Is a proper squirrel feeder a good idea?
If you live in an area where there are no grey squirrels, then a feeder can be a nice way of attracting red squirrels into your garden. If you would like to make one yourself, you can download our information sheet on Squirrel Feeder Construction You may have seen squirrel feeders advertised as ‘red only feeders’ for sale in catalogues or in garden centres. At present, the evidence is that these do not work, as small grey squirrels can still gain access to the food, and there is still a risk of disease transmission at these feeders. However, please note SoS do not recommend putting up a dedicated feeder if you live in an area where both red and grey squirrels are present, as current thinking is that shared use of feeders between reds and greys may be one of the reasons for the spread of squirrelpox virus. If you do use a squirrel feeder, please ensure that it is cleaned regularly to prevent it from becoming a potential source of disease transmission. Cleaning should include removing al
