Best Squirrel Baffle: Keep Your Seed for the Birds!

best squirrel baffleBest Squirrel Baffle

As one of our favorite children’s’ book loves to say, Those DarnSquirrels! They are great at breaking into bird feeders - they take cues from Oceans 11. Well it’s time to stop them with a squirrel baffle. After looking at several options on the market, we’ve found that the best squirrel baffle is the Audubon Torpedo Steel Squirrel Baffle Model NATORPEDO. It has a design that adapts well to different pole sizes, is easy to install, and it does a fine job of discouraging the furry invaders.

For more information on the NATORPEDO see the Product Reviews section below.

Our runner-up pick is the Squirrel Stopper Metal Standard Baffle Model SQSB09. It is sturdy, adds springs to discourage squirrels, and even helps keep raccoons off some feeders. It’s also more complicated to install than many other baffles and is on the pricey side, which took some points off.

For further details on the SQSB09, see the Product Reviews section below.

Budget Choice: Squirrel Baffle

The Woodlink NABAF18 Audubon Wrap Around Squirrel Bafflemodel is simple, easy to use, and works well for combatting most squirrel problems. Your personal mileage may vary, depending on how determined your neighborhood squirrels are.

For more information on the Woodlink NABAF18, see the Product Reviews area below.

Squirrel Baffle Buyer’s Tips

A squirrel baffle can be a huge deterrent to squirrels stealing your bird seed. A baffle, coupled with a squirrel-resistant bird feeder, can allow bird-lovers to regain control of their garden, and their sanity. And as a bonus, you can watch the squirrels try and fail to bypass your baffles. It’s better entertainment than Game of Thrones! One important aspect to consider is placing your squirrel baffle, and your bird feeder, properly. For feeder placement details, see How to Hang a Bird Feeder for more information.

Squirrel Baffle and Bird Feeder Locations

Success with squirrel baffles will require proper placement of your bird feeder. Most baffle makers recommend something like the following:

Feeder

Place the feeder at least 7’ above the ground.

Baffle

Place the baffle at least 5 feet above the ground.

Mounting Pole

Place the mounting pole at least 10’ from anything the squirrel can jump from. Walls, tree branches, roof eaves, bird baths, etc. should be considered when placing your pole. Take a moment and analyze your surroundings to ensure the best placement - squirrels will happily leap from branches, railings, roofs, or any structure that they can reach. And as a quick note, be sure to place your bird feeder in a location that is also protected from access by your local feline population!

Squirrel Baffle Reviews

When you’re committed to feeding wild birds at your home, you probably didn’t realize that most bird feeder set-ups come with a bonus: squirrel marauders. Yep, the world is just filled with the cute little bandits, uniquely constructed to take on even the most remote bird feeders. They leap, they dangle, they climb - and they can clean out a bird feeder in no time at all, depriving your birds of their food, and costing you additional money in bird seed. Unless you’re willing to go into battle by constructing your own squirrel guards - and then putting the results on YouTube - the simplest solution to the problem is to install a squirrel baffle on your feeder’s pole support. Baffles vary in design, but not in function. They keep squirrels from climbing up to the feeder. It’s important to have one that’s easy to install, is durable and weather resistant, and that keeps the squirrels away from your feeder. If you haven’t purchased a bird feeder yet, consider a squirrel-proof bird feeder for added protection. We’ll start with a comparison table to get oriented, and then move onto individual reviews. We’ll conclude with our favorites.

---

1. Erva Post-Mounted Squirrel Baffle

Key Points at a Glance

• Galvanized steel finish
• 23.25” diameter
• Round disc shape
• Attaches to 4” x 4” post with screws
• Only works on 4" x 4" posts

Dimensions and Specs

3.2 lbs

23.2 x 23.2 x 1.8 inches

If your bird feeder is mounted on a standard square wooden 4x4 post, the Erva model is worth checking out. This design is extra wide - almost 2 feet in diameter - and sets up a generous barrier for anything climbing upwards. The installation is simple. The galvanized steel disc has a slit that extends from the center opening to the outer edge - this allows you to separate the edges enough to slide around your post, rather than sliding it on from the top. Once on the post, the entire disc is rejoined at the slit with clips. The whole unit is attached to the post with included wood screws that fasten down the metal tabs just below the opening. It anchors well and stays put.

---

2. AUDUBON NACLBAF16 Clear Squirrel Baffle

Key Points at a Glance

• 16” diameter
• Round disc shape
• Attaches to 1” to 1/38” pole with coupler and screws
• Can be used as a weather guard above hanging feeders

Dimensions and Specs

1.15 lbs

15.4 x 15.4 x 3.8 inches

The Audubon NACLBAF16 baffle is a lighter-weight version that can also be used as a weather guard. It fits pole sizes from 1” - 1 3/8” by using a coupler and screws. It’s important to note that this design works best for squirrel resistance when mounted on the pole below the bird feeder. Unfortunately, it’s not really designed for deterring furry bandits coming from above the feeder. When mounted over the feeder, the disc works well as weather protection - but not squirrel protection. Many find that the plastic construction does not withstand drops or weather as well as metal baffles would. This one is probably best when used on a patio or deck. It does a serviceable job in deterring squirrels trying to climb the bird feeder pole, but the 16” diameter is smaller than others we reviewed, and some squirrels will find it no challenge.

---

3. Woodlink NABAF18 Audubon Wrap Around Squirrel Baffle, 18-Inch

Key Points at a Glance

• 18” diameter
• Cone shape
• Attaches to 1/2” to 1/3/8” pole with couplers and screws
• Black powder-coated steel

Dimensions and Specs

2.75 lbs

19 x 19 x 7 inches

The Woodland NABAF18 is an effective, easy-to-install product at a great price point. This combo resulted in it becoming our Budget Pick. The cone-shaped design snaps together around a good range of pole diameters from 1/2-inch to 1-3/8-inch, making it a good choice for all types of installations. The NABAF18 is made of powder-coated steel that is split to allow for installation. The user slides the cone around the pole, and then rejoins the metal by snapping the edges back together. This yields a deep cone that the squirrels get trapped under as the attempt to climb the pole. At 18” in diameter, it deters most squirrels, and many find that it is also good for discouraging chipmunks.

---

4. Audubon Torpedo Steel Squirrel Baffle Model NATORPEDO

Key Points at a Glance

• Slide-on installation only
• Torpedo shape
• Attaches to 1/2” to 1 3/8” pole with couplers and screws
• Black powder-coated steel

Dimensions and Specs

2.45 lbs

6 x 6 x 15.8 inches

The Audubon Torpedo design looks a little different, but it works quite well! This squirrel baffle has easy installation and solid construction, making it our choice as the Best Squirrel Baffle. The style, which looks much like a torpedo, indeed, is a two-piece system. To install, simply clamp the coupler on the pole, and then slide the baffle onto the coupling. Setup is quite simple. It works on diameters of 1/2” to 1 3/8”, making it useful for most applications. The baffle is proportioned and designed to prevent squirrels from getting a grip and climbing past it. Many buyers find that it works very well, as long as the squirrels are unable to jump above the baffle and directly onto the pole or feeder. It’s suggested that the pole and baffle be located away from branches or railings that will allow a leap from persistent squirrels. As long as the little marauders are forced to climb the pole from ground level, the Torpedo will stop them before they ever reach their goal.

---

5. Squirrel Stopper Metal Standard Baffle Deters Squirrels and Raccoons

Key Points at a Glance

• Slide-on installation only
• Torpedo shape
• Attaches to 1/2” to 2” pole with couplers and screws
• Black powder-coated steel

Dimensions and Specs

5.3 lbs

8 x 8 x 36 inches

The Squirrel Stopper SQSB09 takes the torpedo design a bit further by adding internal springs to the torpedo shape. By combining the torpedo shape with a spring system, the resulting jiggle and bounce of the baffle are highly discouraging to persistent squirrels and even raccoons! The whole baffle will move both up and down and from side to side when squirrels, chipmunks, or even raccoons attempt to scale it. The movement seems to be the key here - all of these animals, even raccoons, don’t trust the baffle, and many buyers find that they finally left their feeders alone. The good news is that once this squirrel baffle is installed, it works quite well. The bad news is that many find the installation process to be frustrating. Although the baffle slides onto a pole, the rest of the attachments require more patience and dexterity than the standard coupler/screw installation.

---

Conclusion

A squirrel baffle is a simple solution that will help you take back control of your garden, and will save you a great deal of money in seed. The seed will go to the birds, not to the critters. Our Top Choice product, the Audubon Torpedo Steel Squirrel Baffle Model NATORPEDO, is a solid, easy-to-install baffle with an innovative torpedo shape that repels squirrels and chipmunks effectively. Our Runner Up choice, the Squirrel Stopper Metal Standard Baffle SQSB09, was our only product to use springs and movements to discourage invaders - it does this well, but will require more patience to install. Our Budget Pick, the Woodlink NABAF18 Audubon Wrap Around Squirrel Baffle, deters squirrels with sheer size, and is easy to install. It’s a perfect first line of defense in your squirrel wars. Happy feeding!

---