How to Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders

Squirrels are strong jumpers, patient climbers and quick learners, so no single trick stops all of them. What works is layering a few simple defenses, starting with where the feeder hangs. Get the placement right and a baffle or a caged feeder handles most of what is left.

Start with placement: the 5-7-9 rule

Most squirrel problems are launch problems. A squirrel that can reach a feeder by jumping will, so the first job is putting it out of range. Birding retailers such as Duncraft and the Audubon Shop teach a simple guideline for that:

• 5 feet off the ground, so a squirrel cannot jump straight up to it.
• 7 feet from anything it can climb, such as fences, deck railings, sheds, trees and house walls, since squirrels leap about that far sideways.
• 9 feet below overhanging branches or roof edges, so nothing can drop onto it from above.

Treat it as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Some squirrels jump farther than others, and a determined one will test every gap. In a small yard you may not find a spot that clears every number, which is where a pole and baffle earn their place.

Use a pole with a baffle

A freestanding pole takes trees and railings out of the picture, and a baffle stops the one route left: climbing the pole itself. A baffle is a cone or cylinder that sits on the pole below the feeders. A squirrel climbing up meets a wide, smooth surface it cannot get around or grip.

• Mount the baffle high enough. It has to sit above the height a squirrel can jump to from the ground, so follow the maker's minimum. On our pole that is at least 48 inches.
• Hang the feeders above the baffle, not beside it, and keep them clear of anything a squirrel could jump from.
• Place the pole in the open. A baffled pole next to a fence is only as good as the jump from that fence.

Our 94-inch bird feeder pole ($53.99) comes with a 16-inch cone baffle, four detachable hooks and five height settings from 32 to 94 inches, so you can set the feeders high enough to clear the baffle.

Choose a caged feeder

A caged feeder puts a metal cage around the seed tube with gaps sized for small songbirds. Chickadees, finches and nuthatches slip through to the ports, while squirrels, and larger birds, cannot reach them. It works well where you cannot get perfect placement, because even a squirrel that lands on the feeder cannot get at the seed.

Two things to know. A cage also keeps out bigger birds such as cardinals and jays, so if those are the birds you want, pair a baffled pole with an open feeder instead. And look for a coated metal build, since squirrels chew through plastic.

Our squirrel proof bird feeder ($38.99) has a spaced metal cage around a clear tube with four feeding ports, a coated, chew resistant frame and a buckle lid for refilling. It is about 9.25 inches tall and hangs from a branch, a hook or a shepherd pole.

Pick seed squirrels like less

Changing the menu will not stop a hungry squirrel on its own, but it makes your feeder less of a reward.

• Safflower seed. Many squirrels are not interested in it, while cardinals, chickadees and titmice eat it. Some squirrels still do, so treat it as a filter rather than a fix.
• Nyjer (thistle) in a finch feeder. Tiny seed in small ports that finches feed from and squirrels rarely bother with.
• Clean up spilled seed. Seed on the ground trains squirrels to visit. A tray under the feeder, or regular raking, cuts that down.

Hot pepper seed is sold as a squirrel deterrent because mammals feel capsaicin's heat. It has long been said that birds do not, although Audubon has reported research suggesting birds may sense spice after all, and some bird stores advise against using it. If you want to try it, weigh that up first.

What does not work

• Grease or oil on the pole. It can get onto birds' feathers and ruin their insulation. Skip it.
• A feeder on a branch with a baffle above it. Squirrels simply drop from the next branch over. Branch hanging only works where the 5-7-9 spacing already holds.
• Relying on a single trick. A squirrel that finds one way in keeps trying. Placement, a baffle and a caged feeder together hold up much better than any one alone.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 5-7-9 rule for bird feeders?

Hang the feeder at least 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet from anything a squirrel can climb or jump from, and 9 feet below overhanging branches or roofs. It is a guideline, not a guarantee, since some squirrels jump farther.

How high should a squirrel baffle be on a pole?

High enough that a squirrel cannot jump over it from the ground. Follow the maker's minimum; for our pole's 16-inch cone baffle that is at least 48 inches off the ground, with the feeders hung above it.

Do squirrel proof bird feeders really work?

A caged feeder keeps squirrels from reaching the ports even when they land on it, which makes it one of the more reliable options. It also keeps out larger birds, so it suits yards that mostly get small songbirds.

What seed do squirrels not like?

Safflower is the most common choice, since many squirrels leave it alone while cardinals and chickadees eat it. It is not foolproof, and some squirrels will eat it anyway.

Our picks

• Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, 4 Ports, Metal Cage ($38.99): a caged tube feeder that lets small songbirds through and keeps squirrels off the seed.
• Squirrel Baffle Bird Feeder Pole, 94 Inch ($53.99): a freestanding pole with a 16-inch cone baffle, four hooks and five height settings.

Keeping birds coming through winter? Read our bird bath heater guide, or browse the full backyard birding collection.

Bottom line

Put the feeder out of jumping range first, then add a baffled pole or a caged feeder for whatever placement cannot solve, and keep the ground under it clean. Layered together, those defenses stop most squirrels without harming them or the birds.