Attack of the Squirrels

My dad calls them "fuzzy tailed rats" and although plenty of people enjoy squirrels in their yards, bird-watchers and bird FEEDERS especially get irked with rodent inhabitants. I'm all for squirrels in nature, but I have to admit I have a "not in my backyard" policy on the seed thieves. They taunt my beagle with antagonistic chirps, they do a number on my insulation when they nest in my roof, and they've wreaked havoc on my bird feeders for years. Well not anymore!

There are some great products out there to keep squirrels off your seed feeders, and Squirrel Baffles are one of the best! If your seed feeder is suspended on a pole there are baffles that attach below the feeder that are cone-shaped that squirrels can't climb up. Don't underestimate their ability to jump and attack your feeder from the air though. Squirrels are kamikazes when it comes to free food so make sure your feeder is well away from trees they can climb and launch off of!

For seed feeders that hang from trees, patios, or other shade giving structures there are baffles that hang above the feeder. These Squirrel Guards & Baffles swing and wobble when the squirrels try to land or climb on them - but you have to make sure the baffle is large enough in diameter so squirrels have nothing to hang onto. 20" diameter is the best. I've been surprised many a time to see a squirrel holding on by their farthest toe to a baffle while stretching with all their might to get seed out of my feeders. You'd think Cirque du Soleil would recruit such acrobats!

Squirrel Baffles are great physical blockers (and they help protect your feeder from rain, snow & hail) but when it comes to the "Battle of the Bandits" sometimes chemical warfare is required.

I don't advocate anything toxic or detrimental to the environment - but holistically adding heat to the seed! Squirrels are mammals, and as such they have mouths much like ours. They can taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter... and hot! Coat your bird seed liberally in cayenne pepper before refilling your seed feeders and squirrels will take a bite and be running for water! Birds have completely different digestive systems, and they are not one bit affected by the spicy pepper. It's safe, it's cheap, and it works!

At www.SweetBeak.com have our songbird seed feeders on sale through October. Now is a great time to get those seed feeders out for birds heading south, and with a few squirrel tricks you'll be able to keep your food for hungry aviators! If you're an "early bird" shopper, stock up for the holidays!