By James Sweezy
Owner
Nuisance Wildlife Control
My name is James Sweezy and I am the owner of Nuisance Wildlife Control. We remove animals such as raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats, and many other wildlife.
A question we often get this time of year is how to keep squirrels out of your home. One of the biggest issues are bird feeders. Bird feeders attract much more than just birds to your home. One thing that happens when birds eat from your feeder is some of the seed gets spilled on the ground. This is a buffet for several different animal species. So be sure to install your bird feeder away from your home. There are some squirrel proof feeders on the market, but keep in mind the high intelligence and resourcefulness of squirrels. One of the worst places to put your bird feeder is on your porch or close to your house. This will just encourage animals to get used to being close to your home.
Once your bird feeder is away from your house, the squirrels will likely try to climb the pole or a nearby limb to get to the seed. You will need to ensure that all the limbs surrounding your bird feeder are cut away from it. When trimming your trees away from the bird feeder, you should keep in mind that a squirrel can jump up to 10 feet. It is also very helpful to hang your bird feeder from a limb with string rather than attach the feeder to a pole. The string will usually stop the squirrels from being able to access the bird feeder easily.
One option to keep the squirrels away is to buy feed that the squirrels do not like to eat. Thistle seed, safflower seed, nyjer seed, and white proso millet are good options. Another option is a hot pepper additive you can purchase for bird feed to keep squirrels from eating the seeds. The heat produced by the hot pepper is caused by a compound called capsaicin. Only mammals are affected by capsaicin. Some different bird foods add capsaicin as part of their mix to keep squirrels from eating it. Usually, it only takes one smell or taste, and the squirrels will look somewhere else for their meal. The products containing capsaicin have been around for a long time. There are no reports of adverse health effects for the birds.
Squirrels are fun to watch and can provide hours of entertainment. They are not so much fun when they are in your attic. If you have any issues with nuisance wildlife, please give me a call. Just remember while we can remove nuisance animals, we cannot help with in-laws, children, or other unwanted human nuisances!
Nuisance Wildlife Control has been in business for over 30 years. I am a member of NWCOA (Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association). I am also a licensed by the State of Alabama.
Please give us a call if you have any wildlife problems at 256-636-1168.
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