Animal Rescuer Speaks Out Against “Squirrel Proof” Bird Feeders After Too Many Critters Get Stuck

Many well-intentioned bird lovers set up feeders in their yards to attract birds and offer them something to eat. But all too often, other critters end up taking advantage of the feeders and clearing out all of the food before the birds even have a chance.

Some of the most common culprits are squirrels, so many people have opted to use squirrel-proof bird feeders, but as one animal rescue has pointed out, they never work and can pose a threat to wildlife.

The Wildlife Aid Foundation in the UK is no stranger to bird feeder rescues. They regularly get calls for help from concerned citizens who find squirrels trapped in the wires of squirrel-proof bird feeders. The rescue shared a video of one such rescue, saying, “So-called ‘squirrel-proof’ bird feeders are often anything but and we are often called out to help rescue stuck squirrels from this unlucky predicament!”

In the comments, they added, “We get calls to situations like this all the time…they always find a way in!”

The particular squirrel they rescued had been stuck for hours on an especially cold day and likely wouldn’t have survived for long without help. But as the rescue shared, they were able to free them successfully.

“Luckily for this one, it was not held tightly and, after being cut free by Simon, it could be safely returned to the wild,” they said.

Unfortunately, this squirrel rescue isn’t an isolated incident. There are regularly stories of squirrels getting stuck in these feeders.

For example, check out this video of a squirrel being rescued from a feeder in England:

There was also this rescue of a squirrel trapped in a “squirrel-proof” feeder in the United States:

And we can’t forget this squirrel that was trapped in a bird feeder and rescued by the RSPCA in Northwich.

Feeding birds with the help of a feeder can be a fun way to bring more birds to your yard, but it’s important to set them up in a way that won’t harm other wildlife, like squirrels. It’s also important to avoid excessive feeding of wildlife, which can harm natural ecosystems and make wildlife dependent on human handouts, and follow the dos and don’ts of feeding backyard creatures.

If you do get a bird feeder, make sure it isn’t one with a wire cage. Also, try and keep the ground clean under the cage so you don’t attract squirrels, put plastic soda bottles on the wire to the bird feeder or even make a new another feeder just for squirrels.

Sign this petition to stop the excessive feeding of wildlife.

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