Bird feeders are a great way to attract beautiful birds to your yard, but they can also become an all-you-can-eat buffet for squirrels. If you’ve ever dealt with these furry little thieves stealing all the birdseed, you know how frustrating it can be. But don’t worry. You can keep squirrels away from your bird feeders with some smells.
Here, I’ll explore some natural repellents and scents that squirrels find unpleasant and how you can use them to protect your bird feeders and keep those pesky squirrels at bay.
So, if you’re tired of playing a never-ending game of squirrel vs. bird feeder, read on to discover what smells keep squirrels away from bird feeders.
Why Squirrels Go For Your Bird Feeders?
Squirrels are infamous for their ability to locate and loot bird feeders, much to the chagrin of bird watchers. A successful squirrel deterrent begins with understanding why squirrels are attracted to bird feeders. Two significant reasons contribute to their appeal:
Easy Access To Food
A squirrel is a highly resourceful creature. They feed at bird feeders mainly because they provide an easy source of food. Bird feeders are frequently stocked with seeds, nuts, and grains, all of which are highly desirable to squirrels.
These clever critters rapidly learn how to reach the feeder by climbing, jumping, or hanging upside down.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, squirrels can eat up to a pound of birdseed in one week! Their tendency to quickly deplete feeders can be problematic for bird watchers who want to give food to their feathered companions.
Sunflower seeds, peanuts, and maize are some of the most popular forms of birdseed among squirrels. These high-energy snacks are not only appealing to squirrels but also offer them the nutrition they require to thrive.
Opportunistic Behavior
Squirrels are highly resourceful and are always on the lookout for food that is easy to get to. Bird feeders are easy targets because they are open and close to the ground or trees. Squirrels are quick jumpers that can quickly get to feeders that are hanging from tree branches.
They can also dig very well, which lets them find food that has been hidden or get to feeders that have been set up on the ground.
As for squirrels, they have been known to go up to five miles to find food. It’s hard to keep them away from bird feeders because they are stubborn and determined.
Also, squirrels are very protective, and they will protect their new food source from other squirrels and birds. This kind of competition often causes a lot of noise and activity around the feeder, which scares away birds and makes it hard to enjoy watching birds quietly.
Figuring out why squirrels are interested in bird feeders is the first thing that needs to be done to keep them away. People who like to watch birds can do so without having to deal with squirrels constantly getting in the way by putting in place tactics that deal with their easy access to food and opportunistic behavior.
What Smells Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders?
You can attract beautiful birds to your backyard with bird feeders, but they can also attract unwanted visitors like squirrels. But, several smells can work as squirrels bird feeders prevention.
Peppermint
The smell of peppermint is good at keeping mice away from bird feeders. There is a strong sense of smell in squirrels, and the smell of peppermint is too strong and unpleasant for them. Peppermint oil-soaked cotton balls can keep squirrels away from bird feeders.
Squirrels will stay away from peppermint because of its strong smell, leaving birds to eat without being bothered. To make things even better, you can put peppermint around your yard to keep squirrels away.
Chili Powder
Squirrels also don’t like the smell of chili powder. These fluffy things will stay away from your bird feeders because chili powder smells very strong and spicy. To keep birds away, sprinkle chili powder around the feeders’ bases or mix it with bird food. Squirrels will avoid the strong smell and look elsewhere for food. Birds can handle the smell of chili powder, so don’t use too much of it.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a valuable and flexible substance that can keep rats away from your bird feeders. These animals don’t like the strong smell of vinegar, so they will stay away from places where it is vital.
Mix equal parts vinegar and water and spray it around your feeders. You can also soak cotton balls or rags in vinegar and place them near the feeders in a planned way. The smell will keep mice away and keep your birdseed safe.
Garlic
People often use garlic in their food, but you can also use it to keep squirrels away. Garlic’s strong smell keeps squirrels away, so it works well as a barrier. Put some crushed garlic cloves around your bird feeders.
You can also spread garlic powder or flakes around the area instead. Since the smell is strong, mice will stay away, leaving birds to eat in peace. Garlic also has many other uses and benefits, such as being suitable for birds’ health.
Predator Urine
Even though it sounds strange, predator pee is a natural way to keep squirrels away from bird feeders that work. Squirrels become afraid of predator urine, such as that of wolves and foxes. They will know when a predator is nearby and stay away from that place.
You can buy predator urine products online or at places that sell outdoor gear. Put the pee where it says to go, near your bird feeders. This smell-based squirrel repellent is a safe and gentle way to keep them away.
Remember that these smells need to be refilled and refreshed on a regular basis to keep working well. Make sure you try a couple of different smells before settling on one. Once your squirrel-proof feeders are set up, sit back and enjoy watching the birds eat!
Capsaicin
The chemical in chili powder and hot peppers that makes them spicy is called capsaicin. Also, it works great to keep rats away! If capsaicin is put in an area, it gives off a strong smell that rats don’t like. You can buy capsaicin in the form of a powder or a liquid and spread it around your property.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds smell strongly, and squirrels dislike it. They don’t have to be pitched; you can use the fields in other ways. You can put them in your yard, in trees, or anywhere else squirrels like to hang out.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another scent that squirrels avoid. This spice smells pleasant and welcoming to humans, yet it repels squirrels. The simplest way to use cinnamon is to sprinkle it throughout your property.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a herb with numerous culinary and medical applications. The pungent aroma of rosemary will deter squirrels. You may use it in a variety of ways, including scattering it around your yard or grinding it finely and mixing it with water in a spray bottle.
How Do You Keep Squirrels Out of Bird Feeders?
Open Your Feeder
It is more likely that squirrels will not visit a feeder in an open, bright area where animals can easily see them. Squirrels will be wary of coming over for food if you place a feeder in the middle of your yard.
Pole-Mount Your Bird Feeder
It is difficult for squirrels to move up curved vertical surfaces, such as metal poles. You can prevent them by mounting a bird feeder on a pole. It is essential to keep a few things in mind.
A squirrel cannot comfortably wrap its arms around a pole that is too small in diameter. Squirrel is holding onto a pole with his back foot and looting a bird feeder.
The squirrel is capable of climbing thin, skinny poles; it’s not easy, but it can be done. The best place to start is with a pole with a diameter of 4 inches. The bigger, the better.
Using metal instead of wood or PVC tubing is also beneficial. Plastic and wood can both be scraped and still provide sufficient resistance to keep the squirrel from climbing.
Putting Vaseline or any other slippery substance on the pole or hanging device of your bird feeders is another way to keep squirrels away. Even though squirrels are quick climbers, it’s almost impossible for them to get to the dish when the ground is wet. The Vaseline makes a shield that makes it hard for squirrels to grab the pole. Vaseline should be reapplied often, especially after it rains or snows.
Ensure That Your Feeder Is Out Of Reach Of Jumpers
A squirrel’s body was built for jumping; they are excellent jumpers. Bird feeders on poles near trees or buildings are sure to attract squirrels. You need to keep your bird feeder out of squirrels’ reach in order to prevent them from getting to it. In both vertical and horizontal directions, they can jump between four and ten feet.
Make Feeding Easier With A Baffle
To prevent squirrels from gaining access to bird feeders, baffles are cone- or dome-shaped devices mounted above or below feeders. Put a baffle over and under your feeders if you have a significant squirrel problem.
For more wary birds, baffles are especially important for feeders located in close proximity to trees or structures.
Use Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders
You can also purchase squirrel-proof bird feeders to protect your bird feed from squirrels. You can choose from a variety of types and styles, each doing the job differently.
Squirrel-proof bird feeders are based on the specifications you need, but you should choose ones that close their seed trays. Some use weight activation, while others use cages.
With weight-activated feeders, squirrel access to birdseed is limited based on its weight. As birds are much lighter, it will remain accessible to them. The light weight of the bird allows them to hop on and eat at any time. You can use this method to keep squirrels away from your bird seed without harming them.
Create a squirrel-repellent spray
Make your squirrel protection. You could also make your squirrel repellent with water, chili pepper, onion, and jalapeño. This can be done with any hot pepper, too. Once your spray is ready, put it in a spray bottle and put it where you don’t want the squirrels to go, like around bird feeders, porches, and other places.
Sprinkler System
Use a motion-detecting sprinkler. Water is also a natural squirrel deterrent. Squirrels dislike having water sprayed on them, so installing a sprinkler system will drive them away before they reach the bird seed. It will also dissuade other animals, like raccoons, skunks, and rabbits.
Use Peppermint Oil
Use peppermint oil in bird feeders to deter squirrels. Another aroma that squirrels dislike is peppermint oil. To make a spray, combine 10-15 drops of peppermint oil with 1 cup of water. Mix everything up, place it in a spray bottle, and spray around the bird feeders where you want the squirrels to stay away.
Refresh Frequently
Squirrels have a keen sense of smell, yet they can become habituated to specific aromas over time. To keep stink deterrents effective, they should be refreshed on a regular basis.
This may need to reapply the smell every few days or weeks, depending on the product you’re using. By replenishing the deterrents on a regular basis, you can keep the fragrance strong and squirrels away from your bird feeders.
Combine Multiple Scents
When it comes to getting to bird feeders, squirrels can be very stubborn, so you may need to use more than one scent to keep them away. For example, you could mix the smell of peppermint oil with that of vinegar or cayenne pepper.
By using more than one smell, you make an olfactory barrier that is stronger and more varied, making it less likely that squirrels will ignore it. Try out different mixtures until you find the one that keeps squirrels away from your bird feeders the best.
Use Predator Decoys And Sounds
Using predator decoys and sounds can also help keep squirrels away from bird feeders along with smelly ones. Squirrels are usually afraid of animals that could hurt them, so owl or hawk statues can keep them from going up to the feeder.
You can also make the barrier work even better by playing recordings of sounds that predators make, like bird of prey calls. Using more than one method together makes a more robust defense that is more likely to keep squirrels away and keep your bird boxes safe.
Final Words
Keeping squirrels away from bird feeders can be a challenge, but there are certain smells that they find repulsive and will help deter them. Some of these smells include peppermint, garlic, onion, vinegar, and so on. By incorporating these scents into your bird feeder area, you can create an environment that squirrels want to avoid.
Additionally, using squirrel-proof feeders and placing them in strategic locations can further discourage squirrels from accessing the bird food. Remember to clean your feeders regularly and remove any spilled seed to minimize squirrel attraction. With these tips, you can enjoy watching birds at your feeder without the pesky interference of squirrels.
FAQ
How Do You Put A Slinky On A Birdfeeder?
Attaching a slinky to a bird feeder pole can stop squirrels from climbing up to the feeder. To attach the slinky to the pole, loop it around it and secure it using zip ties or strong adhesive. The slinky’s bouncy nature will make it challenging for squirrels to crawl over it.
Are Homemade Baffles For Bird Feeders Good To Keep Away Squirrels?
Yes. Homemade baffles are very effective in keeping squirrels away from your bird feeders.
What Can I Spray To Keep Squirrels Away From My Bird Feeder?
To keep squirrels away from your feeders, spray a pepper-based repellent solution, such as Critter Ridder spray. Squirrels dislike the taste and scent, but birds don’t notice it.
