How to stop squirrels from climbing bird feeder pole

You can never be too short on ways to stop a squirrel from climbing a pole, with a focus on squirrel baffles being a prime example of an highly effective deterrent.

Squirrels can be stopped as they climb up the bird feeding station, midway up the pole with a squirrel baffle installed up to 4 feet up. With that, baffles can be strung above bird feeders to stop squirrels descending. Additional techniques can involve greasing the pole or stacking loose fitted soda bottles up the pole.

When the subject of preventing squirrels from climbing the bird feeder pole comes up, you may have realized by now the name 'squirrel baffle' is always recommended.

Well, don't take it likely because the right kind of squirrel baffle will absolutely stop squirrels from climbing up what is essentially an easy to hold on metal pole. With that you can also consider buying a squirrel proof bird feeder pole - with a baffle already installed midway up the pole, just where it should be fixed.

Squirrel baffles are easy to mount because they're universal, meaning they will fit on to most bird feeding stations or Shepherd's hooks you can buy on the market.

Simply find a position to install the baffle up to 4 or 5 feet up the pole, then tighten a bolt which will be located beneath cone-shape style baffle.

Continuing on the theme of baffles, you can always refer to a squirrel baffle for hanging bird feeders, if defending the pole in particularly isn't quite working out.

Now any bird feeder can be hung below this style of baffle, with the squirrel baffle actually hung off the bird feeder pole bracket - as oppose to being installed on the pole itself.

With no squirrel baffle in use but an effective way to keep squirrels out of reach of bird feeder food, you could always employ a quality squirrel proof feeder, made with a cage shroud for suet cakes to fat ball feeders, to bird seed feeders or mealworm feeders.

Failing that, which I am certain you won't, there's always an option to grease the bird feeder pole with cooking oil only.

I do provide a creative method of stacking plastic bottles up the pole later in this article, which can be a fun idea to do with the kids if you have time, and certainly the patience.

Install effective squirrel baffle

First deterrent you should put in place in an effort to stop squirrels climbing any bird feeder pole, would be to utilize a highly effective squirrel baffle.

Want to stop squirrels climbing, then block them some way up the bird feeding station pole or the Shepherd's hook, with what is an upside down cone shape baffle - which is designed to force squirrels to climb beneath it, with nowhere else to go.

Once squirrels reach the maximum height off the ground beneath the baffle - along with baffle installed approximately 4 feet up - they have nowhere to go but down.

Squirrels can't climb across under objects thus they must retreat unless they want to remain clinging to the pole, with little else they can do.

If you really do have a squirrel issue in your yard, I promise you this is the go-to technique of feeding wild birds without squirrels eating the bird food in the process.

What can be more convenient than buying what will hopefully be a universal squirrel baffle used on any bird feeder pole; start again with a squirrel proof bird feeder pole, with the baffle already fixed to said pole as a matter of convenience.

Squirrels cannot jump above a baffle and if they can it will be positioned too low. With that, the baffles downward position is designed to cause squirrels to slide off.

And if that isn't enough, do consider the use of squirrel baffle for hanging bird feeders, as oppose to stopping squirrels at the point of climbing the pole only.

Greasy pole can work

I really can assure you, to utilize a squirrel baffle that is mounted to the pole to stop squirrels climbing above the mount set on the pole, it really does work to kick of squirrels attempting to climb to the top of the pole.

What can be used in conjunction with a pole mounted squirrel baffle, is the use of grease spread on the bird feeder pole.

I must warn you some nuisance animals including cats, may like the taste of grease spread on the pole, thus you must go easy with it at first.

The idea is to grease half way up the pole to where you'd normally install a baffle - and that is if you aren't using it along with a baffle - while continuing to re-grease the pole later in the day, or every day if you have to as it will dry up.

Grease on a bird feeder pole to deter squirrels isn't a cruel technique nor can it cause harm, but it mustn't be used if animals are found to be licking it.

With that you can quickly make use of the spices on your spice rack, by blending chili powder on the grease which can prevent squirrels coming into contact with it.

Chili or hot sauces are great for putting on a bird feeder, or indeed exposed bird feeder food; thus who's to say the idea of squirrels stamping on hot sauce wouldn't at least make them think twice about getting it on their feet.

What this becomes is a messy grease spread, plus with any hot sauce on the bird feeder pole; of which a squirrel won't like to touch it or indeed could become overwhelmed by the strong spicy fumes.

Grease to use will be limited to olive oil, vegetable or sunflower oil or similar; never use lard or animal fat as it will quickly spoil, resulting in a bacteria ridden feeder pole.

Stack plastic Soda Bottles up pole

What may be an original idea of mine is to actually install several soft plastic soda bottles the full length of the bird feeder pole.

Similar to how a squirrel baffle works, these bottles are soft, they can spin and cave under the weight of the squirrel, thus forcing a squirrel back on the ground.

What it will involve is up to say 6 or so 2 liter plastic soda bottles, such as any empty Coca Cola or Pepsi bottles with the lids removes. You'll now create an identical size hole at the bottom of the bottle, in any way you know how too - which will be cut for your specific feeder pole width.

Then what, well now its time to stack these bottles one by one on top of each other, all the way up the top, or at least until you are unable to force any more on.

With the lid removed and the additional hole on each plastic bottle, it will allow you to loosely thread a maximum of 5 to 6 bottles up the pole.

What happens now is, as the squirrels attempt to climb these fitted bottles, it would see either the squirrels can't grab hold to get any momentum - or at least the loose fitted plastic bottles will spin or cave inward causing the squirrels to drop.

Make sure the soft plastic label is removed to avoid a torn mess, all while you could double up on this defense by greasing the incredibly difficult to climb already, plastic soda bottles.

Quick tip: you must stack the bottles through the pole before its put in the ground, or you could assemble the bottles if the pole can be detached half way up as normal.

Stop squirrels at point of feeders

Personally, I think utilizing a squirrel baffle installed some way up the pole, that is just about high enough to avoid jumping squirrels, to be enough to stop squirrels climbing all the way up the pole to reach the bird food in the feeders.

On that, the grease technique isn't quite as effective and it can be a little messy.

Although my idea of stacking plastic soda bottles up the pole would be enough to keep squirrels on the ground. Remember, the bird feeder pole is narrow, thus soda bottles won't be as easy to grip as squirrels attempt hold on as they climb.

With all that being said, obviously there's a chance squirrels will find a way of getting over these defenses, whether you use the one or more at the same time.

I will then recommend squirrel proofing hanging bird feeders that are hung off the pole.

Once again you'll need to revert back to squirrel baffles, only this time it will be an upside down cone-shape baffle again, which is designed to hang above hanging feeders.

I do believe the best squirrel baffle you can buy are hanging type baffles, as it allows you to hang feeders anywhere, rather than defending feeders on just a bird feeder pole.

Hanging bird feeder baffles are hung off the feeder pole bracket hook, then the feeder is hung directly beneath the baffle with help of a hook that is attached to the baffle underside.

What this result in, is squirrels can no longer descend on the feeders of any kind, and so will be stuck pondering their next move as they sit on top of the baffle - with the bird feeder hung safely below them.

To Summarize

I can assure you the aim to defend a bird feeder pole of any kind from squirrels, including raccoon's, wouldn't be the last straw if it fails you in your attempt to stop squirrels climbing the pole.

But to begin with, you must install an upside down cone squirrel baffle, up to 4 or 5 feet up the pole, so its out of reach of jumping squirrels.

Squirrels will climb the pole still, only they'd be met with a baffle that will force them under it, rather than squirrels getting on top of it; so they're unable to carry on what would of been the rest of the journey to the bird food on offer in feeders.

On a similar note, you don't have to defend the pole from squirrels who climb up it, when individual squirrel baffles can be hung directly above feeders.

How this will help you is it will stop squirrels descending down on bird feeders, which they do as soon as they get to the top of the bird feeder pole.

I recommend you always refer to a squirrel baffle of any style, with the large wide cone shape baffle being the most effective.

To find a quick solution right now, you could always grease the bird feeder pole with cooking oil only - as animal fat quickly develops bacteria as it rots on the pole.

Idea of mine is to also create a threaded-like stack using big soft plastic soda bottles threaded all the way up the pole.

What this will achieve is that squirrels will find it more difficult to climb up a wider surface, while the loosely fit bottles spin and move which will cause squirrels to fall off as they attempt to climb.

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