Want to get a wild bird feeder that really deters squirrels?

Attempts to keep squirrels away from bird feeders by buying squirrel-proof or squirrel deterring feeders sometimes fail.

The right feeder can make all the difference. Here are seven ways to spot a fake "squirrel-proof" feeder:

1. Plastic Material. The container holding the feed is made of plastic accessible to squirrels (yes, they chew through plastic)
2. Too-Small Cage. The caged feeder's cage is too close to the seed ports or bins from the feeder's seed ports or bins (the cage needs to be just a little farther from the seed ports than the length of a squirrel's arm, stretched through the wire opening of the cage)
3. Bad Slider. The weight-driven sliding mechanism that closes off the feed ports is easily clogged, rusted, or non-adjustable
4. Too-Small Baffle Lid. The feeder's baffle-like domed lid is too short or shallow and allows squirrels to grasp the edge or climb down to the feeder platform
5. Plastic Rim or Lid. The feeder, while caged, has a plastic lid or rim outside the cage
6. Accessible Without Triggering Slider. The weight-driven sliding mechanism that closes off the feed ports is too close to the top of the feeder (less than the length of an outstretched squirrel, back paw to front paw)
7. Tube with Unprotected Platform. The uncaged, baffle-less tube feeder or mesh feeder has a small platform on the bottom
8. Timed Dispenser. The timed-dispenser feeder -- releasing food at a certain time won't prevent squirrels from eating the food
9. Wire or Mesh Feeders. Squirrels will bend the wire mesh to get at thistles if they're hungry enough)
10. Unprotected Thistle Feeders. Squirrels will eat thistle if they're hungry enough, but rarely chew through plastic to get it. They usually try for the seed ports.

Remember, placement of a feeder can also matter in deterring squirrels.

Image: Per Palmkvist Knudsen

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