Bird feeders are a wonderful addition to your garden. These ornaments can attract a wide variety of birds, and this is a pleasing sight. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out as well as we hoped. Why? Because of squirrels. Bird feeders are one of the top things squirrels love. These pests can ransack your bird feeder, and steal everything in it. This leaves nothing for the birds and is highly irritating. So, what can you do about this, and how do you prevent a squirrel attack?
Ways of preventing a squirrel attack in your garden
Grey squirrels are an invasive species that is always after food. This is why they love bird feeders. It means they no longer have to work for their food and can enjoy an all you can eat buffet. Now, the easiest way to prevent a squirrel attack is simply by getting a hanging bird feeder.
Make sure that this is hung a long distance from any trunks or branches. The squirrels should not be able to jump onto the bird feeder. Also, make sure that you’re using a thin pole, or one that is slippery. You do not want them to be able to easily climb up the pole.
Another way to prevent a squirrel attack is with a baffle. This is basically a cone that you place around the pole of your bird feeder. Squirrels cannot climb past this barrier and therefore cannot get at the food in your bird feeder. These baffles should also be placed if you’re hanging your bird feeder. This will add extra protection.
Try to repel squirrels from your bird feeders
Something else you can do to prevent a squirrel attack on your bird feeders is to spray squirrel repellant onto the feeder or the pole. These repellants are available at most garden centres and hardware shops. It’s also possible to make your own squirrel repellants.
These repellants often include things like white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper and garlic. Simply place these at the base of your bird feeder. Something else that works well is white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. People also report using essential oils. Something that you might want to do is mix all of this together. For example, you can mix water together with vinegar, and place this in a spray bottle. To this mixture, you can then add pepper and garlic. This should make an effective squirrel repellant.
If you a keen gardener or bird lover an are still having problems with squirrels after all your efforts, you can always call Diamond for advice. Our team of London squirrel control experts can come to your home and implement a comprehensive squirrel control regime.