How do you prevent squirrels climbing up a pole and eating the birds food?

Question

Is it too cruel to put barbed wire around the pole!

Answer 1

why choose one animal over the other? My local cemetry has the same problem and they have placed the hanging birdfeeders on the end of long branches that have been niled with a load of sheets of somthing that resembles long spikes coming out of it, so that from afar it looks like there are long spikes like cactus needles, coming out of the brach itself (could replicate it by nailing long this nails though a shet of plastic which it then taped or nailed to the branch. This  deters the squirrels from trying to get to the feeder (prro squirrels)

Answer 2

You will laugh, but the best product to use to coat the pole is "Astroglide".  It is found at the drug store, with the condoms and personal lubricants.  No way will the squirrel get enough traction to ascend to your bird feeder.

Answer 3

put extras out for the squirrels!

Answer 4

what makes squirrles less worthy of food than birds? they are both animals feed them both

Answer 5

I feed both;on the same bird table.. strong mesh(easily removable)dome over the bird table.Big enough mesh for most birds but not squirrels to get through,The dome is not quite as big as the circular table,so there`s a sort of walkway round perimeter of the dome .Bird food inside dome ;squirrel food outside the dome.Also have a couple of squirrel proof hanging bird feeders. Hours of fascinating observation.

Answer 6

You can buy a squirrel guard at most large stores or you can rub oil on the pole.

Answer 7

Coat the pole with Vaseline!!!! They won't be able to get any traction.

Answer 8

Get rid of the pole and throw the food in the air. Squirrels can't fly, Or can they?

Answer 9

Barbed wire won't stop them.  You need a squirrel trap.  

If your hardware shop doesn't sell them, buy a cheap wok.  Take the handle off the lid and fix it half way up the pole (hollow side down).  That stops them climbing the pole although they might still abseil or parachute in.

Answer 10

Slide a piece of PVC pipe over the pole. They won't be able to climb the slippery surface. Only other way is a guard that looks like a garbage can lid below the feeder.