Critter Solutions

Can you really blame critters for taking advantage of the free buffet at your backyard feeders?
Finding food is a full time job for them and when they find your unprotected bird feeders, they must believe they have hit the proverbial jackpot!

But sooner or later, your patience is likely to wear thin with these visitors and you will be ready to engage them in a battle for your backyard. Fortunately, there are some easy solutions you can employ to help regain control of your feeders.

Baffling Your Squirrels
Sooner or later these cute little members of the rodent family are probably going to cross over the line at your feeders. Often agile beyond belief and seemingly able to solve complex problems, squirrels can consume large amounts of bird feed and may damage expensive feeders.

Stovepipe baffles, when placed properly on a pole system, can make it virtually impossible for a squirrel to climb onto your pole or post-mounted feeders. These smooth metal cylinders are effective when positioned on the pole at least five feet above the ground and when the pole is set at least 10 feet away from any tree, bush, fence, or other surface from which a squirrel can jump directly onto the feeders. This setup turns any feeder hung on the pole system into a squirrel-proof bird feeder.

a) WBU's Advanced Pole System (APS) Squirrel Baffle

b) WBU's Advanced Pole System (APS) Raccoon Baffle

c) Universal Squirrel Baffle (fits most poles)

a) b) c)

 

If you hang your feeder from a tree, accessible only from above, use a domed squirrel baffle. Position the dome directly above the feeder to stop squirrels from climbing down the hanging chain or wire. This shield wabbles, knocking the squirrel off-balance to cause them to fall. Note: Keep the feeder as far from the tree trunk as possible to avoid the critter jumping sideways.

 

Another solution is to put your feeder behind bars by retrofitting it with an exclusion cage. These cages come in many sizes and dimensions that will protect almost any feeder from squirrels and large nuisance birds, too. Note: This cage does not keep out chipmunks.