Newsletter Archives

Hot Buys

We've decided to run a special on a handful of products. Act now on the following "Hot Buys" because the special ends on Monday, July 15th. Be sure to check out all of our exciting specials by visiting the Hot Buys department regularly.

New at the Nest

Our customers are valuable to us. We continually search for new and better ways to serve you. In an effort to better meet your needs, BestNest aggressively adds new products to the website. Some of the new and exciting products that we've added are shown below. Be sure to check out our New Items department regularly.

Clearance

A few of our deeply discounted items appear below. These items feature exceptional savings and value but are not all of our sale items. More discounted items may be found in their corresponding departments. Be sure to check out some of our other exciting deals by visiting the Clearance department regularly.

Squirrel Proofing Your Feeder

Stop letting squirrels outsmart us. When we birders are asked about the most challenging aspect of feeding our backyard birds, our answer is almost always squirrels. These acrobatic rodents are opportunistic feeders, and have quickly learned that bird seed can make a delicious and easy to access meal. Deterring these critters, while still inviting birds to dine, can be a lasting challenge. However, through proper placement of your feeders, use of baffles, and perhaps some other tactics, squirrels can be discouraged from using your bird feeders as their own buffet.

One of the best things to remember in our struggle to deter squirrels is the adage that �if the squirrels can't reach the feeder, they can't reach the food.� This means that excluding these animals from the feeding area should be your first line of defense. A great place to start is through proper feeder placement. Look for a site that is at least 10� away from any building overhangs, decks, or tree branches. Squirrels can easily jump this distance to reach seed, but are usually not comfortable with distances further than this. Not all birders have this kind of open area for placing a feeder, but a bit of rearranging or tree trimming can help create a squirrel excluding environment. Since squirrels are such amazing jumpers, you�ll want to mount or hang your feeder at least 6� above the ground to help prevent them from reaching it from the ground.

We�re not done squirrel proofing yet, we still have to keep the squirrels from climbing up the pole or down the hanger. Adding a squirrel baffle to your pole or hanger is the best way to create a physical barrier between your bird feeder and the squirrels. Squirrel baffles, most often either a cone or disc shape, are made to either hang above a feeder, or attach to a pole or post below one. They all function in much the same way, forming a large enough barrier for the marauding animal that they cannot climb around. Most often, baffles are made from either metal or plastic, and are offered in an array of sizes and colors for those of us concerned with appearance as well as function. When pole mounting, be sure to place the baffle high enough that the squirrel cannot jump past it. Hanging baffles suspend above feeders, and usually have dual hooks to accommodate it. With proper placement and use of a baffle, there is no reason that any feeder can�t be a squirrel proof design.

Even for the most dedicated birders, our situation may preclude the use of proper placement and a baffle for our feeder. If your yard cannot accommodate keeping the feeder out of reach, you may need to add to your repertoire or alter your tactics. Making the seed unpleasant for them can be an effective and lasting deterrent. Bird seed can be treated with a capsaicin based product, which is the chemical found in peppers that makes them taste hot to mammals. Birds do not have the taste receptors for this, and so it does not affect them. Squirrels, raccoons, and deer will certainly feel it. Mixing dried pepper into your bird seed, or treating it with a ready made product, can make pilfering seed an unpleasant experience, and the animals will learn not to eat the seed. Another option would be to look at squirrel resistant feeder designs, such as a weight sensitive or caged unit. Though most of these items are found to be more squirrel resistant than squirrel proof, they can provide enough resistance that the squirrels are no longer eating at their leisure . Many birders have also found that using a combination of tactics, such as using a caged feeder with treated seed, will succeed where singular measures have failed.

Feeding birds while deterring squirrels has become an all too familiar battle, waged in backyards everywhere. However, with the right feeder placement, a baffle, and some added defenses, you can get the better of those wily squirrels. BestNest carries a wide selection of Bird Feeders Squirrel Baffles and Mounting Accessories to help you meet your needs. Look through the selections below or for more personal assistance, feel free to contact one of our customer service representatives toll free at 877-562-1818 or internationally at 513-232-4225 from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.