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Title edit
Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Seed - Keep Squirrels Away from your Bird Feeder
Description edit
About Squirrels
The bird feeders' war with the squirrels has raged for many years. Bird feeders all over the world know what a formidable opponent squirrels can be. Many mechanical devices have been marketed to deter squirrels. None are 100% effective, most are obtrusive and some are down right dangerous.
Understanding squirrel behavior alone may not rid your backyard birdfeeder of these voracious critters, but it may increase your appreciation for their abilities. Squirrels belong to the order Rodentia, which contains over 1650 species. Rodentia is the largest group of living mammals and members of Rodentia can be found throughout the world. Squirrels inhabit every continent except Australia and Antarctica, evidence that squirrels are part of a very successful lineage.
Squirrels cause millions of dollars of damage every year. Rodents are born to gnaw. Their incisors never stop growing, so they must chew constantly to keep them worn down. Squirrels chew through phone and electrical lines, ruin gardens, kill trees, damage feeders beyond recognition, and often eat large quantities of seed put out for the birds. The stripping of wire insulation by squirrels that find their way inside homes has been known to start house fires. Squirrels are very aggressive critters and numerous squirrel bites are reported each year. Squirrels have been known to carry rabies. Infection from bites is the biggest concern, as several varieties of bacteria (including those that cause tetanus and salmonella) are found in the squirrel's mouth. As admirable and entertaining as they may be, it cannot be forgotten that squirrels are wild animals, and have little concern for human interests.
