Feeding Squirrels - Bird Feeder Diversion
Feeding Squirrels in the Backyard
Backyard bird watchers are forever attempting to keep squirrels out of bird feeders. To completely keep squirrels away from feeding stations, there are several squirrel proof bird feeders, and the best system we have found is by using squirrel and raccoon baffles on pole mounted feeders. However the idea of keeping squirrels, chipmunks and other four legged wildlife from raiding songbird feeders and keeping the birds from being allowed to eat is a system. Part of the system that works on our yard is by providing squirrel diversion feeders.
A squirrel diversion feeder keeps the little tree rats occupied and since it is set up specifically for them, a lot easier for them to access than a baffled or squirrel proof bird feeder. Hopefully this means they will use their special feeder instead of a bird feeder!
There are many styles of squirrel diversion feeders on the market, including models that hold wildlife mix and treats, or those which are more of a challenge for a squirrel and quite funny to watch. You can shop for a variety of them here: Backyard Squirrel Diversion Feeders.
Best Squirrel Feeding Station
The very simplest and least expensive type of feeder designed purely for squirrels is a tree or post mount Squirrel Feeder.
This feeder is designed to hold an ear of dried corn and you can set one up easily, replace the food easily, and it does not cost a lot. We occasionally use corn cobs, but to be honest, the squirrels easily eat an entire ear of corn on the cob in a day and then you have the trash of the stripped cob. Not that the trash is a big issue but we are firm believers in low maintenance! The less work it is the more likely any backyard feeding program will continue. Our recommendation for the tree mount feeder are Squirrel Log Corn and Nut or the ever popular with tree rats, Squirrel Log Sweet Corn.
The squirrel logs last a heck of a lot longer than an ear of corn. Considerably longer! And it’s a bit more work on the squirrels part to get the food off, instead of just ripping off kernels and dropping them all over the ground. The squirrel logs are compressed corn and equal to 12-24 ears of corn. As avid as we are about backyard feeding we would not be changing out corn cobs daily. The logs eliminate that need, the squirrels got lucky! They have a hole in the center for skewering on a cob feeder. Try them, you will not be sorry. It ends up being less costly in the long run due to how long they last. Since the squirrels love them and they are so easy to get to (unlike our baffled bird feeders), they head for these first before our feeders. It’s worked out great for us and helps to keep squirrels off our bird feeders, plus the birds feed off them as well. Particularly nuthatches! The nuthatches just love them. Chipmunks also scurry up the tree and nibble away on the logs.
Here are some photos of our backyard tree or post mount squirrel feeder using these treat logs. You can see that they are solid and the squirrel has to spend a bit of effort chewing them up. The squirrels tend to bite off only what they eat right then as it’s too much work for them to just throw food around. We like that part! Less waste and much less refilling!
If you try any of this out, please leave a comment and let others know how they work or you. These compressed corn logs are designed to fit any squirrel feeder that holds ears of corn, but we have only tried them on the tree/post mount feeder.