To each their own as they say. That’s certainly true when it comes to our feelings about squirrels in our backyards.

To some, squirrels can be a menace and you just wish you could  permanently evict them from the premises! It can be maddening when they eat all of the birdseed that you have so lovingly laid out for your bird friends. If you don’t want them, or would at the very least do everything you can to deter them, this article is for you.

To others, you may love their antics and the sheer entertainment they provide. If you don’t mind the furry little critters and would like to offer them some treats; this article will give you the best tips for attracting them.

Either way, here are some tips and facts about squirrels that will help you.

• 3-4 babies are born in each litter.
• Squirrels can eat their weight in seed during one week.
• Because they wear them down eating and gnawing, squirrels front teeth grow 6 inches per year.
• Squirrels can run as fast as 20 mph.
• Squirrels are most active the first two hours after sunrise during mild weather and in winter around noon.

Combating Squirrels is war.  Although there is no way to actually keep them out of your yard.  You can however, wage war and take proactive steps in trying to deter them.  We will first take a look at some things to do if you do not want these furry little creatures frolicking around your yard and eating up all of your bird treats.

Then, if you truly love these furry friends, and find joy and entertainment with them during these dull winter days,we will give you the tools you need to attract them for hours of fun.

Squirrel Proof your yard. Squirrels NOT welcome.

Get any group of bird feeding enthusiasts together and squirrel stories will soon come up!  If you want to keep squirrels from your feeder, most will agree it’s a challenge.  However, through a littel attention to feeder placement and the proper use of “Baffles”, you can minimize squirrel usage and enjoy the feeder of your choice.  If that’s not enough, there are several “squirrel proof” feeders on the marketing.

Here are some of the best ways to keep the squirrels away from your feeders by squirrel proofing your backyard.

Sprinkling Cayenne pepper on your suet cakes will keep the squirrels and raccoons at bay. With just one bite, these little rascals will be running for a drink of water. Don’t worry though, as birds do not taste or smell the way mammals do, this pepper will not bother them a bit.

One way you can  hang a bird feeder to that it will not be disturbed by squirrels, is to string around six empty bottles to each side. You can then punch a hole in the  bottom, feed some wire through the hole and then through the bottles open top. When the squirrels try to run over these bottles, they will spin around and knock them off.

You could also enclose chicken wire around the feeder, this will enable the birds to still reach the food which the squirrels can not.

If hanging your feeder from a branch, protect it by using a baffle above the feeder.  Make sure the baffle is is at least 1/3 larger in circumference that the feeder. Our recommended baffles for hanging feeders are Super Dome Baffle, Hanging Squirrel Deflector Baffle, and Mandarin Hanging Baffle.

If using a pole, use a baffle below the feeder and mounted to the pole to make access difficult.  We recommend the Torpedo Squirrel Baffle.

Use what you know.  Squirrels can jump up as high as 6 feet straight off the ground and across (horizontally), at least 8 feet.  Place your feeders at least 8 feet from any jumping off point and at least 6  feet off the ground. If you are using a baffle below the feeder, place it 4.5 ft off the ground.

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