Squirrels and Your Bird Feeder: The Backyard Battle with Furry-Tailed Beasts

The summer months are a wonderful time to slip out of hibernation and explore again the outside world around you. Trees sway lightly thanks to warm breezes traveling ever so effortlessly from the south bringing tropical calm...lakes glisten in the sunlight, aquatic life abounding...birds glide and soar above you appearing to dance in mid-air to their own summertime melodies.

As you prepare to settle down on your porch or in the backyard, perhaps you'll dust off the ol' bird feeder for another year of gazing. From all directions they approach, birds of all colors and sizes, of all sounds and demeanors, eager to share in the seed you have dutifully presented.

But wait...not so fast. How many have experienced the following? Bird feeder filled. Birds approach and begin consuming. An army of squirrels descend, scare away your winged friends, and devour the seed in the time it took you to fill the feeder. Very distressing indeed!

So begins the war of wills and determination, the psychological battle borne of strategy and forethought, the path to victory through endurance - and you'll lose every time. So here's a primer on the backyard battle with the furry-tailed beasts.

Tactics to Avoid

Guard Duty - Fill the feeder again and fix your attention there with an eye toward dissuading the furry-tailed invaders verbally or with various airborne projectiles. Doesn't work. Squirrels have a survival instinct, of course, but no memory. Moments later they'll be back as if for the first time. You can repeat this action again if you'd like, but you'll be there all day, day after day. They will outlast you.

Contraptions - Here is a recent ploy that failed. Hang the bird feeder from a string/rope/wire and attach it to a long pipe or piece of wood. Extend that piece from a tree. Run an old umbrella through the pipe or piece of wood until it rests midway between the tree and the hanging feeder. This plan seems to make sense, since the squirrel should not be able to circumvent the umbrella which extends a good distance in all directions. The result? One squirrel chewed through the umbrella, while the rest, in unearthly fashion, leapt over it.

Oils and Ointments - Greasing the pole on which the bird feeder sits is a common strategy, and has been known to thwart the little monsters, but only temporarily. As more attempt to scale the pole, the grease or oil wears off. This usually takes 10 minutes.

Pepper-coated Bird Seed - With the science-based information that squirrels loathe the chili pepper coated seed which does not affect birds' palates, this plan seems fool-proof. But defying science and all logic, squirrels are not impressed, burrowing their snouts into the seed, and then speed wiping their mouths with their paws.

Sprays and Odors - Bottled anti-squirrel sprays, unfortunately, have little effect...and less after any rain. In addition, a unique and rare option is coyote or fox urine-treated sacks. The common belief is that a squirrel would fear the scent of one of its natural enemies...nice try, but no.

Tactics to Employ

Sadly there is but one tactic that works, but it is a good one. Various manufacturers have produced bird feeders with bars on which birds can stand and eat. However, a squirrel's weight is too heavy, pushing the bar down and closed. They can't access the food, but it sure is fun watching them try.

The extended benefit for a bird watcher is expense...no more reloading the bird feeder three times a day...and anxiety. We can all return to admiring the lovable furry-tailed animals as they scurry to and fro. Now, let's work on the chipmunks.