Versatile squirrel baffle

2.125 out of 5

24

I agree with others who have reviewed this. It is not fit for purpose. The baffle fell down within minutes of installing it, the supporting disc is entirely inadequate. Even if I tape it into position, it is not going to last a winter. Very disappointed.

Like other reviewers (which I should have read before buying!) The baffle does not work. Within minutes of installing it the baffle had come loose from the central ring as the lugs holding it in place are completely inadequate. I rung customer service who said that they sold lots of these baffles without complaint! They obviously don't read these reviews! They kindly sent me another one free of charge but the same thing happened with the new one. I have even tried putting in on upside down but although it no longer falls of the central ring the squirrels still manage to get over it. I am so disappointed as I wanted to support the RSPB and assumed that they would be selling good quality products. I am really surprised that they are still selling this type of baffle given the number of similar complaints.

My experience was very similar to that of Becky who reviewed this product in December 2019. The lugs holding the central ring in place were inadequate and the baffle fell down within minutes of being installed, and reinstalled, and reinstalled. I telephoned the manufacturers who advised gluing the central ring in place. The same thing happened.
I ordered from the RSPB partly to support the organisation in these challenging times, and partly because I assumed the Society would carry the most appropriate and effective equipment. I am badly disappointed.

I installed this with great care, but the instructions tell you to fit the central disc above the baffle. It was OK for a while, but the clips on the central disc are entirely inadequate and the baffle fell off. I decided I must stick the central disc on top, but I have no glue and am self isolating! So I fitted it from underneath and put duck tape above. It is unstable when there is a breeze - the birds have to get used to this giant disc wobbling - I've seen none on the feeder. At the moment we have a "moderate breeze". Much more and I would bring it in. Our plastic hemispheres are far better. I would recommend that you look elsewhere for a squirrel baffle for a hanging feeder unless you have a very sheltered position and glue! The RSPB cannot have tested this product out properly. I won't be getting any more and will have to look to other suppliers for something a lot, lot better. Scores out of 5 are not good enough, this product is hardly 1 out of 100. A real waste of money as far as I am concerned.

Although this style baffle is meant to deter squirrels from below, it also works above. It's true it can swing wildly in the wind, it seems to work at deterring the squirrels. I do need to adjust them occasionally. I have had problems with rain getting in my feeders so I tried putting a baffle above 4 of my feeders. It works to keep the feed dry. It is especially useful for the Squirrel-Proof feeder. Novel but it works. 5 stars for that!

I bought this for my son with the premium feeding station. It gets caught by the wind and slides down the pole. Nowhere near as good as the metal cone I use. I shall need to return it.

The squirrel baffle does not work as it should. Although the baffle is sturdy and good and wide, the centre fixing ring would not stay on. Its plastic lugs are totally inadequate so the ring comes loose and the whole baffle swings wildly in any breeze. I tried superglueing the ring in place but this didn't work either. I don't know how else to secure the ring to the baffle so it works properly. I bought this from the RSPB in the belief the quality would be good. I am very annoyed and disappointed.

We were very dubious about if this would work as we have some very clever varmints in our garden! Very pleasantly surprised that it works even though the squirrels chew through the plastic lugs underneath the baffle. However, copious sprays of WD40 work wonders and is very entertaining! All in all, very good value for money and quite robust even in the strong winds we have been having.

I was really nervous of buying this baffle because of all the bad reviews but being inundated with squirrels I decided to try. They jumped over the cone one so I tried this and it worked. It is easier to get higher on the pole which helps and because it sticks out horizontally it is very hard for them to leap over. The only problem I had was surrounding trees. Wow, can they jump! 7ft was the record! I think the design has been improved in the years since many people said it broke/snapped easily. It is pretty solid now and has an almost rubbery feel, so I can't see it breaking. The fitting is a little complex and I think a diagram showing how it fits together rather than just a picture of the parts and written description would be helpful.

Unfortunately it's not the 'versatile' squirrel baffle pictured and can only be used with a pole. I need it to hang above a feeder so it's no use. It seems sturdy, and arrived within 2 days, but I will be returning it.

RSPB should have tried for a while before recommending it to bird lovers. Is there any improvement in design after so many adverse comments.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review, sorry that you were not happy with the squirrel baffle. It should not break within a year, please contact customer services who will be happy to replace the product or offer a refund.

The baffle lifts off in even a slight breeze. Ours cracked after a couple of months and two of the lugs broke off. It's now completely split and is currently held together, temporarily, by wire and string. A very poor quality product. Would not recommend it at all.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review. Please contact customer services who will assist you with this.

When we first put this up the central disc kept unclipping in even the lightest of winds. Two of the little clipheads then came off and, eventually, the disc split. The entire baffle has now cracked and is being held together by wire and string. Definitely not recommended. The design is poor - the baffle catches even light winds - and the structure is far too flimsy. Very disappointing.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review, please contact customer services who will be happy to help with this.

Broke after 3 weeks of being up. Waste of money.

RSPB response: Hi Lisa, thank you for your review. The squirrel baffle should not break easily, please contact our customer services team who will be happy to help.

Bought one of these in September 2014. It did the job in terms of baffling the squirrels. Also little birds could land on it without mishap but e.g. jays were tipped off.

But same problems with it crashing about in the wind as other reviewers have described. It took only months for the little flanges on the collar to start breaking.off. Kept going with two opposite ones for a few months but it regularly came loose in strong wind (this is an inner-London garden not a mountain top!) and it was of course really mucky to repair! Finally in the last week the collar itself broke and somehow the baffle reached the ground leaving the broken collar in place. So squirrels are having all their birthdays at once and I've had to order the metal cone version.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review. We are discussing this with the supplier, but please contact customer services who will be able to assist further in the short term.

I bought one at RSPB Leighton Moss at the end of october, and on the first windy day on the 14th of november, it broke. Very dissapointed. I could have made other uses of £19 just before christmas. Waste of money.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review, we are sorry you had a bad experience. Please contact our customer services team who will be happy to help.

Initially, I was very pleased, until about 20 days after we put it up it broke the little pieces holding the baffle up. It is now on the floor. I'm very disappointed with this.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review. Please contact customer services, they will replace this for you.

Bought one at Titchwell rspb reserve 2 weeks ago.
It appears very robust (maybe this is the newer modified version) and has handled last weeks strong winds very well.
It appears very solid and I can't see it breaking.
Squirrels are kept on the ground!

This product lasted one month before the squirrels had broken it. The clips are inadequately designed for hanging food beneath the baffle. Our squirrels worked out that if they put some weight off and on in the centre of the baffle, the clips will eventually become loose and the baffle will come apart. We bought two of these baffles less than two months ago. The squirrels have already broken one and fed to their hearts' content. Poor design and frankly not fit for purpose.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review, we have fed back these comments to the manufacturer and will investigate this. Please get in touch with our customer services who will be happy to assist further in this.

I bought this product from the RSPB shop at the Lodge last Autumn.It is not up to the job. The central ring and the clips/ lugs on which the baffle rests are not robust enough to resist the wind. The plastic is made brittle by the sun and breaks rendering the equipment useless. The baffle may well prevent squirrels from reaching feeders but it is far too flimsy to withstand the stresses put on it by the weather. I question whether the RSPB should be selling it at all - since the mere name of the organisation should mean something in terms of quality, durability and design. I can think of better ways to spend £18.

RSPB response:
Thank you for your review. Please contact Customer Services if you would like a replacement. We have recently worked with the manufacturer to improve this baffle - particularly in terms of its strength. We are happy to replace any models that have become faulty through no fault of the customer.

I was a little sceptical about buying three of these to keep the squirrels away as they are incredibly intelligent and learn new tricks all the time! My garden is surrounded by woodland and even if I took measures to permanently get rid of the squirrels (Which I really didn't want to do!), I know more would soon take their place.
These are good solid baffles that work a treat and my squirrels have now given up trying to get up the poles. They are however still feeding on the ground underneath which I don't mind even though they look miserable! I can only assume that the other review above received a faulty baffle which the RSPB have offered to replace. I personally highly recommend them if you love your birds and want to save money from greedy squirrels!

the central disc keeps un clipping with the slightest breeze, spoke to the manufacturer he suggested gluing it in place but could not offer a suitable adhesive (plastic and outdoors). I used slow set araldite but this is not up to the job.
The central collar should be a permanent part of the disc.

RSPB response:
Please contact customer services who will be happy to help with this complaint. An extra clip can be provided to hold the baffle in place when on a pole.

Does stop the squirrels climbing up to get the food. Not to be outwitted the squirrels tried to jump onto the feeder but slipped off.
The central clips do not withstand the feeder being blown over.

My partner bought me this for a present, it broke on the first windy day (about a month after being placed on a pole).

RSPB response:
Please contact Customer Services who will be happy to assist you with this.