckers figure out a way. > > Granted, that was several years ago, so you might be able to buy something now. You can get squirrel-proof feeders - they’re normal feeders with a metal cage around them - big enough for birds to get through to the nuts but too small for the squirrels. Don’t try and make one of these yourself though - our neighbour tried making one from 2 hanging basket cages and one poor squirrel got trapped between the bars (neighbour rescued it in the end). [Link](http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/acatalog/Squirrel_Proof_Feeders.html) to the first Google result, I’m sure you can find one cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/4 "2004-09-12T16:07:09Z")
My brother has one of [these](http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=DY-YF) - not only does it help keep the squirrels away from the birdseed, he says it’s incredibly fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/5 "2004-09-12T16:21:41Z")
The Yankee Flipper looks great. I might check into that. We have the Globe Feeder and it worked for awhile, until the squirrels found the one vulnerable part, the top hanger part, and I wonder if the Flipper might have this vulnerability as well. The squirrels simply came from above, chewed the top, and feasted on all the seed after the feeder fell to the ground. Now we just use safflower seed. Squirrels do not like safflower seed, and they leave the feeder alone. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/6 "2004-09-12T16:46:47Z")
It is still the case that no one has come up with a practical squirrel-proof feeder. (Class action lawsuit anyone?) I use one of the cage types, but with an 2nd outer ring of wire fencing around that. Hardware cloth at the top and bottom. (The idiot maker made the original cage just close enough to the feeder that squirrels could reach in and grab seeds. Nice design job!) That slows them down enough that I don’t have to refill everyday just to keep the squirrels fed. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/7 "2004-09-12T17:13:01Z")
What’s wrong with squirrels, anyway? We feed thistle, suet and seeds to the birds and have another couple of corn feeders for the squirrels. The buejays eat the squirrel food, the squirrels eat the bird food and the resident black bear ambles by from time to time and raids the suet. They all pilfer. It’s their job. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/8 "2004-09-12T17:39:03Z")
Does anyone know where to get fox pee, and whether it deters squirrels? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/9 "2004-09-12T17:40:46Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > What’s wrong with squirrels, anyway? > > We feed thistle, suet and seeds to the birds and have another couple of corn feeders for the squirrels. The buejays eat the squirrel food, the squirrels eat the bird food and the resident black bear ambles by from time to time and raids the suet. They all pilfer. It’s their job. 🙂 The problem I have with squirrels and chipmunks is that they have a never ending appetite. We have one BIG feeder that squirrels can get to. If I fill it, it’s empty within a day. Hell, I think I could fill it TWICE a day and the critters would cart off everything I put into it. I’m all for feeding 'em, but I’m not the McDonalds of the Squirrel world. If they’d just calm down a bit, they’d be fed. As it is, I only fill my squirrel-proof feeders. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/10 "2004-09-12T17:40:48Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > What’s wrong with squirrels, anyway? > > We feed thistle, suet and seeds to the birds and have another couple of corn feeders for the squirrels. The buejays eat the squirrel food, the squirrels eat the bird food and the resident black bear ambles by from time to time and raids the suet. They all pilfer. It’s their job. 🙂 Yeah, I understand. But they’ve got their job, and I’ve got mine. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/11 "2004-09-12T19:19:51Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Does anyone know where to get fox pee, and whether it deters squirrels? You can get it through [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00025H3DA/sr=1-3/qid=1095016683/ref=sr_1_3/104-4605745-1177522?%5Fencoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&v=glance&%2Aentries%2A=0) - it was linked from [here](http://www.greensense.net/fox.html) and they claim it repels squirrels, but I’ve never had reason to try it. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/12 "2004-09-12T19:32:33Z")
How many gray squirrels would it take to make a pie that will feed 4 hungry people? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/13 "2004-09-12T20:59:50Z")
A feeder on a pole will stop _stupid_ squirrels. A feeder on a greased pole with a shield will stop _ordinary_ squirrels. The Yankee Flipper, on a greased pole, with a shield, will stop _talented_ squirrels. But then, they send in [The Terrible Uber Squirrel…](http://www.supermegatopia.com/meshworld/gallery/dusquirrel.gif) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/14 "2004-09-12T22:35:11Z")
We have had good results with one of these: [http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?pcode=87](http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?pcode=87) We have the single sided one, pole mounted not too close to any trees they can jump from. Several times a year a squirrel tries to climb the pole, then climb on top of the thing and lower themselves down to the seed…they are never succesful. In reality the birds spill enough of the seed and the squirrels seem to be content with that. Someone else mentioned niger or thistle seed…supposedly the squirrels don’t like it, which has been my experience. However a friend who lives only a few miles away says that the squirrels in his yard destroyed the thistle feeder to get at the seed, so YMMV. We have grey and red squirrels in our yard BTW. Another drawback to this seed is that only certain birds like it (finches, mostly, along with titmice and chickadees). I have given this whole matter some thought and I think a lot depends on the food resources available to the squirrels in your area. If they have a lot of other options they may not try as hard to get into your allegedly squirrel proof feeder. If there are not a lot of other food resources available to them they might keep trying until they defeat it. ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/15 "2004-09-13T00:22:50Z")
My father, after he’d retired from his job as an electrical engineer, decided to design a squirrel proof bird feeder and got me to help him build it. The basic from was simple, lengths of 1" steel water pipe - a vertical mast anchored in a corner of the backyard deck with a braced horizontal arm on top that the actual bird feeder hung down from. The mast rotated so the feeder could be swung over the deck for re-filling and then back out over the yard for the birds. The vertical post was about 7 feet tall and the horizontal the same so it wasn’t possible for a squirrel to jump from the deck railing to the feeder. But what , you ask, kept the pesky rodents from running along the arm and jumping down onto the feeder? Well, remember I mentioned that my father was an electrical engineer? He built what amounted to an electric fence along the top of the horizontal arm - it was a 1 x 2 piece of pine edged on both sides with cut-off lids from tin cans tacked to the 1" edges of the board. He wired these in series with a 20 watt incandescent light bulb (and an on/off switch) and plugged it into the 120 VAC outlet. Any squirrel that dared to run the tincan lid gauntlet was bound at some point to touch the lids on both sides of the board at once. The light bulb acted as a crude current limiting device, so the squirrels got a healthy zap but not a fatal one. My father only ran it a few times, before word seemed to get out to the bushy tailed rodents that there were easier pickings elsewhere. \*\*Disclaimer - I do not recommend that you, or you and especially not you, try this yourself. \*\*Rigging bare metal, outdoors, to even a GFI protected outlet is not safe. My father, and a lucky handfull of squirrels survived the device, but he scrapped it permanently after it killed a robin. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/16 "2004-09-13T03:39:06Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > A feeder on a greased pole with a shield will stop _ordinary_ squirrels. And provide hours of entertainment. I did that with my bird feeder this summer, and I’m laughing out loud right now thinking about how funny the resulting spectacle was. My squirrels are average. They gave up after a while and now stick with the squirrel feeder. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/17 "2004-09-13T03:59:35Z")
Color me confused. 😕 Like that. Why are squirrels bad, and birds, good? I like most wildlife. I put out seeds and sometimes bread-type table scraps on my rock wall, and they are eaten by birds, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, skunks, foxes, porcupines, raccoons, mice and probably many others that I don’t see. I like 'em all. Why the extreme bias towards birds and against rodents? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/18 "2004-09-13T04:17:25Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Does anyone know whether fox urine really works? If it does, then lion urine should work even better, right? How about elephant feces? Whale excrement?? Alien droppings??? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/19 "2004-09-13T05:12:14Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > If it does, then lion urine should work even better, right? How about elephant feces? Whale excrement?? Alien droppings??? Memo to self - Never raid the Musicat house birdfeeder. It’s _nasty_! ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136/20 "2004-09-13T05:34:09Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > But then, they send in [The Terrible Uber Squirrel…](http://www.supermegatopia.com/meshworld/gallery/dusquirrel.gif) Bastard. I WAS DRINKING A COKE WHEN I CLICKED THAT LINK… !!! There’s nothing remotely funny about that drawing, yet I laughed anyway. Goddammit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-squirrels-away-from-bird-feeders/264136.md?page=2)