Squirrels, Crisco and Pistols

[Golddollar]

I only seem to have one squirrel that comes around. There is a birdfeeder that hangs on a branch that is perpendicular to the trunk of the big tree. That squirrel has learned to climb down the tree trunk upside down and reach out to stick its snout in the bird seed.

One squirrel I don't mind. When my late mother was bedridden with Lou Gehrig's Disease she enjoyed watching the squirrels on the deck railing.

 

[fordson]

I hang Slinky coils on my bird feeder poles to keep the squirrels out. It really does work, have used them for many years. It is an old trick.

How do you use or hang slinky's? My wife's bird feeders are under constant attack by squirrels, raccoons and even deers. A .177 pellets gun don't seem to impress them at all….

 

[Whit]

I would like to know how you attach the slinky's also DWalt. Do the birds ever get tangled up in them?

Surely you don't put Crisco on the Slinky too…seems like that would gum up the works!����

 

[SMSgt]

We have a bird feeder on one of those shepherds hook poles made from 1/2" steel rod. Various lubes didn't work. I came up with the following idea....I got electricians tape and pushed flat headed thumbtacks through from the sticky side about every inch then wrapped long lengths of this "tack tape" around the pole from top to bottom. I thought for sure the little grey buggers couldn't climb the pole with all the tacks sticking them in their feet. My wife looked at it, said "great idea, you'll get rich from your idea!" I sat, watched, and waited. The first squirrel came by, looked up at the pole........and proceeded to climb right up the pole, using the tacks as little steps!!!!

I have the same pole and used axle grease slathered all over it. It was funny to watch the first squirrel try to climb up and slide back down. Then I realized the other squirrels just waited for the first one to wipe all the grease off. Then one after another they climbed the pole.

 

[DWalt]

I would like to know how you attach the slinky's also DWalt. Do the birds ever get tangled up in them?

Surely you don't put Crisco on the Slinky too…seems like that would gum up the works!����

Just slip them over the rod or pole and tie them at the top with thin steel wire so the Slinky dangles down the rod or pole. I have feeders that hang from the Shepherds crook, also a large feeder that hangs from a long jointed rod that hangs from a tall tree branch. The rod also has a Slinky attached. Maybe I can take a picture later. Squirrels definitely do not like to navigate anything with a Slinky over it. When I first tried that trick, it was fun to watch the squirrels try to climb it. Later, they learned not to try. I have not seen a Squirrel try to climb one for a long time. I feed the Squirrels in my yard with corn on the cob on a wheel, also I have another Squirrel feeder I put raw peanuts in. I like my Squirrels.

My main problem with bird feeders is Grackles and Doves. They keep the other bird varieties away and eat too much. Doves are more of a problem than Grackles.

 

[SMSgt]

My main problem with bird feeders is Grackles and Doves. They keep the other bird varieties away and eat too much. Doves are more of a problem than Grackles.

Grackles seem to like only the sunflower seeds and will toss everything else overboard to get them. Meanwhile, the black-bellied whistler ducks gather below for the feast.

 

[Catwrangler]

Just do the math. Squirrel + Pistol + Crico = Fried Squirrel.
Taters, gravy and cornbread = Dinner.

 

[venomballistics]

I've seen it used in black powder. Probably still remains a thing.

 

[Oldengineer]

My neighbor was big on feeding the birds. He also shared with me that he had a serious pack rat problem. I politely suggested to him that the bird feeders just might be a causal factor. After his auto under hood wiring problem surfaced, he stopped feeding the birds. Just another thought about bird feeders.

 

[mckenney99]

Is this squirrel karma?

 

[djohns6]

How she found this out I don't know but my daughter in law told us that squirrels will not eat Safflower seeds. They are a little more expensive than the black oil sunflower seeds we used previously.

Despite my skepticism, I can attest that the squirrels will not eat Safflower seeds. The dove, cardinals, and various other winged creatures eat them like they are candy, Squirrels won't touch them; go figure.

That worked for me for about a year . Now , the Squirrels eat them as well as anything ..

 

[bummer]

Don't have a squirrel problem but I have a vole problem