Squirrels and Your Backyard Nature Habitat
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MANY OF YOU HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH SQUIRRELS: We hear your stories ranging from the the cutest antics to the most menacing behaviors. Some of you name and hand feed these fluffy creatures, while others of you can't stand the sight of them. Whether you love or hate them, squirrels are here to stay. If they inhabit your yard, here are some ways to keep them busy and out of so much trouble. ABOUT FEEDERS AND THEIR LOCATIONS: There are a number of really good squirrel-resistant and squirrel-proof feeders on the market today. If you want to keep the squirrels completely out of your bird feeders, hang up a squirrel-proof feeder on a pole or staff.  The weight of a squirrel on these feeders simply closes the feeding ports.  Also, use squirrel baffles above and below the feeder as needed, to keep squirrels from climbing or jumping to a point where they can rest on the hardware to eat from the feeder without getting directly on it and closing it. SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE: If you don't mind squirrels sharing the bird seed but you don't like them chewing up your feeders, try some of the metal feeders that are pretty tough to chew. The John Deere models are some of our favorites! Also, the caged tube feeders are very helpful in keeping out the squirrels.  Squirrels may jump around on them and cause some seeds to fall to the ground, but they can't sit on these feeders and consume every last morsel! There are some feeder cages that may fit over the tube feeders you already have. You are welcome to bring in your tube feeders to see if they can be retrofitted with cages. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: If you have feeders that are not squirrel-proof or squirrel-resistant, put them on a pole or staff that is placed at least eight feet from a point where a squirrel might jump directly onto it. Also baffle the feeders from above and below to discourage these jumpers and climbers. LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Often a very easy solution is to add at least one squirrel feeder to your habitat and fill it with all the goodies the squirrels themselves love best: in-shell peanuts, striped sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, corn and other goodies. Often when they see their favorites displayed where they can access them easily, the squirrels suddenly find your bird feeders to be less attractive than before. And squirrel feeders add lots of laughter and fun for the humans watching your habitat!