{"id":17922,"date":"2011-01-15T15:05:28","date_gmt":"2011-01-15T20:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/?p=17922"},"modified":"2021-12-09T13:27:44","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T18:27:44","slug":"top-9-squirrel-intervention-suggestions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/top-9-squirrel-intervention-suggestions\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 9 Squirrel Intervention Suggestions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Squirrel-Washburn.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Squirrel-Washburn-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Squirrel-Washburn-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Squirrel-Washburn-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Squirrel-Washburn-1280x719.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Squirrel-Washburn-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Squirrel-Washburn.jpg 1892w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Gray squirrel at a feeder. Photo by Becky Washburn.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Gray squirrel at a feeder. <em>Photo by Becky Washburn<\/em>.<\/figcaption>\n              <\/figure><\/div>\n<p>When we put the question of squirrel deterrence to our Facebook fans, your ideas ran the gamut:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Obstruction<\/strong><br \/>\nThe most common tactic we heard was to put up some kind of baffle along the squirrel\u2019s access route. Paint can lids, plastic funnels, stovepipe sections, and old LPs and CDs are hard to navigate around. But alas, not impossible.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Elevation<\/strong><br \/>\nFeeders installed up high are harder to get to\u2014and there\u2019s always a chance your squirrels are afraid of heights. Unfortunately, stratospheric feeders can be hard to fill. One commenter ingeniously puts her feeder on a retractable clothesline.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sidebar-alignright sidebar-space order-bottom\"><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" id=\"hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3.png\"  alt=\"New self-paced course: Learn How to Identify Bird Songs, Click to Learn More\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(95627, 'a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3', {}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n<!--<span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">\r\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" id=\"hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">-->\r\n        <!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]-->\r\n        <!--<a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\"  target=\"_blank\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd.png\"  alt=\"Join the Cornell Lab\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\r\n    <\/span>\r\n    <script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script>\r\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n        hbspt.cta.load(95627, '394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd', {});\r\n    <\/script>\r\n<\/span>-->\r\n<!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<strong>3. Isolation<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you have the right yard layout, hanging your feeder well away from trees and other high points may keep away squirrel paratroop squads.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Lubrication<\/strong><br \/>\nA once-popular method to thwart squirrels is to grease your feeder poles. Though effective in the short term, this is one solution we recommend against. If birds get into the grease, it can seriously impair their feathers\u2019 waterproofing and insulation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Combination<br \/>\n<\/strong>Perhaps the most telling sign of the resourcefulness of squirrels is the number of commenters who resort to a combination of tactics, realizing that there is no single method of squirrelproofing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/squirrel-1.jpg\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"A Gray squirrel enjoys some birdseed at a feeder.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>A gray squirrel manages to get into a feeder and enjoy some birdseed.<\/figcaption>\n              <\/figure><\/div>\n<p><strong>6. Altercation<br \/>\n<\/strong>Some of the most satisfied responses came from people with large dogs or neighborhood predators such as coyotes or hawks. (Though cats may also scare away squirrels, it\u2019s a better idea to keep them inside, since cats are also a major threat to birds.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Innovation<\/strong><br \/>\nFeeders with built-in baffles; wire squirrel guards; counterweighted tray doors that slam shut under a squirrel\u2019s weight; battery-operated feeders intended to fling mammalian invaders aside\u2014anti-squirrel feeders are testament to the human imagination. Unfortunately, shortly after they go up, they\u2019re often testament to squirrelish imagination as well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. Separation<\/strong><br \/>\nSome frustrated bird watchers accept d\u00e9tente, setting aside an entire, easy-access feeder for squirrels, and another set of feeders for their birds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>9. Capitulation<\/strong><br \/>\n\u201cSquirrels are birds, too.\u201d \u201cFeed them both.\u201d \u201cIf you can\u2019t beat \u2019em, join \u2019em.\u201d These were some of the happiest responses we heard. Perhaps the surest route to peace of mind lies in making peace. Just don\u2019t call it surrender.<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally published in the Winter 2011 issue of <\/em>BirdScope<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When we put the question of squirrel deterrence to our Facebook fans, your ideas ran the gamut: 1. Obstruction The most common tactic we heard was to put up some<a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/top-9-squirrel-intervention-suggestions\/\" title=\"ReadTop 9 Squirrel Intervention Suggestions\">&#8230; Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":17927,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc":0,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc_title":"","_birdpress_featured_image":false,"_birdpress_hero_toggle":false,"_birdpress_hero_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_image_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_style":"default","_birdpress_hero_ratio":"","_birdpress_hero_h1":"","_birdpress_hero_media_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_media_array_id":[],"_birdpress_hero_media_array":[],"_birdpress_hero_media":0,"_birdpress_hero_video_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_video":0,"_birdpress_hero_youtube":"","_birdpress_hero_content":true,"_birdpress_hero_byline":"","_birdpress_hero_byline_bottom":"","_birdpress_hero_button_link":"","_birdpress_hero_button_text":"","_birdpress_hero_button_color":"","_birdpress_hero_date":false,"original_guid":"","_birdpress_hide_search":false,"_birdpress_page_width":"","_birdpress_global_cta":false,"_birdpress_widget_sidebar":"","_birdpress_next_article":0,"_birdpress_next_article_title":"","_birdpress_prev_article":0,"_birdpress_prev_article_title":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_sub_navigation":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_title":false,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation":"","_birdpress_postType":"both","_birdpress_categoryID":0,"_birdpress_tagID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostTitle":"","_birdpress_menuID":0,"_birdpress_menuName":"","_birdpress_listHeader":"","_birdpress_listLayout":"card-display","_birdpress_listColumns":"","_birdpress_maxItems":12,"_birdpress_listPaginate":true,"_birdpress_displaySort":true,"_birdpress_sortOrder":"DESC","_birdpress_sortBy":"date","_birdpress_listID":"","_birdpress_listClass":"","_birdpress_displayImages":true,"_birdpress_displayCaptions":false,"_birdpress_displayExcerpts":false,"_birdpress_attTop":"","_birdpress_attBottom":"","_birdpress_showLogos":false,"_birdpress_post_logo":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_topic":0,"wds_primary_content-format":0,"wds_primary_cornell-lab-project":0,"wds_primary_host-project":0,"wds_primary_read-more-tag":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[995,1015],"content-format":[1055],"cornell-lab-project":[],"host-project":[],"read-more-tag":[],"class_list":["post-17922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-problems","topic-squirrels","content-format-article"],"metadata":{"associated-posts":[""],"wpa_off":[""],"_edit_lock":["1639074385:2"],"_edit_last":["2"],"wdsi_message_id":[""],"wdsi_do_not_show":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-adv":[","],"custom-byline":[""],"banner-video":[""],"banner-image":[""],"fallback-videobanner-image":[""],"original_guid":[""],"banner-text-style":["light"],"featured-image-display":["no"],"_birdpress_next_article":[""],"_birdpress_prev_article":[""],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_image":[""],"_thumbnail_id":["17927"],"dsq_thread_id":["4036125686"],"banner-style":["default"],"hide-from-search":["no"],"banner-transcript":[""],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_description":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-nofollow":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-noindex":[""]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17922\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxon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