Grey squirrels show i encourage

[carolinegeorge]

Hi

i am doing a nature blog from the garden and i have four squirrels who come in all the time. They are lovely but i see that they put the birds off as well. How do you balance the two of them? I know that lots of people hate grey squirrels so i am a bit unsure as to the way forward.
Thru the Spy Glass

[Dogghound]

I would personally discourage them as much as possible. I dont hate grey squirrels (hate is a very poweful word), i would just rather aid species more in need and which are native. You also have additional risk of grey squirrel damage (to the feeding station, building, trees) and nest predation issues.

[vole-woman]

Nice blog.

We've had squirrels but they don't seem to bother the birds who just come back when the squirrel's had his fill. Perhaps I have very polite squirrels?

[Tringa]

Other than loading both barrels I don't think you will put them off

The only thing I'd suggest is getting metal seed feeders for the birds (though if you feed the birds you will already know that squirrels go through plastic feeders as if they are not there) and put them in cages so the squirrels can't get to them.

This is the only way we have found that stops them. The squirrels are still regular visitors to the garden but they appear to have learnt that the caged feeders are not worth bothering with and so don't disturb the birds.

Dave

[carolinegeorge]

Hi guys

thanks for all your help. I did have metal feeders for some of the stations but unfortunately they chewed through them.

I will see what else i can do with it and keep you posted.

Thank you for your help

[Dogghound]

Aluminium is too soft so you need a stainless steel mesh. The feeders which I use up in the forest are stainless steel and they can't get through them, despite chewing at the wood. The same tends to keep rats out as well.

[carolinegeorge]

thanks i will keep my eye open for that then

regards

[Meadow5]

The way to do it is to put out food for the squirrels, and put a squirrel feeder up somewhere. I think squirrels are unfairly persecuted by some people, but they are a wild animal and beautiful ones. The squirrels where i am dont bother the birds, i have seen it myself and the birds are not put off by a squirrels presence

[Janec]

Hi, I'm in full agreement with Meadow5 on this but I am a bit of a "bunny hugger".
Where I live now the squirrels don't seem to bother with the bird feeders too much but at my last house they did and it did seem to upset the birds. We bought a squirrel feeder, sort of a box with a hinged lid and a see through piece at the front.
The squirrels loved it and left the feeders alone. Everyone happy

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Meadow5

The way to do it is to put out food for the squirrels, and put a squirrel feeder up somewhere. I think squirrels are unfairly persecuted by some people, but they are a wild animal and beautiful ones. The squirrels where i am dont bother the birds, i have seen it myself and the birds are not put off by a squirrels presence

Until the birds nest and then the squirrels decide a few eggs or chicks would make a nice snack..