How to Stop Squirrels Climbing Your Fence (and Raiding Your Bird Feeder)

Squirrels are agile, persistent climbers that can scale a standard 6-foot fence in under a second — and ordinary flat bird spikes do nothing to stop them because squirrels simply plant their paws between the prongs and walk straight over. The most effective approach combines a physical barrier on the fence top that squirrels genuinely cannot navigate, plus adjustments to whatever is attracting them (almost always a bird feeder or fruit tree on the other side).

Why squirrels laugh at ordinary flat spikes

Flat single-height spikes are designed with birds in mind. A pigeon can't grip a row of uniform prongs — but a squirrel doesn't need to grip. It reads the spacing between identical prongs, plants its feet in the gaps, and uses the base strip almost as a runway.

What actually disrupts a squirrel is unpredictability. When the prong heights vary — short, medium, tall, in no repeating pattern — the animal can't find a stable foothold. It pulls back rather than commit its weight to something it can't read. This is the same reason a rocky riverbank is harder to run across than a flat pavement: inconsistency forces caution.

ThornGuard's spikes use three heights — 12 mm, 22 mm and 36 mm — in an irregular sequence precisely for this reason. They were designed from the start to stop climbing animals, not just perching birds. The strip also folds and wraps around a fence top and down both sides, so there's no clean edge for a squirrel to grab.

What squirrels are actually after (and whether removing it is easier)

Before fitting anything, spend two minutes working out what's drawing them in.

Bird feeders are the number-one reason squirrels climb garden fences. A standard hanging feeder on the other side of your fence is worth the effort to any squirrel within 50 metres. If the feeder is the target:

• Move it at least 1.5 m away from the fence, shed, or any structure they can launch from. Squirrels can jump roughly 1.2 m horizontally from a standing position.
• Fit a squirrel baffle — a dome or cylinder guard — on the feeder pole. A smooth metal cone below the feeder tray is cheap and genuinely effective.
• Use a pole-mounted feeder rather than a hanging one; poles are much easier to baffle than branches or fence posts.

If the feeder is the sole attraction, sorting the feeder alone may solve the problem without touching the fence at all. That's worth trying first.

Fruit trees, vegetable beds, or compost bins are harder to remove. If squirrels are after the garden itself rather than a specific feeder, a physical fence barrier becomes necessary.

How to fit deterrent spikes to a fence top to stop squirrels

Fence tops are the most common installation point. Here's the exact process:

1. Measure your fence run. Include the tops of any fence posts, not just the panels — squirrels will use a bare post as a bridge if you skip it.

2. Choose your fixing method.

• Timber fences: screw the spike strip directly into the top rail. Pre-drill to avoid splitting.
• Concrete posts or capped fences: use cable ties through the base of the strip and around the post, or use waterproof adhesive pads on surfaces you can't drill (available separately from ThornGuard).
• Hollow plastic or uPVC fence toppers: adhesive pads work well here too — drill-through risks cracking.

3. Fold the strip to wrap the fence top. ThornGuard strips bend lengthways and fold in four directions, so you can wrap the top rail and fold the strip down both sides of the fence face by a few centimetres. A squirrel trying to pull itself up from either side then meets spikes before it even reaches the top.

4. Handle corners and posts carefully. Cut the strip across its sections to fit shorter runs or the tops of individual posts. The cut sections are fully usable — nothing goes to waste. Split the strip lengthways if you need to cover a wider surface area at lower depth.

5. Leave no gaps. A 30 cm gap in coverage is all a squirrel needs to find a clean landing spot. Pay particular attention to where panels meet posts.

For a full illustrated walkthrough, see the ThornGuard fitting guide.

Will spikes on the fence stop squirrels reaching my bird feeder?

Only if the feeder is positioned so the fence is the only viable route to it. Squirrels are patient route-planners. They will try:

• Jumping from an overhanging branch or tree
• Climbing the feeder pole directly
• Using a shed roof, trellis, or garden furniture as a stepping stone

Fence-top spikes are most effective as part of a combined approach: spikes on the fence, a baffle on the feeder pole, and branches trimmed back from the feeder's airspace. Treat each access route as a separate problem to close off.

Other humane methods worth combining

Squirrel-proof feeders. Weight-sensitive feeders close their ports when a squirrel lands on them. Brands like Brome (the Squirrel Buster range) are well-regarded and widely available in the UK. They're a worthwhile investment if your feeder is the main draw.

Chilli-based bird seed. Birds cannot taste capsaicin; squirrels find it intensely unpleasant. Hot pepper suet balls or chilli-coated seed mixes are sold by most UK bird food suppliers. There is no welfare concern for birds, and the effect on squirrels is purely deterrent — they move on rather than persist.

Natural deterrents. Squirrels dislike the scent of white pepper and some citrus oils. These work in close quarters (e.g. around a single pot or raised bed) but need regular reapplication after rain. Useful as a supplement, not a primary solution outdoors.

Avoid: glue traps, spring traps not approved for grey squirrels, poison bait stations accessible to non-target animals, or any method that risks injury. Grey squirrels in the UK are not protected, but many trap types require a licence, and any method that risks injuring a red squirrel (protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) is illegal. If you're in a red squirrel area, check with your local wildlife trust before using any physical trap.

How much fence coverage do I need?

ThornGuard comes in two packs:

• 4 m pack (10 strips): covers up to 4 m installed flat, or up to 12 m if split lengthways — enough for a standard fence panel run on a typical small garden.
• 8 m pack (20 strips): covers up to 8 m flat or 24 m split — better value for longer runs or if you're covering a fence, shed roof edge, and gate top in one go.

For a 10–12 m garden fence with a couple of posts, the 8 m pack gives you comfortable coverage without running short. See the full pack details on the ThornGuard product page.

Common questions

Do squirrels eventually get used to spikes and cross anyway?

The irregular spike heights make this much less likely than with flat single-height spikes, because there's no consistent foothold pattern to learn. That said, no deterrent is guaranteed on every individual animal — a very bold squirrel may persist. Combining spikes with a feeder baffle and source-removal gives you the strongest outcome.

Can I use the same spikes on my shed roof to stop squirrels getting up there?

Yes — the strip folds to fit shed edges, the lip of a flat roof, and the ridge of a pitched roof. Screw or cable-tie to timber; use adhesive pads on felt or uPVC fascia boards where drilling isn't practical.

Will the spikes harm squirrels, cats, or other animals?

No. The spikes are a deterrent, not a trap or an injuring device. The prong heights and spacing are designed to feel unstable and uncomfortable, causing the animal to back off — not to puncture skin. The same strips are used around bird feeders and in gardens where pets and children are present.