How to Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders (2025)

Squirrels: are they just rats with better PR? Please be aware that this is not safe reading material for squirrel enthusiasts, or even squirrel apologists. In my opinion, squirrels are worse than rats: smarter, sneakier, more destructive. I’ve had them nest in my chimney, dig holes in my eaves to get into my walls, and destroy several bird feeders. I even had one chew through an entire 4 x 2 pergola rafter to reach a block of suet.

With the popularity of smart bird feeders, it’s even more important to learn how to keep them out of your yard, lest they turn your investment into a pile of chewed up pieces of plastic. To make matters worse, if you live on the West Coast like me, you’ll likely deal with the Eastern Gray Squirrel, an invasive non-native species that competes for resources with native species like Western Gray Squirrels. What’s a backyard bird enthusiast to do?

Lucky for you, I’ve been feeding birds for almost 25 years in three different states and have been testing smart feeders for the past year, waging near-daily battles with these furry neighborhood enemies. I’ve tried everything and found out what works – and what doesn’t – so you can keep your sanity intact.

For more bird deals, check out our guides to the best smart bird feeders, the best binoculars, and the best gifts for bird lovers.

The golden rule (5-7-9)

Photography: Kat Merck

OnlyFly

Bird Feeder Post Bracket

First, there is a proven method for thwarting squirrels that is both free and harmless. Experts call it the 5-7-9 rule: Keep your feeder at least 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet from structures like houses, trees or fences; and 9 feet from anything above where they might jump, such as a tree branch or roof. This usually means placing your feeder on a pole with a baffle (I use the set above) or hanging it from a large shepherd’s hook.

If you’re looking for a bird feeder, especially a smart feeder, it’s imperative that it can be hung or pole mounted, because if you can only mount it on a fence or tree, you’re essentially rolling out the welcome mat for squirrels. (All the smart feeders I recommend, including Birdfy and Bird Buddy, include pole mounts.) If you want to go the extra mile, you can also grease your pole with Crisco, which doesn’t last long but is fine for a fun day or two.

Note that if your smart charger doesn’t have a solar panel connected to charge the battery, you probably won’t be able to mount it on the pole with the charger without some jury rigging, so I recommend going for a model with a built-in solar roof or no solar panel at all.