Do plastic squirrel baffles work?
Dome baffles are highly effective at keeping squirrels from accessing a bird feeder. Typically made of strong, clear plastic, you can be attach them above or below your feeder.
How high off the ground should a squirrel baffle be?
5 feetIn order to work properly the top of the baffle must be mounted at least 5 feet off the ground; squirrels can jump between 4 to 4½ feet vertically.
What can I use as a squirrel baffle?
What can I use as a squirrel baffle? For our homemade squirrel baffle we used a stainless steel bowl. But you can use a 5" or 6" galvanized duct pipe to slide over your bird feeder pole. A slinky slid over the feeder pole is also an option.
Can raccoons get around a squirrel baffle?
Adding a steel raccoon baffle to your feeder pole is the most effective way to stop raccoons. Squirrel baffles won't do the job. Raccoon baffles are much larger, a full 10" in diameter and about 2 feet tall, preventing the crafty critters from reaching over or "hugging" their way over it.
Does aluminum foil deter squirrels?
Rodents hate the feeling of foil between their teeth, too, so placing strips of foil in your garden mulch will help deter squirrels and some bugs. If squirrels are eating the bark of your tree, you can also wrap the trunk in foil.
Where do you place a squirrel baffle?
Make sure to install your baffle high enough above the ground, at least four feet, out of squirrel-jumping distance. Squirrels can climb the most slickest poles with ease so if your bird feeder is mounted on a pole, you will need to install a squirrel proof baffle below the feeder on the pole itself.
What is the best way to repel squirrels?
Natural Squirrel RepellentsSpread predator urine around your garden. ... Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, pepper flakes, and/or garlic pepper on and around your plants when they are ready to bloom. ... Birds can't taste capsaicin, so add some cayenne pepper to those bird feeders to deter squirrels.More items...
How do I keep squirrels from climbing my 4x4 post?
Mounting a squirrel baffle on your post prevents squirrels and small raccoons from climbing or jumping up to the bird feeder or house. Erva squirrel baffles are made entirely in the US.
Can I make my own squirrel baffle?
0:124:28Soda bottle squirrel baffle- Cheapest and best squirrel baffle? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe idea was to cut the bottom off and cut the sides into these quarter inch strips. These stripsMoreThe idea was to cut the bottom off and cut the sides into these quarter inch strips. These strips were going to blow around in the wind. Create a visual block.
Can squirrels climb 4 inch PVC pipe?
Can squirrels climb PVC pipe? No, they cannot, especially when it's wide enough. When you cover your bird feeder's pole with PVC pipe, it creates a slippery surface that ensures that the squirrels can't climb up because they can't grip it easily like a tree.
What smells keep squirrels away from bird feeders?
Spice it up: Pepper is a natural squirrel deterrent. Apply a pepper-based repellent product, such as Critter Ridder® spray, directly to your feeders to keep them away from your offerings. Squirrels hate the taste and smell, but birds don't notice it.
How do I keep squirrels from climbing my shepherds hook?
The best way to keep squirrels and raccoons off feeders is to use a pole or shepherds hook with pole baffles installed or hanging baffles installed above the feeder. We DO NOT recommend adding grease, oil or petroleum jelly to a pole or hanger to make it too slippery for squirrels and raccoons to climb.
How high should a baffle be on a bird feeder?
4-5 feetUse Properly Sized Baffles on Tall Poles The top of the baffle should be 4-5 feet above the ground to prevent jumping. The pole must be tall enough so feeders stay above the top of the baffle.
How do you hang a squirrel baffle on a tree?
Roll the baffle into a cone shape, tighter at the top than the bottom. Or leave it straight, like a stovepipe, but not so loose-fitting that squirrels can skinny up the tree inside it. Remove any interfering limbs and mount the baffle so that the bottom is 5 to 6 feet above the ground, as squirrels can jump that high.
Can a squirrel climb a 6 inch PVC pipe?
No, they cannot, especially when it's wide enough. When you cover your bird feeder's pole with PVC pipe, it creates a slippery surface that ensures that the squirrels can't climb up because they can't grip it easily like a tree.
How do I keep squirrels from climbing my 4x4 post?
Mounting a squirrel baffle on your post prevents squirrels and small raccoons from climbing or jumping up to the bird feeder or house. Erva squirrel baffles are made entirely in the US.
What is the purpose of squirrel baffles?
Serves to deter large birds. Other uses a squirrel baffle has is not always to keep rodents out of bird feeders, but more so to deter larger, more nuisance birds. Not at all effective against Starlings, but a squirrel baffle sitting on top of a bird feeder can prevent pigeons or crows in rare circumstances. How that works is the squirrel baffle ...
Why do squirrel baffles have to be fixed higher up?
Squirrel baffles would be fixed higher up the pole, as far as it would go; as to prevent squirrels simply jumping or climbing over it with help from a nearby land bridge in the yard.
How to stop squirrels from climbing on bird feeder?
You can fix a baffle on a pole to prevent squirrels climbing up, or fix a baffle directly on top of a hanging bird feeder to prevent squirrels descending down.
How to mount a squirrel baffle?
How you'd mount the squirrel baffle is with a twist of a bolt, that pushes up against the metal pole to prevent it slipping down. Movement is allowed on larger baffles in which helps towards kicking off squirrels as it caves in with any weight sitting on top. You can fix a baffle on a pole to prevent squirrels climbing up, ...
Why does my squirrel baffle snap?
The wider the squirrel baffle is the flimsier the squirrel baffle becomes; its therefore possible to see the plastic disc snap every time squirrels attempt to climb over it, as its unable to hold the squirrel weight.
How far away from squirrels can you put bird feeders?
You must therefore isolate your bird feeding station by placing it not so much out in the open, far away from cover in vegetation - but at least 4ft. away from anything squirrels can access the bird food or feeders via an indirect route they can climb up and around.
Where do you hang squirrel baffles?
This time the squirrel baffle must be fixed on top of any one hanging bird feeder, hung off the bracket of a bird feeding station or tree branch.
Why do squirrels baffle their nests?
While there are several other ways to keep them away from your birdfeeder, a squirrel baffle ensures to hamper these naughty creatures from getting inside a bird feeder and damaging your nestling.
What is the purpose of a bird baffle?
The main purpose of this baffle is to protect the feeder and keep rodents, raccoons, and squirrels away from birdhouses.
How to grease a birdhouse?
Consider greasing the poles with birdhouses and add the baffles below and above the feeders on a pole. For greasing, you can use Vaseline, cooking oil, or any other greasy element.
How to keep squirrels away from birdhouse?
Fortunately, there is a great way to keep these critters away from your birdhouse; use squirrel baffles. You may wonder how does a squirrel baffle works. Well, baffles specifically serve as a blocker to thwart squirrels from jumping onto the feeder. They serve as a shield and protect a birdhouse from stubborn animals, including squirrels.
What protects a birdhouse from rain and snow?
Along with giving superior protection from predators, this baffle protects a birdhouse from rain and snow.
How to distract squirrels from feeders?
Try treating squirrels at any other place by adding the food they prefer to a separate squirrel feeder. It will help you distract them from feeders.
What is the best baffle for a bird feeder?
Dome – Many experienced birders believe it is one of the best baffles. Whether you want to attach it with a hanging or mounted bird feeder, you can use this baffle effectively. Add it in an upside-down position if you are using it on a pole.
How to make squirrel baffles?
Here’s a picture of our homemade squirrel baffle: To make it, simply do the following: 1) Take an empty bag of birdseed (the largest size you have available). 2) One end will already be open. Open the other end sufficiently to be able to fit over the top of the pole your bird feeder is on. 3) With the larger opening downwards, place ...
How to get squirrels to climb up a baffle?
If you find that squirrels are circumventing the baffle, there is another configuration you can try. Simply tie the bottom end of the bag as well as the top . This will create, in essence, a “balloon” that squirrels will find it hard to grab onto and climb up.
Can squirrels grab a bag?
But otherwise, we’ve found that the bag is large, flexible and smooth enough that if a squirrel tries to jump onto it, they will rarely if ever be able to grab hold.
Do squirrels climb up plastic bags?
This is incredible. The plastic bag worked so well. The squirrels stand on their hind legs looking through the bottom of the bag baffled and I heard them try to climb up the bag (not successful and the sound of the bag scared them). There's another squirrel on top of the fence eyeing the bird food for the past few hours but hasn't been able to get near.
Can squirrels eat bird feeders?
If you have a bird feeder in your yard , you will surely have had the experience of finding a squirrel sitting there , eating its fill and keeping birds from getting access to the feeder. No matter how cute you think squirrels are, you presumably want birds to be able to eat from the bird feeder. But keeping them away is a challenge, because of their intelligence and persistence, as this video illustrates:
Do squirrels jump around baffles?
And if they try to go up the inside, it blocks their way completely in a manner that smaller squirrel baffles do not, effectively preventing them from jumping onto the edge of and climbing around the baffle. If you find that squirrels are circumventing the baffle, there is another configuration you can try.
