The Bird Feeders Squirrels Can’t Outsmart – and the Deterrents That Help Keep Them Away
Sick of squirrels eating all your birdseed? Here are the best squirrel-proof bird feeders and extra supplies that'll keep your seeds safe.
It happens to the best of us. You get a beautiful new bird feeder, you set it up, and you wait for the wildlife to start flocking. First you get a chickadee, maybe a cardinal. Things are going great. Then a squirrel shows up. Then so do his cousins. And boy oh boy can they eat.
Before you know it, you're flying through bird seed just to keep the local squirrel population fat and happy, and the birds you hoped to feed get shouldered out.
Not all "squirrel proof" bird feeders are created equal. Squirrels are clever, relentless, and surprisingly athletic. Read the reviews of literally any product, and you'll find at least one poor soul who says their squirrels outsmarted it in an afternoon.
But these are the squirrel proof bird feeders that'll give you the best chance, plus some added deterrents for good measure. Give them a try, and get back to attracting birds to your backyard.
The Heavy-Duty Ones
Brome is the gold standard of anti-squirrel bird feeders, and the Squirrel Buster is their flagship product. It's weight-activated, which means it holds up dainty songbirds with no problem, but it slams closed when anything heavier (and squirrel-shaped) climbs aboard.
The deluxe version of the Squirrel Buster, this one holds four times as much seed! The trigger weight is adjustable, so you can even discourage bigger birds like grackles.
If the Brome models are a more than you're willing to spend, this dupe works on the same principle, and actually has very good reviews!
The Fun Ones
This one's good clean fun. When a squirrel steps onto the circular perch ring, a battery-powered motor activates, spinning the perch and gently throwing it off. It doesn’t hurt the squirrels, but it sure does discourage them.
Another weight-triggered mechanism, this one has a beautiful classic birdhouse shape. And it has the added (slightly cruel) bonus of a huge window your squirrels can stare through forlornly.
Okay, so technically this is one isn't squirrel-proof. It's actually for the squirrels, but I absolutely love it. And if you're banishing the squirrels from your bird feeders, you have to give them something in return.
The Baffles
If you want a truly squirrel-proof feeder, you can't put it in a tree. They'll just climb or drop straight down to get it. The best place for a feeder is in the middle of an open space, on top of a long pole with a baffle. What's a baffle, you say?
If you want a truly squirrel-proof feeder, you can't put it in a tree. They'll just climb or drop straight down to get it. The best place for a feeder is in the middle of an open space, on top of a long pole with a baffle. What's a baffle, you say? This is a baffle! A large, inverted funnel that keeps squirrels from shimmying their way up a pole.
Here's the SUV version of the baffle pole, with hooks for all kinds of feeders you want to keep well away from your resident squirrels.
A bit out of left field, but some people absolutely swear by it. Slide a slinky over your pole and attach it to the top. It'll create an unstable, weight-sensitive nightmare for squirrels looking for purchase.
The Bird Seed
This is a different approach to the problem. If the squirrels do get to the bird seed, the last line of defense is to make it taste terrible. Did you know that birds can't taste capsaicin, the chemical compound that makes chilies hot? That means they'll chomp away happily at these seeds, while squirrels give them a wide berth.
