Need help with Problem
I know a lot of members here feed the wild birds and I do the same, however, I have a problem with squirrels stealing all the food! I have 3 different feeders, (there used to be more but the squirrels broke them) and they hang off limbs on a spruce tree that I trimmed so I could watch them from my kitchen window.
I have done everything I could think of to put roadblocks in the way of the squirrels to discourage them from stealing all the food but nothing seems to work. No matter how intricate my defensive strategy, give a squirrel a couple of days and they will figure out a way around it! They are geniuses!
I am open to any ideas which anyone might have they think might work.
Thankyou
Replies
bird feeder technology has evolved to try to put damper on squirrel thieving.....I know we had a thing what when they try to get the food it closed the channel the food was in ....I do not know but I would say I do know there are stores that specialize in feeding birds....and they could probably be contacted on line or phone to ask them suggesting what you do to keep the squirrels from feasting on your foods....
One of them is the Wild Bird Store.....google them....see if they have any kind of help message to ask questions....if not try calling their 800 number....
There are squirrel proof feeders on the market. Henri (my dog) keeps them away! Everyone has to eat. I went through 75lbs of bird seeds this past winter. I seen soo many different birds. Just wonderful. I have to stop feeding them as the Bears are waking up. Good Luck!
I put Vaseline on the post with wax paper...squirrels hate the feel and won't climb up. I also had a j hook pole with a circle barior to prevent them from climbing...stopped using it due to bird turd splats on black.
Yes, they are very intelligent critters. Sorry Bob, I have no idea.
I used tie wire and hung my feeder from a high limb away from the trunk and other branches. It's 5 feet off the ground and hung from a little snap hook on the wire. Never had a problem. I watched them eyeing it up when I first hung it but they never attempted the jump. Went through 250 lbs of seed since late fall. I put out pumpkin, sunflower and squash seeds from my garden on the ground and the squirrels are nice around the ground birds. My problem is the random flocks of blackbirds.....
@ Bill I have tried those but I haven't found one that will work. The grey squirrels avoid the trigger by hanging upside down and the lighter red squirrels are not heavy enough to trigger it. but thankyou for the advice.
@ Cedar Yes I agree and I always dump some on the ground for the ground feeders which includes the squirrells but they have egos and enjoy chasing the birds away from the feeders. Yes a dog is an excellent idea. Thankyou!
@ Miro, I think that's the only thing I haven't tried yet but still trying to figure out where I can put it so I can enjoy watching the birds. Thankyou.
@ Finally I might try to trim a few more branches but this tree has alot of them. Thankyou.
@ Atpeace you ain't kidding! They are smarter then me and I have a college degree! Thankyou!
I throw some peanuts or grapes out for the squirrels.... I think they are cute little guys and they're hungry to.... Come on Uncle Bob!!... xo
My squirrels get along with the birds. It is so nice. One big happy family!!!
I had that problem, too, including having a squirrel actually climb into the bird seed tube unable to get out. It was funny looking, but crazy. The vaseline trick mentioned here sounds like a winner.
I do not have any suggestions, as I was feeding the animals of all types on the vacant lot next door until the house was built recently. Everyone of them shared the food on the ground, squirrels, rabbits, all sized of birds, opossums, armadillos, turtles, and I miss doing it, but it's not safe for the animals any more with all the neighbors putting out animal traps for the nuisance animals.
I do know that squirrel proof feeders are available, but the squirrels often find alternate ways to reach their goal of obtaining food.
What I need to do is take them off the tree and hang them on a steel pole covered in vasaline or some other slippery, non toxic substance. After that they will have to clean up what I dump on the ground.
I have to admit, it was fun trying to outsmart those squirrels but I'm afraid, I lost that game!
Oh well, Thankyou all for the coments. I thought the photo was adorable!
~~~Peace~~~
bob they work for peanuts and you get more than they do every time you ship out wood from trees they used to run up and down....I saw You Won!
You are right about the photo and the peace of putting up a pole instead of using the tree is definitely a game changer.
No idea :), we don't have squirrels here x