FOOL-PROOF SQUIRREL FOOLERS!

Does anyone out there have a fool-proof method for keeping squirrels away from the bird feeders? I have tried, quite UNsuccessfully, to discourage them with the hottest of chilis/sauces/etc as suggested - and turns out they rather like it!!!!!! BB Gun is a joke (I fire over/around/under - not AT); and hanging wind-socks only serves to make them feel more at home. Last Summer, at any given time, there were 10 at a time in the backyard. This Summer, I thought we might be on a roll, since there have been only 4, seemingly the same 4, same time of day,etc. Borrowed a couple of traps, set them out Monday (4 days ago), and the tally now is - 8 squirrels and 1 opossum have been deported to a nice woodsy park, and 10 remain in the backyard. How's that for the New Math!!!!! from 4 regulars, take away 8, to 10 remaining.......huh?

Having read all the wonderful $$-savers, recipes, etc., from you gifted people, I am SO hopeful that someone out there has the answer. I tried the BirdFeeder with the collapsible perches (you know the Expensive kind) and if I can find the picture in my files, I'll post it here.............

Thanks, all,

Grandmother Carolyn

Tags: birdfeeders, hotsauce, pests, solutions, squirrels

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Permalink Reply by Nicole Angell (Enchanted Craft) on May 31, 2011 at 3:34pm

I have a thought for you- perhaps your transporting the same couple of squirrels over and over and over again. Back in college we had a squirrel that kept getting in the dorm so the groundskeeper transported it 25 miles away. Then a week later he had another to carry away. The 3rd time around he squirted a little green food color on it before he released it and guess what? It took that silly squirrel 1 week (give or take a day) to return again!

:-D

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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Sloan on May 31, 2011 at 4:41pm

Oh, No! I hadn't thought about it being the same - and not different - squirrels! Oh, perish the thought! Right now, today, we have only seen 3 flitting around the traps, but it's been exceptionally hot here and they are keepin' cool. I will definitely think about the food color "tagging" if the population comes back full force!

Thanks for sharing that!

Carolyn

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Permalink Reply by Alison Truslow on May 31, 2011 at 4:44pm

Wow, that happened with my parents - they used to trap squirrels in the yard and release them miles away, and they swore they were the same squirrels coming back! Maybe they were right!

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Permalink Reply by lorisstylinghairstuff on June 1, 2011 at 6:45am

I will have to take pictures of our feeder and hook. SO far so good! No squirells !! Woohooo! the birds are loving it and it is so nice not running out of seed because of the squirells or racoons getting the seed.
Lori

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Permalink Reply by Trinlay Khadro on June 1, 2011 at 10:42pm

I grew up in the woods, there is no beating the squirrels re: the birdfeeders... they are like monkeys and are persistent.
what ever baffle we ever tried the squirrels would eventually beat it.

we settled on putting out food FOR the squirrels as well as the birds, and finding a way to make peace with the tree rats rather than fighting them.

part of the problem with deporting squirrels is that they are very territorial, they get along with the squirrels in the area who are related to them, taken to a strange area they either struggle and maybe find a way to settle in... but often they just find a way back to their family territory.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie K on June 2, 2011 at 4:19am

Oh grandma Carolyn, I am in stitches laughing at all the ideas to be rid of squirrels stealing birdseed! I don't have this problem where I am, we don't have a serious squirrel issue, though I don't feed birds anyway, we have too much of those soot-and-poo birds like the city pigeons and common mynas. I would definitely chuck a bit of colouring to be sure you are not getting the same old ones running back from the park!!

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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Sloan on June 15, 2011 at 2:12pm

I realize that our Moderator, Ms. Judy, will probably soon delete this post, as we've pretty much worked it to death, but I wanted to give you all an up-date on the challenge......since May 26th, (today is 6/15/11) we have transported 27 squirrels to various Parks, AND one large oppossum (having a big hissy-fit....literally!)............and when I went in to the K to prepare lunch today, this is what I saw just outside the K window...............grabbed the camera, clicked, and then ran out in a BIG LOUD way to send him on his way..................... This is a "squirrel-proof" feeder, the perches are on little springs that won't hold any weight; we have had some significant winds here a couple of days, and I think the feeder hanger was pushed closer to the porch railing.......my bad! The little rats toes were anchored, not on the perches, but in the holes where the birds pull the seeds out................

Have a chuckle, friends, and thank you all for SO much for your input and advice!

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Permalink Reply by Alison Truslow on June 15, 2011 at 2:20pm

OMG, that's crazy! I'm seeing an opportunity for a new invention here...maybe instead of dropping eggs off bleachers in high schools to see who can do it without breaking the egg, science teachers should have a squirrel-prevention invention contest! I think it would be much more useful! Thanks for the laugh!

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Permalink Reply by Raige Creations on June 15, 2011 at 2:23pm

wow, great picture Grandma!

too funny that his little toes are hooked on the holes...

sorry, shouldn't laugh at your predicament, but it is silly looking.

I don't have a bird feeder, so I am sorry to be of no help in this matter.

I throw our birds used seed and food on the ground for whoever gets it first to get. birds, squirrels whatever.

we saw a turtle under the mulberry tree the other day too, I think he was eating mulberries, but that is where I throw the seed so - whatever creature wants it can get it.

again, I LOVE that picture!!!

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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Sloan on June 15, 2011 at 5:15pm

Thanks, Alison & Raige......Squirrel Intervention - would that be a 12-Step Program????? ooops, sorry, I just read your note again - you said Squirrel Prevention Invention....and that's good, but now that I've said it, I like the Intervention idea, too..................

And yes, Raige, I'm thrilled with the pic - I was inside the kitchen, aiming Camera thru open screened window - no adjustments, just zoomed in a little.......and then when I downloaded, I did NOT edit one bit, only sized it for Web! Very gratifying!

G.C.

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Permalink Reply by Alison Truslow on June 16, 2011 at 3:40am

I guess we could sit the squirrels down and tell them how their swiping of bird food is affecting our lives, lol...in the end, though, it will be up to them to change...they have to want to do it. :D