Squirrels are good at two things, Audubon says: climbing and jumping. Every setup on this page works by taking one or both away. Audubon's 2025 guide puts it plainly: "The best weapon against a squirrel is a tape measure." It also declines to call any feeding setup "squirrel-proof." This page collects the measurements from Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Project FeederWatch, extension services and a state wildlife agency, side by side where they differ.
Quick read
Distance: a feeder pole at least 10 feet from trees, roofs, fences and deck rails.
Baffle: on a pole, a smooth baffle below the feeder, at least 4 feet up (a cone at least 17 inches across, Audubon). On a hanging feeder, a tilting baffle at least 18 inches across above it (Cornell, FeederWatch).
Seed: squirrels tend to leave safflower and nyjer alone, though not everywhere and not always.
How far can a squirrel jump?
The distance figures all rest on how far a squirrel can leap. A Cornell Lab handout says squirrels can leap 8 feet horizontally and jump 11 feet down onto a feeder. National Wildlife (National Wildlife Federation, 2013) also gives about 8 feet for a long jump.
Distances and heights compared
| Source | Pole away from trees and structures | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Audubon, 11 tips (Kress, 2011) | At least 10 ft from the nearest shrub, tree or other tall structure | Feeder about 5 ft off the ground |
| Audubon (McGlashen, 2025) | At least 8 to 10 ft from anything solid | Baffle 4 to 5 ft off the ground |
| Cornell Lab, BirdNote 11 (2014) | At least 10 ft from jumping-off points | — |
| Project FeederWatch | Less than 10 ft from a tree or building is within jumping range | — |
| UNL Extension (University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2012) | Poles 8 ft from the nearest branch, deck rail or fence; elsewhere 7 to 8 ft from fences, decks, trunks and overhead branches | Poles at least 6 ft high; baffle at least 4 ft above the ground |
| UNH Extension (2018) | At least 10 ft from the house, fences or trees | — |
| Virginia wildlife agency (2003) | Pole at least 10 ft from trees | Feeders at least 6 ft off the ground |
| National Wildlife (2013) | "Well away from trees and decks" | Cylinder baffle 5 ft off the ground |
The shortest gap in the table is 7 feet (UNL) and the most common figure is 10. Squirrels can jump down from above, too, so check for branches or a roof edge overhanging the feeder.
Baffle sizes and types
A baffle is a smooth barrier between the squirrel and the food. FeederWatch calls baffles "usually the best way" to keep squirrels off feeders. On a pole the baffle goes below the feeder. On a hanging feeder it goes above.
| Baffle | Size given | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cone below a pole feeder | At least 17 in in diameter | Audubon (2011) |
| Flat, dome or cylinder on a pole (stationary) | 14 to 18 in long or wide | UNL Extension |
| Baffle used at the Cornell Lab | 16 in, about 1 ft below the feeder bottom | Cornell Lab, BirdNote 11 |
| Cylinder (stovepipe-style) on a pole | At least 6 in in diameter and 18 in long | National Wildlife (2013) |
| Tilting baffle above a hanging feeder | At least 18 in in diameter | Cornell Lab; FeederWatch; National Wildlife |
| Metal flashing around a pole or trunk | At least 3 ft wide, bottom edge 3 ft above the ground | UNL Extension |
| Pole baffle against raccoons | 8 in in diameter or larger | UNL Extension |
Audubon and UNL both say metal is best: UNL wants smooth material so claws can't grip, and notes that spring-loaded pole baffles move when an animal tries to climb past. For feeders hung in a tree, UNL says a sloped cone above the feeder is necessary, and UNH Extension recommends tilting or large dome baffles.
- Pole away from launch points: at least 10 ft from trees, fences, decks and buildings (Audubon 2011, Cornell Lab, UNH, Virginia); 8 to 10 ft in Audubon 2025; 7 to 8 ft in UNL. Squirrels leap about 8 ft sideways and 11 ft down (Cornell Lab).
- Baffle below a pole feeder: a cone at least 17 in across (Audubon 2011), 14 to 18 in (UNL), or a 16-in baffle about 1 ft below the feeder (Cornell Lab).
- Baffle height: 4 to 5 ft off the ground (Audubon 2025), at least 4 ft (UNL).
- Feeder height: about 5 ft (Audubon 2011); at least 6 ft (UNL poles, Virginia).
- Hanging feeder: a tilting baffle at least 18 in across above the feeder (Cornell Lab, FeederWatch) on a 3- to 4-ft nylon monofilament line (Cornell Lab).
- Tree-hung feeder: at least 6 ft above the ground and 6 ft from the trunk (UNL).
Set up a pole feeder, step by step
- Measure first. Find a spot at least 10 feet from every tree, roof edge, fence and deck rail, with nothing overhead the squirrel could drop from (Audubon, Cornell Lab, UNH).
- Use a smooth pole. UNL suggests poles at least 6 feet high. Don't grease the pole. Cornell, UNL and UNH all advise against it because grease can harm wildlife, and UNH warns it can mat fur.
- Fit the baffle below the feeder, with its lower edge at least 4 feet off the ground (UNL; Audubon 2025 says 4 to 5 feet), and wide enough to stop a climber: 17 inches or more for a cone (Audubon).
- Hang or mount the feeder above it, about 5 feet up or higher.
- If a squirrel still gets on, look for the launch point it is jumping from, measure again and move the pole.
Hanging feeders
On a feeder hung from a branch the baffle goes above, with the feeder on nylon monofilament fishing line rather than wire (Cornell); the figure gives the numbers.
For a feeder on a line strung between two supports, FeederWatch and Cornell suggest lengths of plastic tubing threaded on the line, so it spins when a squirrel walks on it. UNL adds that 2-foot disks will block a squirrel's view, and warns against rope or cord, which squirrels can chew through.
The safflower trick (and nyjer)
Safflower is the seed most often suggested for squirrel trouble. The sources agree that it helps, though none promise it works every time:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Cornell Lab, seed guide | Squirrels, House Sparrows and starlings don't like safflower, "but in some areas seem to have developed a taste for it." A favorite of cardinals |
| National Wildlife (2013) | In studies by David Horn, squirrels avoided safflower about 50% of the time, but many bird species avoid it too |
| Audubon (2025) | Rated "It'll Do": squirrels dislike the taste |
| UNL Extension | Squirrels tend to leave nyjer and safflower alone; those feeders may not need baffles, but squirrels may chew the ports on feeders that also hold sunflower |
| Virginia wildlife agency (2003) | Try offering only safflower if squirrels are eating your sunflower seed |
Cornell's feeder guide adds that squirrels often don't bother with tiny nyjer seeds, which makes nyjer feeders easier to manage. Sunflower is the seed squirrels like most (Cornell). More on which birds eat safflower: what to feed backyard birds.
Feeder designs
- Weight-activated perches drop and close the feeding ports under a squirrel's weight (Cornell). Audubon says such a feeder must hang farther from the pole or trunk than a squirrel can reach.
- Caged feeders have a wire cage. UNL says 1¼-inch openings let chickadees, nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers through. Audubon notes the cage keeps out larger birds too.
- Metal ports and tubes hold up where squirrels gnaw plastic (Cornell, Maryland DNR).
- "Squirrel-proof" labels: FeederWatch and UNH say squirrels often find a way into these too.
For the feeder styles themselves, see bird feeder types compared.
Hot pepper: the sources disagree
Some seed is sold treated with capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot. National Wildlife quotes Cornell's Kevin McGowan saying it doesn't harm birds, but that squirrels can build up a tolerance. FeederWatch says capsaicin may deter squirrels, but no research has looked at high doses in birds, and it advises against adding untested products to bird food. UNL Extension does not recommend capsaicin. It says it may fail in winter when food is scarce, and squirrels have damaged their eyes rubbing them.
Give squirrels their own food
Decoy feeding is an option. FeederWatch suggests peanuts or dried ears of corn some distance from the bird feeders. Cornell mentions raw peanuts in the shell, cracked corn on the ground or ears of corn hung in a tree. Audubon suggests putting squirrel feeders far from bird feeders, and UNL gives 10 to 15 feet or more. If you stop, UNL says to taper the supply over two weeks. UNH Extension does not recommend feeding squirrels, and Maryland DNR suggests pausing bird feeding for a while if squirrels become a real problem.
Squirrel checklist
- Pole at least 10 ft from trees, roofs, fences and deck rails, with nothing overhead
- Smooth baffle below the feeder: 17 in or more for a cone, bottom edge at least 4 ft up
- Hanging feeder: tilting baffle of 18 in or more above it, on a 3–4 ft monofilament line
- No grease on the pole
- Safflower or nyjer in feeders that squirrels keep raiding
- Any squirrel food well away from bird feeders
Sources
- How to Stop Squirrels From Raiding Your Bird Feeders — Audubon (Andy McGlashen, 2025)
- 11 Tips for Feeding Backyard Birds — Audubon (Steve Kress, 2011)
- What Can You Do About Squirrels? — Cornell Lab of Ornithology, BirdNotes 11 (2014, PDF)
- Other Feeder Visitors — Project FeederWatch, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- How to Choose the Right Kind of Bird Feeder — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Feeding Birds: A Quick Guide to Seed Types — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Selective Bird Feeding: Deterring Nuisance Wildlife from Bird Feeders — Pennisi and Vantassel, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension EC1783 (2012, PDF)
- What Can I Do to Keep Squirrels Off of My Birdfeeders? — UNH Extension (2018)
- When Wildlife Overstays Its Welcome — Carol A. Heiser, Virginia Wildlife, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (2003, PDF)
- Thwarting Backyard Squirrels — National Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation (Doreen Cubie, 2013)
- Supplemental Feeding Wild Birds — Maryland Department of Natural Resources (PDF)