OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

I'm having a daily war with the squirrels on my bird feeders. Any suggestions other then shooting them would be appreciated. I wont shot them but I sure have been cussing at them. :rant:

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

Don't shoot them unless you want to eat them.

What kind of squirrels are they?

I used to have trouble with squirrels until I greased the pool. It was a metal pool and somehow they'd climb it. Really ticked off the birds. Anyway, they will get to the feed if you place it where they can jump from a tree and land on it.

BTW, after I greased the pool, they did come and try for a while, they cleaned up what the birds wasted, but they never got back up to the feeders.

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

jaima, I did battle with them for years. They are just so wasteful. they would empty a feeder in a single day and just take the one or two particular seeds that they wanted.
This also brought mice and pigeons (my sister calls them mourning doves here in the burbs, but they look like pigeons to me) which fed on the spill on the ground.
My wife got me one of these Yankee Flipper feeders. You just have to charge the battery once before the season ( I only put seed out in winter and let them sit empty the rest of the year).
It works really well (if you want hanging feeders).
And be sure to watch the first few times the squirrels try to get at the seed - quite a show seeing the little furballs get spun and tossed a few feet. It don't hurt them though, and they learn quickly not to bother too often.

http://www.yankeeflipper.com/droll/index.cfm

There's some videos of it posted on YouTube- check for "Yankee Flipper" , you'll see what happens.

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

A trap lower to the ground will collect them for removal to your nearest wildlife reserve.

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

...lol

I dont want to trap them except as a last resort. The last time we trapped a bunny and took it to the lake for relocation it made a horrible screaming noise I didn't know bunnies could make. I felt so guilty about taking it away from its home. Still it is an option but only as a last resort.

Ill try and grease the pole. If that doesn't work I will buy a Yankee Flipper. That video is a riot. It is better entertainment then the birds. The squirrels laugh at me when I yell at them. It looks like I can get the laugh.

I found one eBay for what looks like the best price.

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

My anti-squirrel device caught two more this winter.

sb

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

SB, I have downsized my dogs after my last two died. I went from a Golden Retriever and Great Dane to a Pomeranian. I think the Squirrels could beat my Pom up.

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

had long drawn out campaign against my squirrel-raiders. as i would add another trial for them to overcome i would watch them work dilligently at overcoming the newest complexity. i would sometimes out of spite snipe at their tails with my wimpy bb gun. they would even unwire and steal my suet cages and i'd find these things around my property. if you are willing to fork over 40 or 50 bucks, they make some good anti-squirrel bird feeders. sqirrels are right behind crows in my choice of who takes over the planet after it cleanses itself of man

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

suspend the feeder on a wire between two trees, put a piece of pvc between the feeder and the tree on each side. As soon as the squirrel steps on the pvc, it'll spin on the wire and he'll be on the ground in no time.:D

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

great idea..............and one that I am going to steal:tongue_ma:

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

No problem, it'll provide hours of entertainment :D

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

If we win some money on the video show sometime I will split it with you for the idea


Dang....we have the squirrells here

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

Try some drug store mothballs thrown about on the
ground and near the feeder. Few in the crooks of
the tree if you can reach it.
Would like to know if that helps, works at my place.
Haystackneedle

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

This one is for sunflower seed, it is truely Squirrel proof. They get bored trying to get seed from it but the birds don't mind. I bought it on ebay from someone who makes them at home, NOT MADE IN CHINA.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...879/bird-1.jpg

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

Thanks for all the suggestions. There are enough suggestions to keep me busy for a while. So the battle starts today. We will see who is smarter.

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

Knew a guy who wraopped his 4X4 post ( with bird feeder on top) with heavy gauge copper wire, ran it to a wall switch in the home...when the tree rats started to climb the post, he'd throw the switch...those squirrells learned to stay away ( it did not kill them) and after a few weeks tthey seemed to forget, but the dude was always willing to re-train the rats...

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

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Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

OMG, did the squirrel come back. I hope it wa ok.. :(

Re: OT, squirrels in the bird feeder
 

update on the Squirrels. I have to apologize to my yard squirrels. It was not them making a mess of my feeders. I put squirrel food in a separate place for them and all was well... The feeders were fine until nightfall. Whatever is getting in my feeders is a night critter.. I suspect it might be a possum. Whatever it is it can devour two cakes of suet overnight.. I suppose I will have to put out possum food at night too.