Watching birds coming to the yard and eating food you have kept in the bird feeder is quiet. But unfortunately, the seeds which you keep in the birdfeeder also attract some other creatures like squirrels.
Squirrels are cute little animals that love to eat sunflower seeds, corn, or fruit seeds. They chew almost everything available in your yard. It includes plants that grow in your garden to the seeds they find in the bird feeder. They can even chew the wooden birdfeeders, increasing the risk of any bird falling from height.
Squirrels also carry certain diseases like Plague. So, if you find them eating food from the bird feeder, they can transmit the disease either to themselves or to the birds, which is dangerous.
Fortunately, there are various ways to keep squirrels away from the bird feeders. The article discusses what smells keep squirrels away from bird feeders. Some keep reading the article to know more about some of the peculiar smells you can use to keep the squirrels away from bird feeders.
What Smells Keep Squirrels Away From Birdfeeders?
1. Add Spices
Birds and squirrels don’t have the same kind of tastebuds. You can sprinkle some cayenne powder on the seeds meant for birds and put it on the birdfeeder. It will harm birds as they have a different immune systems.
Squirrels have nerves in their tastebuds and don’t like the taste of the cayenne powder. So they will not eat and go away from the birdfeeder.
White pepper, black pepper, and chili powder are great options to keep squirrels away from the bird feeder. The best thing is you can easily get them from the grocery store. White pepper is less spicy than black pepper. But it will also do its work in keeping squirrels away from the bird feeder.
2. White Vinegar
Squirrels don’t like the white vinegar smell. You need to take a spray bottle and add vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:3. Then spray it on the birdfeeder.
Squirrels don’t like its smell and will hang out in the birdfeeder for a longer time.
You need to spray your vinegar and water mixture almost daily in the birdfeeder to keep squirrels away from it.
3. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil works wonders in keeping squirrels away from the birdfeeder. You have to add 20 drops of peppermint oil to 16 ounces of water. You can spray it directly on the birdfeeder.
However, you can even take a cotton ball, dip it in the peppermint oil solution prepared at home, and keep it on the birdfeeder. You will find that the peppermint smell will help in keeping squirrels away from bird feeders.
But remember to spray peppermint oil or keep the cotton ball soaked in peppermint oil solution almost daily because wind can blow away the scent. If you don’t keep it every day, it will again attract squirrels, and you will face the same issue again.
4. Prepare Squirrel Repellant Spray At home
You can make your squirrel repellant spray easily at home. Take a spray bottle and add water, cayenne pepper, jalapeno, and onion. Mix it well and spray it on the birdfeeder. You will find that your homemade squirrel repellant spray is enough to keep squirrels away from the birdfeeder.
5. Coffee Grounds
Squirrels don’t like the smell of coffee grounds. So, you can sprinkle some coffee grounds on the birdfeeder. You can either fresh or used coffee grounds to avoid squirrels. Additionally, add a few drops of water to the sprinkled coffee ground. It will keep the coffee grounds and enhance the aroma, which will help in repelling squirrels away from the birdfeeder.
Again wind and sunlight also can take away the smell of coffee grounds. The best thing is to use used coffee grounds for repelling squirrels.
6. Cinnamon
Squirrels don’t like the smell of cinnamon powder. A larger dosage can affect the sinus cavity in a squirrel.
You can spray some cinnamon powder on the bird feeder. Squirrels cannot tolerate the cinnamon smell and will quickly disappear from the birdfeeder.
But remember to add cinnamon powder in almost 4-7 days because wind and sunlight can fade its smell. You can prepare a squirrel repellant spray by adding cinnamon oil. Add water and a few drops of cinnamon and peppermint oil in a spray bottle. Mix it all and either spray directly on the birdfeeder or add a few drops on a cotton ball and keep it on the birdfeeder. The combination will work wonders in repelling squirrels.
7. Urine Smell Of Certain Animals
The urine smell of certain animals, like foxes and coyotes, will help keep squirrels away from the birdfeeder. You can easily get it online at an affordable price. You must spray them on the birdfeeder daily to keep squirrels in control.
8. Garlic
You can crush some garlic cloves and keep them on the birdfeeder. Squirrels don’t like the smell of garlic. So, they will immediately go away from the birdfeeder.
However, the smell of garlic will fade within two days. So, you need to keep fresh garlic cloves for two to three days.
You can even prepare a squirrel repellant spray at home. Take a spray bottle and add a few drops of garlic, peppermint, vinegar, water, and pepper oil. It will work wonders in keeping squirrels away from the birdfeeder.
9. Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are almost found in every home. You can hang some dryer sheets on the bird feeder to keep squirrels away from it.
A mint scent dryer sheet will work best in avoiding squirrels from the birdfeeder.
10. Irish Spring Soap
The smell of Irish spring soap is enough to keep squirrels away from bird feeders. You can grate one Irish spring soap and put it on the bird feeder or keep one cube of Irish spring soap on the bird feeder.
11. Rosemary
Purchase a good rosemary scent and spray it on the birdfeeder. Squirrels don’t like the rosemary scent and will go from the birdfeeder immediately.
You can also make rosemary spray at home. Take a spray bottle and put a few drops of rosemary essential oil into it. Mix it all altogether and spray on the birdfeeder. It will help in keeping squirrels away from the birdfeeder.
12. Naphthalene balls
You can keep naphthalene balls on a birdfeeder to keep squirrels away from it.
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What Are Other Options For Keeping Squirrels Away From Birdfeeders?
1. Choose Seeds Which Squirrels Dislike
Certain seeds are liked by birds but are disliked by squirrels. They are nyjer, safflower, and many others, which squirrels don’t want to eat.
2. Invest In Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder
There is various squirrel-proof bird feeder available on the market. If you have so many squirrels in your garden coming to the bird feeder and eating the food meant for birds, then you should invest in a squirrel-proof bird feeder.
3. Location
You need to give importance to location while keeping a bird feeder. If you keep a feeder above 9 feet, squirrels cannot jump to that much height.
4. Put Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline petroleum jelly is easily available at home. You can use this on the pole so squirrels can no longer climb.
5. Give Food Meant For Squirrels
You have the option to provide squirrels with specially designed food just for them. They greatly enjoy peanuts and dried corn.
Conclusion
Squirrels, the adorable small animals, can pose a nuisance for birds. They tend to relocate to the birdfeeders, consuming the food that is intended for avian friends. To prevent this, you can utilize the aforementioned suggestions to deter squirrels from accessing the birdfeeder.
I hope this article answers your query “What smells keep squirrels away from bird feeders“.
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Swatisweta Parida
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