Squirrels love delicious birdseed and will take whatever measures they can to ensure they get some of those tasty bites. This ambitious little bandit is can also cause a host of more problems. They have been known to chew and claw through both wooden and plastic feeders, even destroying them to the point they cannot be used again. Also, squirrels have been known to eat tiny bird eggs and kill nestling, which can make a squirrel-friendly yard less attractive to nesting birds. The ongoing question has been “How do I keep squirrels out of my bird feeder?”
There are many ways to approach this problem, and for the best results, try a few different methods which may suit your situation. Here are some ideas to combat squirrel domination.
Some backyard birders, instead of eliminating squirrels, make friends with them by creating a platform squirrel feeding station away from the birdfeeders. Squirrels will stay within their own territory with tempting treats such as nuts, corn and berries. This also lets backyard nature enthusiasts enjoy the intelligence and antics of squirrels without watching their birdseed and their bird feeder waste away.
In the end, squirrels are just as much a part of backyard wildlife as birds. While it is possible to squirrel-proof a birdfeeder to deter these visitors from frequent meals, any backyard bird feeder is going to get the attention of an occasional squirrel from time to time.
