Squirrel-Proofing Through Seed Selection

While the most effective way of keeping squirrels out of your bird feeders is to use either squirrel-proof bird feeders or squirrel baffles, you can also keep squirrels out using this simple method: put bird seed in your bird feeders that squirrels don’t like. For example, squirrels don’t seem to have an appetite for safflower seed. Unfortunately, some birds don’t either. But, safflower seed appeals fine to some birds, such as finches, titmice, nuthatches, and cardinals, as well as ground feeders such as mourning doves.

Another type of seed that squirrels don’t particularly care for is thistle (nyger) seed. Thistle seed usually attracts chickadees and gold finches. (Make sure you use a thistle feeder. A bird feeder especially for thistle seed usually has smaller openings so that the small thistle seed doesn’t fall out. You can also make your own by putting the thistle seed inside a nylon stocking and hanging it up).

Selectively using only certain types of seed is an inexpensive way to keep squirrels from invading your bird feeders.

While the above seed doesn’t appeal to squirrels, it also doesn’t appeal to a large majority of birds so the variety of birds at your feeder will decrease as well. Fortunately, safflower seeds do appeal to cardinals, doves, titmice, nuthatches, and house finches.