Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
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By Bobbie G from Rockwall
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RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
I thought that I was the only one that thought of stringing up a feeder between two trees.
I made exactly the same feeder and was sure that I had our squirrel problem licked, but those little guys are pretty smart (or hungry). What they did first was to crawl from the tree upside down on the string. Thus the use of the two plastic soda bottles. This worked for awhile until they figured if they push hard enough with their back legs last, they can actually jump under the bottle and grab the string on the other side. It took them a few tries but they mastered it!
So what to do? I now add another bottle. That helped but didn't cure it.
One day I found one squirrel feeding away on the bird feeder and all of his buddies enjoying what he drops on the ground below. Hmmmm...how did he get there? It took me awhile to catch them getting to the feeder. I actually had to watch for quite awhile before I caught one and after I saw this squirrel do what he did, I decided they won this round. I haven't tried the oil of peppermint yet but that will be my last resort as I think that it is impossible to build a feeder to keep them out.
So anyway, I sat and watched the squirrel walk upside down just up to the coke bottles. Here he swings himself right side up and is standing on a string! He then perches his front paws on the top of the coke bottles and scampers across the two of them quick enough to not stay on long enough to be spun off and, I guess, equally distributing his weight so his balance would not cause too much of a spin.
These buggers are pretty good! You have to give them credit, but I saw that twice and threw in my towel.
Post by datadon
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
Hang the bird feeder between two trees which are far enough apart so the squirrels cannot jump to the feeder.
However, in order to keep them from walking the line, you must run the line through the top and bottom of a 2 liter bottle, one on each side of the feeder. When the squirrel walks the line it cannot cross on the bottle because the bottle will spin around, and their footing is not sufficient to jump across it.
If you don't have room for the line, there is a birdseed which the squirrels will not eat. I don't have the name of the seed right now. I purchased it at the feedstore and the lady there told me the squirrels do not like it. And, she was right. They no longer frequent my feeding area.
Post by clynnaltemus
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
I was told to use Safflower seed in my birdfeeder, squirrels don't like it. It worked great for me. No more squirrels! Good Luck.
Post by AUTUMNBREEZE
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
I don't think there is anywhere you can put the bird feeder where the squirrels can't get to. I have tried a larger aluminum top and the little critters turn upside down trying to stretch into the bird feeder. They really are funny. Think I'll try the peanuts on top of the birdseed and see if it works.
Post by Virginia Pride
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
Great picture! Suggest a bigger top with sheet metal (not aluminum) so can't reach food, and hang it further from the building so the squirrel can't jump
Post by Sweetgum
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
I had the same problem, so I put up more feeders. I keep bird seed in all of them and put peanuts in half of them, on top of the bird seed. The squirrels prefer the peanuts and don't eat as much of the bird seed, and like some of the people said..the squirrels are highly entertaining!
Post by catastrofy
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
The bird feeders that were suspended on metal poles were a challenge to the squirrels, so I 'greased' the pole with automotive grease, a good thick coat. Boy were they surprised that they couldn't climb up any more! Did this for a week and then just put thin stripes about every 12" up the pole. Took about a week, but they disappeared from my yard and are now in my neighbor's yard.
Post by JoanDogs
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
I had the same problem and found that if I put some tobasco (or any other hot sauce) around the edge of the feeder it kept the squirrels away. Birds don't have taste buds so the hot sauce doesn't bother them. I watched a squirrel jump up on my feeder to eat. He took a bite, looked shocked, jumped down and didn't return. He decided bird seed didn't taste that good after all!
Post by dianajoyce
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
Ditto on feeding the squirrels their own food or just put bird seed more often in the bird feeder ;-) Birds and squirrels know how to takes fair turns eating from the same place ;-) BTW, great picture!
Post by Deeli
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
Twirl-a-Squirrel looks promising (search for the sample video on Youtube).
Post by clintonnichols
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
We actually had the same problem. But the squirrels are so much more entertaining, so we started putting food out - for them! That's one way to solve the problem.
Post by AshleighSMU
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
Great Picture! Unfortunately, we had to take our birdfeeder down. Not because of squirrels, but because it was dangerous drawing raccoons into our yard which put our cat at risk.
I've seen bird feeders that keep squirrels away by using extra-large plastic funnels. Placed either at the base of the feeder if it's on a pole, or on the top of the feeder if it's hung from a limb. As foxrun41 said, I bet you could spray silicone on it too!
Post by Cyinda
RE: Squirrels Eating from Bird Feeders
You could try a new feeded. I saw one at a garden shop recently that a cage drops over the feed from the weight of the squirrel. I used to have a bird feeder that I attached to a plastic pole. It was away from trees so the squirrel could not jump on to it nor did I have any lines to the feeder. The only way the squirrel could get to the feeder was to climb up the pole. I sprayed the pole with silicone every day. Every time the squirrel tried to climb the pole he would slide back to the ground. i finally got rid of the feeder as it was attracting to many other pest.
Post by foxrun41
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