Want Squirrels To Stay off Your Bird Feeder? Try This Clever $5 Hack
Bird feeders welcome our feathered friends to our yards, providing a free meal to those willing to venture close to humanity. But they also attract other animals, many of whom are more brazen and undeterred by people or even pets. Squirrels, in particular, love to feast on birdseed and can get very clever, climbing, jumping, or shimmying to their favorite restaurant on the block.
While many nature lovers allow nature to take its course and let the squirrels dine out as much as they'd like, others prefer to leave the choicest snacks for the birds alone. This video offers a simple squirrel-proofing method for bird feeders: a slinky.
@sabrinaferrero6 who would have known that a $3 slinky would be the answer to my problems #birds#birdtok#squirrel#fyp
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In the clip, we see a squirrel make a few attempts to climb up the feeder stand and reach the seed, but each time he's thwarted by the slinky hanging from the pole. It works, and it even provides endless entertainment.
Commenters jumped in to approve the hack, with @Melinda VanDeBrake calling it, "Clever!!" Others took the squirrel's side, like @Gerninja X, who posited, "The squirrel was like, 'Now wait a da*n minute.'"
Some argued that everyone should be invited to the buffet, including @uncaged, with: "Feed the squirrels." But the original TikTok poster explained that they'll eat everything, calling them "greedy." Somehow, we think the squirrels will be just fine.
Related: Want Cardinals in Your Yard? Try This One Simple Trick
Other Ways To Keep Squirrels at Bay
While this handy trick did wonders for the poster, it won't work in all cases. @Mind.n.Soul summed it up best with, "Just here to state that Louisiana squirrels are built different and the dang slinky does not stop them at all!" Viewers had some good suggestions in the comments, including squirrel-proof feeders, which work in some instances.
Many bird lovers referred to the 5-7-9 rule. This states that all bird feeders should be 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet away from trees (or shrubs), and 9 feet below structures. This will prevent eager squirrels from using any nearby landscaping to access the feeder.
Another user, @ChestysWhiteLog, had one last suggestion: "Get those tree puppies a separate dish of peanuts, and they'll be happy lil' campers." At the end of the day, you might just need to give in and feed the squirrels.
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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 6:20 AM.