Frequently asked questions

Questions people actually ask

How high should a squirrel baffle be mounted?

Four to five feet to the top of the baffle, with the feeder above it. Audubon publishes that figure, and it derives from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System's statement that a gray squirrel jumps up to four feet vertically. The full arithmetic is here.

How far can a squirrel jump?

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System states up to 4 feet vertically and twice that distance horizontally, so roughly 8 feet sideways. Those two numbers are the basis of every placement rule on this site.

How far should a bird feeder be from a fence or tree?

At least ten feet. Audubon says 8 to 10 feet from anything solid, Cornell says at least 10 feet from jumping-off points, and Squirrel Stopper prints a ten-foot setback in its own pole instructions.

Do squirrel baffles actually work?

Reliably, when the top sits four to five feet off the ground with the feeder above and nothing solid within about ten feet. Outside those conditions they fail, and the cause is almost always placement rather than the product. See do squirrel baffles work.

What baffle fits a 4x4 post?

One made for a square section. A nominal 4x4 is actually 3.5 in across, so round-pole collars do not seat on it. Erva's SB3 stovepipe and SB7GLV disk are both specified for 4x4 posts. Baffles for 4x4 posts.

Why is a squirrel still reaching my feeder despite a baffle?

Almost always because it is jumping from something rather than climbing the pole. Watch one arrival: if you never see it on the pole, the problem is a fence, a branch or a rail within about eight feet.

Do weight-activated bird feeders work?

Against gray squirrels, yes — the mechanism is mass. Against chipmunks and red squirrels, no, because they are too light to trip it. That is a calibration limit rather than a defect. See weight-activated vs caged.

What keeps chipmunks out of a bird feeder?

A caged feeder. Cages exclude by size rather than by weight, so a chipmunk's low weight is irrelevant. No weight-activated feeder will work on chipmunks regardless of price.

What is the best squirrel-proof bird feeder for cardinals?

A weight-activated feeder with a cardinal ring and an adjustable trigger, because a cage is inherently awkward for a bird that size.

Can squirrels climb shepherd's hooks?

Easily. The real problem with hooks is not grip but height: most are too short to place a baffle at four to five feet with the feeder still above it. Baffles for shepherd's hooks.

How tall does a deer fence need to be?

Michigan State University Extension puts effective perimeters at 8 to 10 feet, and says the only sure barriers are woven wire fences or walls at least 10 feet tall. Penn State Extension suggests considering 10 to 12 feet. Most mesh fencing sold online is 7.5 feet. The full guide.

Do deer repellents work?

On treated foliage, while the coating is there. They fail mechanically rather than chemically: rain strips them, new growth is untreated, and hungry deer will eat things they dislike. Reapplication is the whole game.

How high does a rabbit fence need to be?

At least two feet, buried four to eight inches, per Colorado State University Extension. The burial matters as much as the height, because rabbits go under before they go over.

What mesh size keeps rabbits out?

One inch or smaller. The University of Georgia Extension notes hex netting is sold in 1 in and 2 in openings, and young rabbits pass a 2 in mesh. Half-inch hardware cloth also excludes chipmunks.

Do ultrasonic animal repellers work?

We cannot say. The listings we have found publish no frequency, sound pressure level, coverage area or habituation data, so there is nothing to assess. We rank on published specifications, and these have none, which is why nothing on this site ranks them.

Do motion-activated sprinklers work?

On a defined approach in frost-free months, yes. Water, noise and movement arrive together and are hard to habituate to. Orbit's Yard Enforcer publishes a 40 ft adjustable detection range and a 3 to 10 second spray. They are hose-fed, so they are out of service in freezing weather.

Does greasing a feeder pole work?

No, and it harms wildlife. Grease and petroleum jelly transfer to fur and feathers and destroy insulation and waterproofing. It also washes off in the first rain. Use a baffle.

Does hot pepper keep squirrels off a feeder?

It works on the taste difference between mammals and birds, and Cole's publishes a dose of 1.5 oz per 5 lb of seed, so the treatment is repeatable. It stops the animal eating, not the animal arriving.

Have you tested any of these products?

No, and we say so on every page. We compile published manufacturer specifications, apply the clearance geometry from named authorities, do the arithmetic, and cite every figure. We have no lab, own no test units, and accept no free products. How we pick sets the standard out in full.

How is Baffleworks funded?

By affiliate commission. We are an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We accept no sponsored placements and no free products, and Amazon's category rate does not vary between the products we compare, so there is no rate to chase. Full disclosure.

Why do some prices say Check price instead of a number?

Because we do not have a live figure for that product right now. Prices come from a daily data layer and are date-stamped; when the data is missing or stale the button says Check price rather than showing a remembered number.

Who writes this site?

Scooter M., an enthusiast who reads the manuals, compiles the published specifications and does the math. No lab coat, no credentials claimed, no tenure claimed. About Baffleworks.