Love them or hate them, no one can deny the greediness of squirrels when it comes to bird food. As much as we want to encourage all wildlife into our gardens by setting up feeders and water stations, it can still be frustrating when squirrels are the only ones who benefit from it. They may look adorable, but squirrels aren't a huge fan of sharing and will scare away birds from feeders and store any food they can't eat then. So in today's blog, we'll share some easy and humane ways to stop squirrels from eating bird food so your feathered friends can enjoy it too!

What to buy to keep squirrels out of bird feeders?

Squirrel-proof bird feeders are cleverly designed to stop squirrels from eating bird food in the garden. The trick is to cut off access to the food supply, but many squirrel-proof feeders work in different ways. 

Squirrel Buster® range

Squirrel Buster feeders are chew/rust proof and hold their unbeatable reputation while still being safe and humane to pests! This feeder features closing metal ports that shut when squirrels or larger birds land on the feeder, and a robust lid that closes firmly with clasps to prevent squirrels from accessing the food through the top.

Squirrel-proof caged feeders

The caged feeder variety is normally made up of seed, suet, and nut feeders that are surrounded by a cage. The holes of the mesh cage are small enough to stop squirrels and large birds from getting the food, but large enough to let small garden birds in. A good quality caged feeder will be made of metal, so it's chew-proof and can withstand all weather conditions for year-round feeding. Here are a few great quality caged feeders.

Stop squirrels eating bird food with more feeders

If you notice a squirrel going to a particular feeder or area in the garden, place other bird feeders in different locations. This will allow wild birds to grab some food while the squirrel is distracted at another feeder. 

How to squirrel-proof bird feeders?

Ground feeders work wonderfully to attract various birds with different feeding habits, but it's no use when squirrels take all the food and destroy the feeder. So you may want to opt-in to using a Ground Guard to limit pests like squirrels and large birds from getting to the feeder, so the small colourful birds can have a chance at getting some. Click the video below to watch how the Ground Guard - Small Mesh works well with keeping out most Squirrels. 

Distract squirrels with peanuts!

If the sight of squirrels not being able to get to the bird's food starts pulling at your heartstrings, you don't have to completely stop squirrels eating bird food when you put out a feeder, especially for them too. By placing a Squirrel Feeder in your outdoor space, well away from any bird feeders, squirrels will soon learn this is the area for them to feed. 

Made from naturally durable FSC-certified timber, this heavy-duty Squirrel Feeder is designed to withstand the demands of squirrel feeding and is a great way to distribute their favourite food...peanuts! A perfect distraction for keeping their paws away from your bird food and a fun way to feed squirrels in the garden. To help squirrels notice their feeder more quickly, prop the flap open with a stick, so they learn how to access the food.  

This squirrel feeder works most effectively when temporarily taking bird food out of the garden, so squirrels won't get confused about what feeding area to go to.