What to Put on Bird Feeder Pole to Keep Squirrel Off Your Feeder
If you want to keep the squirrel away from your bird feeder pole, you’ll need a repellent. These repellents are inexpensive and easy to use, and will keep the squirrels off your feeder. However, you should avoid putting lubricants, such as Vaseline, around the base of the pole. Another option is installing a dome. Neither of these options is as effective as the others, so it’s recommended that you use a combination of several repellents.
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Avoid spreading lubricants around the bottom of the pole
Putting a slinky or petroleum jelly on the pole may deter squirrels from climbing it. Slinky-type bird feeders are not as dangerous to squirrels as a squirrel trap is. They are a slinky that slides down the pole and opens when the squirrel reaches it. However, these lubricants can damage the animal’s fur and eyes. Besides being harmful to humans, using petroleum jelly or grease on the pole can be very dangerous to wildlife.
Avoid using Vaseline
A few years ago, Sally Stranix decided to smear a generous amount of Vaseline on the pole of her bird feeder. This deterrent worked for her bushy-tailed gray squirrel, who was climbing the pole daily. Today, she still hasn’t seen the gray squirrel, but her feeder looks as good as ever. Here are some things you should know about using lubricants on bird feeder poles:
Avoid putting a slinky on the top of the pole
It may seem like an easy way to deter squirrels from climbing the pole to your bird feeder, but putting a slinky on top of the bird feeder is not a surefire solution. In fact, squirrels can easily climb the pole if they’re at full stretch. Additionally, the squirrels can easily climb the slinky if you have grease on the pole. If you’re worried about squirrels, consider using a slinky that’s at least 2 feet high to scare them away.
Avoid installing a dome
One of the best ways to keep a squirrel out of your feeder is to install a baffle. These are shaped like an upside-down funnel and are installed on hanging bird feeders. Squirrels can’t climb up a pole if they don’t know the baffle is there. Install one of these at the base of the feeder pole or between the pole and the bird feeders.
Avoid using a slinky
You can keep a squirrel away from bird feeders by suspending a slinky on a bird feeder pole. Slinky repellents are usually made of a spring suspended tube that drops quickly to the ground. Some are similar to regular slinkies. They can be effective, but they also get old and are not effective for long periods. This article will discuss some effective alternatives to slinky repellents.
Avoid putting Vaseline
One way to deter squirrels from visiting your bird feeder is to put some petroleum jelly or Vaseline on the pole. Squirrels will find it difficult to climb the pole if the material is slippery. You can also add layered tubing to the pole to make it more slippery. These methods are less effective because they can harm birds and wildlife. Also, these methods require reapplication after every rain.
Avoid putting Vaseline on the pole
The use of petroleum jelly, wax or grease on a bird feeder pole may keep squirrels away from the feed, but they can also make it very slippery. Not only is petroleum jelly toxic to wildlife, it can also cause the animal to rip off its fur, resulting in injury. Other lubricants such as axle grease or greased tires may also be dangerous, and they need to be reapplied frequently, as they can be harmful to wildlife if ingested.
How can I keep squirrels from raiding my bird feeder?
One way to keep squirrels from raiding your bird feeder is to place the feeder on a pole with a squirrel guard.
The guard will prevent squirrels from being able to climb up the pole and reach the bird feeder.
What is a squirrel guard?
A squirrel guard is a device that is placed on a bird feeder pole that prevents squirrels from being able to climb up the pole and reach the bird feeder.
Do squirrel guards really work?
Yes squirrel guards can be effective at keeping squirrels away from bird feeders.
How do I install a squirrel guard?
Most squirrel guards simply need to be placed on the bird feeder pole and then tightened in place.
How do I know if a squirrel guard will fit my bird feeder pole?
Most squirrel guards are designed to fit a variety of different sized poles.
However it is always a good idea to double check the manufacturer’s sizing recommendations before making a purchase.
I’ve seen squirrel guards that are made of different materials.
Which one should I choose?
The material of the squirrel guard is not as important as the design.
You can find squirrel guards made of metal plastic or even wood.
Do I need to buy a special squirrel guard for my bird feeder?
No you do not need to buy a special squirrel guard for your bird feeder.
Any squirrel guard that is designed to fit a bird feeder pole should work.
I’ve seen some squirrel guards that are very expensive.
Are the more expensive ones better?
Not necessarily.
The more expensive squirrel guards may be made of higher quality materials but they all serve the same purpose.
Will a squirrel guard keep other animals away from my bird feeder?
Squirrel guards are designed to keep squirrels away from bird feeders.
However they will not necessarily keep other animals away.
I’ve seen squirrel guards that have spikes.
Do the spikes hurt the squirrels?
No the spikes on the squirrel guards do not hurt the squirrels.
The spikes simply prevent the squirrels from being able to climb up the pole.
Do I need to do anything to my bird feeder before I install a squirrel guard?
No you do not need to do anything to your bird feeder before you install a squirrel guard.
Once I install a squirrel guard do I need to do anything else to keep the squirrels away?
No once you install a squirrel guard you should not need to do anything else to keep the squirrels away.
What if a squirrel is already climbing my bird feeder pole when I put the squirrel guard on?
The squirrel guard will not work if a squirrel is already climbing the pole when you put it on.
However once the squirrel gets to the top of the pole the squirrel guard will prevent it from getting to the bird feeder.
I’m worried that the squirrel guard will make it difficult for the birds to use the feeder.
Squirrel guards are designed to not interfere with the birds using the feeder.
The feeder pole should still be able to rotate freely so that the birds can access the feeder from all sides.
Do I need to worry about the weather when I use a squirrel guard?
No you do not need to worry about the weather when you use a squirrel guard.
The squirrel guard will work in any weather condition.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
