10 Ways To Prevent Squirrels From Reaching Birdseed

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By Alexa Erickson

Family Handyman's Editorial Process

Updated on Jul. 02, 2025

Are squirrels cramping your style? Check out the extreme measures people take to keep squirrels away from bird feeders.

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If you’ve ever had bird feeders in your yard, you know that they often attract other animals as well.

“What attracts any animal to your yard is, first and foremost, a source of food,” Joyce Corbett of Classic Courtyards says. “Bird feeders provide an easy source of food for all sorts of animals, including squirrels.”

Squirrels can be very persistent in their efforts to gain access to bird feeders, using all sorts of clever and resourceful tactics. Unfortunately, their efforts scare away the birds, turning your bird feeder into a squirrel feeder before you know it. With that in mind, this article explores inventive and effective strategies to prevent squirrels from reaching bird feeders.

Copper and Glass

This DIY bird feeder is squirrel-proof, thanks to copper and glass! While birds can enter to get to the bird seed, the contraption prevents squirrel entry.

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Cayenne Pepper and Petroleum Jelly

Ready to spice things up? Combine cayenne pepper (which squirrels dislike) with slippery petroleum jelly. One YouTube user commented that you can simply add 1/4 cup of powdered cayenne to 10 pounds of bird seed to get rid of squirrels and keep them away. Because birds don’t have capsaicin (an active component of chili peppers) receptors, they won’t mind the taste.

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Slinky

This YouTuber had great success keeping squirrels off of her bird feeder using a plastic slinky. As shown in the video, the squirrel climbs up only to be sent hilariously back to the ground by the kid’s toy!

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Aluminum Flashing

“In the battle to keep squirrels out of my bird feeder, I finally won,” says YouTube user Robert Cox. “Tools used were the Yankee Flipper bird feeder, a tree, and some aluminum flashing secured with camo straps (very important).” This squirrel feeder provides an unusually clear view of the squirrels that frequent it, because the bold critters actually climb inside the jar to eat!

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Empty Soda Bottles and 1/8-Inch Nylon-Wrapped Cable

Using empty soda bottles and 1/8-inch nylon-wrapped cable, this YouTuber was able to fend off squirrels from his bird feeder. He drilled holes slightly larger than 1/8 inch in the cap and bottom of the bottles. The bottles spin well, keeping the squirrels from winning.

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Hanging Upside-Down Trash Can Lid

This YouTuber originally had the trash can lid in the opposite direction, but the squirrels were able to slide down the incline of the lid and flip themselves over to grab the bottom edge with their back feet, hanging and swinging over to the bird feeder’s chain. But upside-down is the answer! You’ll be amazed at these 50 ordinary items that can do extraordinary things.

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Flexible Vinyl, Wood, Screen and Fishing Line

This YouTube user hung a fishing line from his pergola to properly place his bird feeder out of the reach of squirrels. To keep seeds from falling to the ground, he made a catch-all using flexible vinyl, screen material and wood!

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Furnace Pipe

A stove pipe is a major deterrent if squirrels are climbing up your bird feeder pole. This YouTuber attached a furnace pipe halfway up the pole, then made sure the top of the pipe was blocked off. With this method, you’ll also want to “have the bird feeder sufficiently away from a tree or fence so they can’t jump over it and onto the feeder,” Corbett says. “And the baffle has to be a certain height from the feeder so they can’t reach around it and into the feeder.”

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Shortening and Dried Hot Peppers

YouTube user KLisaLisa used the combo of shortening and dried hot peppers to deter squirrels from stealing her bird feed. She made the ingredients into a paste and applied to the pole. The squirrels slide down when trying to climb, and get even more thrown off when trying to lick off the shortening! Check out these humane pest control options for critter-proofing your gardens and planters.

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See-Saw Design

Get inspired to DIY your own preventative contraption for keeping squirrels off your bird feeder with this pivoting design. It uses the squirrel’s weight to block access to the seed.

FAQ

Will greasing the pole stop squirrels?

It may for a short period of time, but will not be a long term solution and can be harmful to the squirrels.

Should I feed squirrels separately to distract them?

Providing squirrels their own food on the ground can be helpful when used in conjunction with other bird feeder deterrent tactics.