Stop squirrels eating your garden bird food with these tips | UK | News
When bird lovers fill their feeders, it is a great disappointment to see that only gray squirrels easily filter all the seeds and fatbols.
Over the years, people have tried many tactics to overcome these agile visitors, such as cooking on poles and oil on oils and oil on oil and oil in the hope that squirrels will shift before going to bird’s meal.
According to government figures, there are more than 2.5 million squirrels in the UK. So what else can we do to deterd them?
Invest in squirrel -proof feeders
On the market, there are many foods that contain food in cages that are very small for larger birds, most squirrels and Magpies and pigeons.
Some are better than others, so make sure you buy one with a tight lid. It is known that squirrels reach food by rewarding the door with teeth and claws and climbing into the tubular feeder.
There are also weighted feeders that close when you land on something heavy like a squirrel. Again, make sure that the squirrel cannot really access the feeder.
If there are nearby branches or bushy bushes in which the squirrel can make tunnels, bend or hang on to reach the dinner in a nutrition, you may need to re -position.
If the squirrels target a particular feeder, download it down for now. If you stop the food supply, at least they will temporarily go anywhere else.
Choose the food that squirrels find attractive
“All bird food is not equally attractive for squirrels. Although they will swallow sunflower seeds, peanuts and suede without a second thought, there are some options they are less willing,” Ark wildlife, explained.
These include: The seeds treated with capsaicin cannot take the taste of spices, but the squirrels find it unbearable; Niger Seeds – very small for squirrels and in a nicher way, but perfect for GoldfinChes; Aspir seeds – they have a bitter taste that birds like, but tend to avoid squirrels.
Position the feeders inaccessible
By the way, Richard Green Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Materials, RECOMMENDED: “Place the feeders away from nearby trees or other surfaces that animals can use to jump to the feeder.”
The squirrels can be surprisingly at long distances – typically four to five feet vertical and eight to 10 feet from one launch point. Therefore, place your feeders in the place where a squirrel can make a jump from fences, suitable hanging branches and trees with non -leaf shrubs.
Don’t think that a nourishing vine from your washing line will keep them away, because many gardeners witnessed that Tightropes walked to reach their next meals.
Sprinkle with cayenne pepper
Sprinkle some pepper to the bird seed and mix. The squirrels hates spices, but birds do not have the same receptors for spicy heat.
Think of natural deterrers
Because they hate the smell, you can buy mixtures of concentrated mint, cinnamon, pepper and garlic essential oil to dilute and spray around areas where you do not want squirrels such as nutritious poles or bird tables.
Citrus peel is also used as a deterrent around the base of the feeders, while some gardeners distribute coffee soils or placed vinegar soaked glands near the feeding areas.
Keep bird meals carefully
Even if you think that your bird dinner is safe in closed, hard plastic containers, if you have left it out at a sheltered point, but if the squirrels can see, they usually find a way. Plus, any moisture can increase the risk of mold in your seed.
To be on the safe side, store it in a metal bowl with a galvanized metal container with a tight lid in a cool, dark, dry area.
Install a separate squirrel feeding station
Mcmemey, a separate squirrel feeding station containing hazelnuts can be distracting, he said.
Avoid excessive filling feeders
Wildlife Confidence Refilling feeders are very little and often protects that squirrels will avoid finding a regular food. This approach is also beneficial for the health of birds, especially as it helps to limit the infection of the disease, especially when combined with regular nutrient cleaning.
“The best long -term strategy is to remove everything that draws your property from the beginning.”
It is also worth eliminating other garden incentives for squirrels. This may include the covering of vegetable patches with thin wire mesh, removal of falling fruits, and planting flowers from the squirrels such as daffodils and alliums.
“The big lesson is about adding many different methods instead of just one,” Mcmemmy continued. “Combining physical obstacles, odor deterrers and nutritious technology provides a first -class multi -faceted protection plan that can keep bird paradise in service and deterrence.”
According to wildlife trusts, providing alternative natural foods such as oak trees that produce oak acorn over time can help maintain birds in winter rather than relying on bird seeds.
