So, how do you stop squirrels from stealing your bird food?

While it certainly helps to know where to put your bird feeders to help stop squirrels stealing bird food. But squirrels are great problem solvers and can usually navigate their way to food if hungry. Generally, squirrels will find their way to your feeders no matter where you place them, so using squirrel-resistant feeders is often the only way to stop them from competing with your garden birds for their nutritious bird food!

Bird feeders designed with squirrels in mind will restrict them from being able to steal bird food, and it won’t be too long before they give up and do not come back:

• The Squirrel Buster® Bird Feeder has a 0.75-litre capacity ideal for smaller gardens. Designed to close once a squirrel climbs aboard, which stops squirrels from accessing bird food. And it features a patented ventilation system that lets fresh air in the bottom while allowing warm, humid air to escape at the top to keep bird food fresher for longer!
• If you have a larger garden and attract more garden birds, the Squirrel Buster® Plus Bird Seed Feeder, with its 3-litre capacity, is the better option. This bird feeder features the same technology as the regular Squirrel Buster feeder. However, this version is larger, and it offers birds longer periods of uninterrupted feeding time since it needs refilled less often.
• Finally, the Squirrel Proof/Cage Seed Feeder is the ultimate solution against bird food-stealing squirrels. This robust bird feeder features a durable cage with a bird feeder inside to prevent squirrels from getting to your bird food. It also features a centre-mounted bird feeder that can be removed for easy cleaning and refilling.

Providing birds with nutritious food that squirrels don’t like

Squirrels love nuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, corn and most fruits. And since they love these foods, they are drawn like a magnet towards bird feeders as they usually hold their favourite foods! So if this sounds like your garden bird feeders, you could try filling them with different food that birds enjoy, but squirrels are not interested in. Bird food like niger seeds, safflower seeds and millet will keep your bird’s bellies full, and you can be sure that no devious squirrels will be trying to steal any of it!

Offering squirrels an alternative is a good way to deter them!

If all else has failed and the hungry squirrels are not giving up and are still scaring your birds away, offering them a separate food source could be the solution. It is most likely that squirrels visiting your garden are doing so because there is no food elsewhere, so you will be helping nature by giving them some treats! Squirrels have a sweet tooth for peanuts and sunflower seeds, as mentioned before, so you will keep everyone happy by putting small portions of food out in an area away from your bird feeders.

Quick tips to help stop squirrels stealing bird food

• Provide squirrel-resistant feeders for your birds.
• Offer bird food that squirrels do not like.
• Clean up any bird food that birds may have spilt while they feast.
• Store your bird food in a sealed container in your garage or garden shed, so squirrels can’t get easy access.
• Provide a food source for squirrels to keep them away from your bird feeders.
• If your feeders hang from string or a washing line, it can be a good deterrent to place plastic bottles, sections of plastic pipes or even a ‘slinky’ kids’ toy, making it harder for them to get to your feeders.

If you have any questions on how to stop squirrels stealing bird food or queries about anything else, please send us a message, and we will be happy to help.