7 Best Squirrel Baffles for All Mounting Options

Updated on by Jared Belson | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page.

Not everyone understands the need to protect bird feeders from squirrels. But, there’s more to owning one of the best squirrel baffles than just offering protection for birds, their food, and their feeder. Some look cool, while others provide weather shielding, and so on.

Whatever the reason you need one, the following examples of squirrel baffles are top-of-the-line and affordable. Check them out before making a decision.

Best Squirrel Baffles to Use in Your Yard

The Woodlink NABAF18 squirrel baffle is as rugged as they come. It has a wrap-around design, which makes it very easy to use. That’s because you won’t have to remove the bird feeder when installing it.

The NABAF18 baffle snaps apart using inward pressure. Given the dimensions of the coupler, you can mount the baffle on all poles between .5” and 1 3/8”. You might want to install it at least 4ft off the ground, depending on what type of squirrels you have in your area.

The textured powder coating looks very nice and scratch-resistant, not that squirrels will manage to get over the edge and climb the baffle.

The cone can help keep your bird feeder stay intact as long as the pole you mounted it on is not too big. I also like that the baffle isn’t too heavy. That means that it could be adjusted to fit even smaller diameter poles.

  • Quick installation
  • Wrap-around design
  • Adjustable coupler
  • Simple, black coated design
  • Can’t be modified to fit larger poles

The Perky Pet 340 is a dual-purpose squirrel baffler. It can be installed above bird feeders as well as under them, depending on how high up the pole you’ve mounted yours.

I like the transparent design because it makes it less of a deterrent for birds. However, if a squirrel jumps on top of the baffle while birds are there, the scare may be intensified. Still, many squirrel bafflers may turn birds away when installed above the feeder, and this is not one of them.

I also like that it has a large 16” diameter dome design. That’s more than enough to stop squirrels in their tracks. Know that although lightweight, the baffle can support up to 12lbs.

It needs the extra resistance to handle squirrels landing on it. My recommendation would still be to mount it underneath the feeder unless you don’t have that option.

  • Hang and pole mounting options
  • Transparent design
  • Can protect food from rain
  • Good weight capacity
  • Screw-in design that requires the removal of the bird feeder

Although this is a small squirrel baffle, it’s still one of the best choices out there to protect your bird feeder. It’s not a fixed design. Instead, it wobbles a bit, a feature that makes it, even more, squirrel proof.

I like that it’s transparent and that you can always monitor the bird feeder situation. The baffle is not scratchproof, but thanks to the wobbling motion, neither squirrels nor raccoons should be able to latch on to it for more than a few seconds.

The baffle comes with a universal fit, according to the manufacturer. However, it won’t fit poles larger than 1.5” in diameter. You should know that even squirrels can\t climb the baffle, the aggressive ones can push it upwards on some posts.

That’s why you should use a DIY stopper like a piece of paper or wood to improve the grip of the two-piece clamp.

I also like the choice of material since it won’t succumb to rust, and it offers some decent UV protection too. Too bad you can’t use it above feeders. Due to its wobbly design, some smaller squirrels may be able to tilt it just the right way.

  • Adjustable clamp
  • Wobbly under pressure
  • Transparent and rust-resistant
  • Slippery surface
  • Not safe to use above bird feeders

The Audubon squirrel baffle is there for smaller poles with diameters between 1” and 1 3/8”. I like the visibility that the see-thru plastic cone offers, as well as the protection from the rain. You can place this baffle underneath or above bird feeders, depending on your needs.

The material is not flimsy by any means, meaning that it can withstand a squirrel landing on it. Of course, this is great if you can’t install a mounting pole far enough from trees, roofs, and other tall spots where squirrels may hang.

To install it, you’ll have to first secure the coupler to the pole at the desired height. Then you can slide the baffle onto the pole. However, if you don’t want to do that or if your pole is short, then you can hang the cone above the feeder.

Although the plastic cone is slippery, it can still be scratched. Therefore, if you want it to look good for a long time, I recommend just using it as a regular pole squirrel baffle instead of a weather shield, unless your pole is far enough away from the trees.

  • 16” diameter baffle
  • Fixed and stable
  • Two mounting options
  • Suitable for small diameter poles
  • The plastic scratches easy

The North States Bird 1757 is a resilient two-way squirrel baffle with an impressive weight capacity. Although the cone is opaque, it’s still stylish, in my opinion. Just because it may obstruct the view of the bird feeder when hanged, doesn’t mean it’s any less useful.

The 15.75” diameter is more than enough to have squirrels fall far from the bird feeder when trying to climb down it. That’s because when used above the bird feeder, it will wobble, making it even more difficult for squirrels to hang onto it.

This baffle is very versatile, and you can mount it in two ways. To make things even better, North States Bird includes all the necessary mounting hardware for pole mounting and hanging.

However, if you do decide to pole-mount it underneath the bird feeder, note that you’ll have to remove the bird feeder first. That’s fine for small ornamental pieces but a bit more difficult for complex bird feeders.

I also like that you can get the NSB 1757 squirrel baffle in packs of two, three, and four, as opposed to just getting a single one. That way, you can save some money if you need multiple bird feeders.

  • Durable material
  • UV protective coating
  • Good diameter
  • 2-way mounting design
  • You’ll have to remove existing bird feeders to mount this one

As far as squirrel baffles go, this is one of the toughest to beat. The Perky Pet 341 metal baffle has a cylinder shape and is very rugged. Its smart design makes it very difficult for squirrels to find a way to latch onto the bird feeder.

The Perky Pet 341 works best on taller bird feeder poles, and it will be most useful at a minimum of four feet off the ground. The finish looks very nice. I like the choice of matte garden green, especially for poles that are near ornamental plants.

Although slightly trickier to install than traditional cone baffles, this one also comes with all mounting hardware required as well as clearly written instructions. And, once mounted, the 14.5” height and 7” diameter will serve as an intimidating obstacle for all squirrels, young or adult.

I like how it looks and how it performs, but at the end of the day, it’s a unidimensional model. It’s not suitable for everyone. Luckily, if pole mounting is your thing, this not only looks good and works, but it can also fit a broader range of pole diameters.

  • All-metal construction
  • Weatherproof and squirrel proof
  • Scratch-resistant
  • Fitting garden green finish for blending in
  • Single mounting option

The Arundale 154 Mandarin Hanging Squirrel Baffle is one of the largest squirrel baffles on the market. Although it is just 12” in width, the baffle is 17” tall and can protect most standard bird feeders and birdhouses.

The primary material is Plexiglas, which may be a common choice but a good one nonetheless. It gives the baffler the necessary weather and impact resistance to handle all sorts of temperature ranges and debris flown into it.

It’s shaped almost like a witch’s hat, and the Arundale 154 squirrel baffle provides superior protection from rain and snow to small to medium bird feeders.

The baffler is surprisingly lightweight, which means that it won’t put extra strain on the feeder chain. I also like that since it’s a hanging baffle, it will wobble a bit when squirrels land on it. But, they still won’t be able to reach in and steal the food.

The rundale 154 is one of the few squirrel baffles I can recommend for bird feeders hanged from trees. However, due to its small diameter opening at the top and unique mounting hardware, you may not be able to use this as a bottom or pole-mounted baffle. Besides, due to its shape and size, some squirrels may be able to make a run for it up to the bird feeder.

  • Tough Plexiglas baffle
  • See-through design
  • Ideal for tree-hanging bird feeders
  • Mounting hardware included
  • Not a good fit for pole-mounted bird feeders

What Are Squirrel Baffles and Why You Need Them

Understanding a squirrel baffle should be easy enough. Most baffles are dome or cone-shaped accessories that you can place either above or below bird feeders. People do this to prevent squirrels from reaching the bird feeder and stealing the food.

Although they can feature a variety of materials, especially if you count all the DIY project possibilities, most baffles are made either of metal or plastic. That’s because they need as much weather resistance as possible, as well as decent structural integrity and weight capacity.

The Mounting Hardware Tells You Everything

Whether you need to place a baffle underneath your feeder or above it, all you need to know about the possibilities lies in the mounting hardware that comes with it. Even though most squirrel baffles look the same, it doesn’t mean that all of them have two-way mounting hardware.

Some are specifically designed to be hanged, while others can be installed either way. Even though most squirrel baffles have slide-on mounting hardware, more modern designs offer interesting alternatives.

Snap-on or clamping squirrel baffles are gaining a lot of traction. That’s because they’re the easiest ones to install without having to mess with the bird feeder. A clamp design will allow you to wrap the cone or dome-shaped baffle around the pole at the desired height.

The Pros and Cons of See-Through Baffles

I think both see-through and opaque baffles have their appeal, depending on the placement of the bird feeder pole and the environment and plant life surrounding it. In some cases, a touch of color may add to the aesthetics score.

In other cases, a see-through Plexiglas cone may work better. But for the sake of practicality, it’s probably best to opt for transparent squirrel baffles, especially if you’re going to hang them above the bird feeder.

Birds will be less likely to look for alternative food sources if they have an unobstructed view of the bird feeder and the food inside it. Even though birds may also get scared by squirrels jumping onto the baffle in plain sight, I think that the trade-off is OK. Have in mind that the opaque hanging squirrel baffles may prevent birds from visiting the bird feeder in the first place.

Protect the Feeder, Protect the Birds

It’s not cool to starve or poison squirrels, but then again, they shouldn’t have to resort to stealing from the bird feeder to stay alive. There are plenty of alternative food sources for them. Besides, once there, they can cause a lot of damage too since most bird feeders can’t withstand the weight of a couple of squirrels going in and out of it freely.

Protective cones in this article can be considered the best squirrel baffles around, each in certain situations. As you can see, making the correct choice is a matter of matching the mounting hardware dimensions to those of the pole. Everything else is a matter of personal preference.

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