How to Keep Squirrels from Raiding the Bird Feeder

We tried every type of bird feeder to no avail. The squirrels defeated every method we used to prevent them from cleaning out the bird feeder. We were tired of throwing away money. Then we had a burst of inspiration: a one foot square of stiff plastic sheeting did the trick.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a sheet of thick, flexible plastic sheeting.
• Scissors
• pipe collar

1. 
    
   Birds can get to the feeder but squirrels cannot.

   Get a thick but flexible sheet of plexiglass. The sheet should be flexible, and neither so stiff that it stands straight nor so flimsy that it folds over.

2. 
    
   We spent at least 200 bucks on squirrel defeating strategies that didn't work. This one cost less than a dollar. It works!

   Cut the plastic sheeting into a square of approximately one foot on each edge. Put a hole in the middle of the same diameter as the pole upon which it will be placed.

3. 
    
   A sheet of flexible plastic is placed and anchored just below the bird feeder.

   Place the plastic sheet just beneath the bird-feeder just as is shown in the photo. Support it with a rubber or metal collar so that it doesn't slide down the pole.

Tips & Warnings

• The plastic pole in the photo is two inches in diameter. The plastic sheet is flexible but not flimsy. Put the plastic sheet in place with a supporting collar to prevent its sliding down the pole.
• The plastic sheet bird feeder protector works where other far more expensive attempts at preventing squirrel predation have failed.

[Mindee94]

on 6/20/2009 Excellent ideas. Thanks for the truly innovative tips on keeping squirrels out of the bird seed! ~Mindee~

[moeursalen]

on 6/20/2009 Luzja: Bird feeders in trees?--That's a tough one because squirrels are very much at home in trees. That's why I mounted the bird feeder on a slippery plastic pole.

[lujza]

on 6/20/2009 I have a bird-feeder hanging from a tree. Any idea how can I prevent the squirrels eating the bird food? Thanks!

[Willi]

on 12/5/2007 That makes sense. I'm going tell my grandma about this. She has a big problem with squirrels being a nuisance on her bird feeder!

[moeursalen]

on 12/5/2007 Hi, Willi... I used a standard plastic fitting from Home Depot which was made to fit the vertical plastic pipe. I had one lying around. A person could use just about any jerry-rigged fitting to keep the sheet of plastic from sliding down the pole. It's so simple.