Squirrels: how can I keep them away from an oriel feeder?

Kelli Spaulding
by Kelli Spaulding
Several fox squirrels keep knocking down my grape jelly and orange feeder for the orieles . I have a squirrel feeder that they feed on but they still are knocker bird feeder out of another tree.
  3 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jun 13, 2016
    Try any kind of hot peppers mixed in the bird food. They will not harm the birds.
  • Merrie Merrie on Jun 14, 2016
    Squirrels are very, very persistent so you really need to position the oriole feeder so that they can not gain "easy" access such as by climbing to it, jumping up onto it or at it. Squirrels can jump 5 to 6 feet. The best thing is to have a good 10 foot radius if possible - ie: hang your feeder from a clothesline in such a way that they can neither jump or climb up to it. Do continue feeding your squirrels at the other feeder but remember they are territorial so you may get the occasional squabble if visitors try to sneak in.
  • Roxanne Renicker Roxanne Renicker on Jun 14, 2016
    My feeders are on a pole and I spray the poles with cooking spray then sprinkle with cayenne pepper.... so far no squirrels in the feeders but an average of six playing around the feeders.