Will Vaseline keep squirrels off the bird feeder? 3 Ways Revealed

Will Vaseline keep squirrels off the bird feeder? Yes, you can use Vaseline to work as a squirrel deterrent on bird feeders. Apply a Vaseline layer to the bird feeder’s pole and the rim of the feeder dish. The squirrels will not be able to grip the pole or dish and will slide off. As a result, there will be no danger for the birdies.

Birds are just another version of our friends. When we are petting a bird in a cage, we should remember a couple of things: providing food, better shelter, and protection from predators.

Accordingly, the squirrels are serious predators to finish off the lives of these feathered friends. It’s because they can crawl easily to the feeder and hurt the birdies. So, there comes a question when we want to keep off the hunters.

Maybe you are thinking of keeping the cage inside your room. But it’s not healthy or suitable for the bird or your peaceful sleep.

So, I am here to explain how to protect the bird from squirrels using Vaseline. You may find the below things helpful.

What is Vaseline and how does it Work

Generations by generation, Vaseline has been a popular skincare product. It is petroleum jelly that can be used for various purposes. You can apply it to keep your skin soft and even heal the cuts and scrapes.

Vaseline works by creating a barrier on our skin. This barrier helps to lock in moisture and keep our skin hydrated. It protects our skin from irritants and pollutants that cause dryness and inflammation.

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) has a melting point of around 100°C. Typically, it is solid at room temperature. When you touch it, it feels slightly slippery. But the lubricating properties are not very pronounced.

Will Vaseline Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders?

If you have forestation near your home, there is a chance to visit squirrels for food or fun. But it is not safe for the pet feathers as squirrels may scare off or attack them.

In this case, Vaseline can protect the birdies from their attack.

How Does Vaseline Keep Off Squirrels?

Vaseline is slippery in nature. How? I am adding two examples:

In the winter, we often use Vaseline to keep our faces hydrated. It means it has watery ingredients to keep our face away from drying. It will keep our face smooth.

But when we add a bit more Vaseline to the face, we can easily slide our fingers on our face. Hence, it proves Vaseline is slippery.

Again, think about you have accidentally dropped the Vaseline container on the floor. You may try to keep your feet on it, but you will slip.

Why am I talking about the slipperiness of Vaseline? Indeed, this slippery Vaseline can prevent the squirrels from rising and scare off the birds.

Squirrels’ tiny feet or fingers cannot grip well on the feeder path if you apply petroleum jelly nearby.

How to Apply Vaseline to Keep Squirrels Off the Bird Feeder?

You can apply it in versatile ways. Here are some of them:

• You can directly apply it to surfaces that you don’t want squirrels to climb, such as trees or outside your home.
• You can also put it on bird feeders or birdhouses to keep squirrels away.
• Finally, you can put Vaseline on your hands and then touch surfaces that you don’t want squirrels to be able to touch.

Is it Safe to Use Vaseline nearby the Feeder of the Bird?

Since you are thinking of applying Vaseline, you should know one important thing; Vaseline safety.

Most quality petroleum jelly products are safe to use on human skin. Usually, the ingredients in Vaseline petroleum jelly are mineral oil, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum, paraffin, and fragrance.

All these ingredients make the valuable thing on dry skins. But it can be unsafe or unsuitable for other creatures.

Some animals may be allergic to the fragrance of petroleum jelly. Again, the paraffin and other added chemicals can harm you, your kids, and other animals, including your cage birds.

Yet it is quite safe if the birds don’t consume it or directly touch it. Similarly, it can be a reason to keep squirrels’ life in danger.

But if you are cautious while applying the Vaseline, there may be the least chance of harming any creature.

How Do You Stop Squirrels from Using Bird Feeders?

Here are a few different ways that you can try:

1. Use Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder

One way to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder is to use a squirrel-proof bird feeder. Usually, they have a weight-activated perch to close the access hole when a squirrel tries to land on it.

Also, they may have a baffle to prevent squirrels from reaching the bird food.

2. Make Bird Feeder Secure

Another way is to make your squirrel-proof bird feeder. You can do this by attaching a wire mesh around the outside of your bird feeder.

You may also hang your bird feeder from a wire or rope so that it can swing freely and squirrels can’t reach it. After all, squirrels may not reach the feeder if you hang it at least 7-8 feet in the air. But it should have access points.

3. Try Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder Pole

Finally, you can also try using a squirrel-proof bird feeder pole. These poles have a baffle that prevents squirrels from climbing up to the bird feeder.

Conclusion

Squirrels are not so welcoming animals if you have birdies. They can make a huge mess and consume the foods you leave for the birds. So, taking extraordinary measures can deter them from coming.

In such a case, Vaseline is the best idea. It can keep the predators out of reach of the birds. You may surely try applying it nearby the cage or feeder.