{"id":3037,"date":"2014-11-24T20:26:57","date_gmt":"2014-11-24T20:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/?p=3037"},"modified":"2025-01-11T09:40:56","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T14:40:56","slug":"is-there-really-such-a-thing-as-a-squirrel-proof-bird-feeder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/2014\/11\/is-there-really-such-a-thing-as-a-squirrel-proof-bird-feeder.html","title":{"rendered":"Is There Really Such a Thing as a Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is there really such a thing as a squirrel-proof bird feeder<\/a>? Is it even possible to keep those furry thieves away form your bird feeders?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t know about you, but one of the most frustrating aspects of feeding wild birds is losing half of your bird seed in one day to squirrels\u2014usually, one big, fat, clever squirrel, to be exact.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"hummingbird\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I used to hang my hummingbird feeder from my garden trellis…<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Until one day, I noticed a squirrel climbing stealthily up the metal trellis. From my office window, I saw him looking both ways, assessing his chances. Then he leaped onto the hummingbird feeder. He used his weight to rock the feeder as he hung by his toes from the top, sticking his head near the big yellow plastic flowers. He lapped up the sweet red liquid nectar from the feeder. The squirrel then swung the feeder harder until liquid slopped over the edges into a puddle on the ground. Then he scampered down and drank from the puddle on the pathway under the feeder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s when I moved to the feeder closer to the porch, where the cats patrol, and hung it from a pole that is a little more difficult for squirrels to climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Smart Are Squirrels?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Squirrels are smart. Super smart. According to an article called Squirrel Psychology, gray squirrels can learn from one another. Because they are hard-wired to recognize another squirrel as a potential threat to their food supplies, they watch what other squirrels do, and mimic their rivals’ actions to obtain more food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fellow named Steve Barley even designs assault courses for his squirrels. It’s funny as heck, even if it is a bit frightening:<\/p>\n\n\n\n