Pesky Squirrels

[KNOWTHIS]

Does anyone know of a diplomatic but effective way to deal with destructive (highly determined) squirrels? These little guys are total geniuses when it comes to raiding bird feeders. We’ve tried just about everything and they continue to ruin them by chewing. They’ll even leap from a far off tree on to the feeder to knock it down. They even dragged one of our feeders away somehow never to be seen again. People talk about the superior intelligence of dolphins and monkeys but I’ll tell you, you can’t underestimate the aptitude of squirrels. If they want something bad enough, they get it!

[Swamp Gas]

We have Jersey City pigeons that will scare the crap out of squirrels!! LOL!!

Seriously, we find squirrels interesting, abut the only way to deal with them and bird feeders is this example, and look up "squirrel proof bird feeder"

www.hsus.org

[marklookingup]

www.hsus.org


Building a Better Bird Feeder

"First, as in most instances where human-wildlife conflicts occur, the principle of exclusion should come to mind. If we can simply prevent squirrels from gaining access to our feeders, the battle should surely be won. This entails employing one of two basic principles: Place the feeder where squirrels cannot gain access to it, or use a feeder that is designed to deny access no matter where it is in the yard.

If you've ever wondered why some feeding devices are topped with large plastic domes, the answer is to exclude squirrels. The idea is simple: The squirrel tries to climb onto the feeder from the suspension line or pole and encounters the baffle, which prevents access. The animal is often dumped unceremoniously onto the ground along with quite a bit of seed, providing a small meal of sorts with nearly every attempt. I have one feeder of this sort, and it has worked perfectly for some years, though I was forced to armor the plastic hook by which it is suspended after a frustrated nibbler damaged it. As unbelievable as it may seem, I have been told that some squirrels figure out the spillage angle so completely that they simply launch themselves at the dome, bounce off, and harvest the spillage on the ground. More sophisticated, complex, and, hence, expensive feeders are designed to prevent access by using a mechanical principle. These devices employ counterbalanced baffles that close over the access ports when any animal as heavy as a squirrel comes to feed. New designs that utilize the exclusion principle are appearing all the time, and some recent models feature an external cage that excludes squirrels and some larger birds, while allowing access for the smaller ones.

One ingenious solution involves a homemade system in which a feeder is suspended from a horizontal wire and is equipped with baffles that prevent squirrels from scampering across like they do when moving on a telephone wire. The simplest design involves the use of empty soda pop bottles of one liter or more, through which the line is strung. Rotating freely along the line, these bottles dump any squirrel rash enough to try to challenge them. By suspending three or four on each side of the feeder, you can prevent all but the most athletic squirrel from acquiring a meal."
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That's a good site. In addition to the feeder issue, is what they do when they encounter a bird nest. It's not pretty. I have tried the type that has an external cage that excludes squirrels and some larger birds, while allowing access for the smaller ones, but the little bastards squeeze their way through. However, they can't escape very fast. It's kind of fun watching them panic!

I have also used a Hav-a-hart trap, then taking the critters for a ride and releasing them.

Good luck

[KNOWTHIS]

Thanks for the info. marklookingup

As unbelievable as it may seem, I have been told that some squirrels figure out the spillage angle so completely that they simply launch themselves at the dome, bounce off, and harvest the spillage on the ground.

Exactly what they do.

I guess there's one design where the feeder is placed at the top of a pole and around it is a perch held up by the tension of a spring. The birds (being much lighter) can land on the perch without problems but if a squirrel latches on, the spring gives way and the perch drops down separating the squirrel form the feeder. Problem is that it's probably more trouble than it's worth.