Squirrels raising havoc on the bird feeders

Capt. F.

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Terrible problem with squirrels cleaning out our bird feeders, despite the fact we have attached all the latest “squirrel guards”.
Can’t bring my self to shoot the things and figure with all the talent on this forum, someone must have the answer.
 
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There are several brands of pepper-laced birdseed out there. Won't bother the birds but squirrels learn quickly to stay away from it. If you have a Tractor Supply near by check and see if they have it. You can also Google it to find out who has it near you. It works!
 
Had tree rat problems until I used section of 1” pipe in the ground Far Enough Away from any tree so they could not jump. Used the cone shaped tree rat blocker and that was that. We would laugh at them trying to get around block or jump from a tree. The other block was just a piece of plywood about 3’ square held below feeder. They could not get around it either. Best was the blocking feeder that had a spring loaded perch in front with an attached block the width of feeder. Anything heavier than a bird would cause perch to go down bringing block into place.
 

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We have Yankee feeders. It defeats the squirrels without stopping them trying to access the sunflower seeds. It is quite entertaining to watch. Occasionally, you will get a really dedicated squirrel that will defeat the feeder, but it is a long learning curve for them, and I don't begrudge their meal.
 
Try giving the squirrels a far away, easy to access feeding place while leaving the bird feeder empty for a while. Hopefully they will stop seeing the bird feeder as a food source and you can eventually go back to stocking it.
We mounted a squirrel house atop a tall stump in the side yard but they haven't moved in yet.

Todd
 

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Our squirrels eat during the day and the raccoons come at night. Sometimes, we bring the feeders in and sometimes we feed the raccoons.
 

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Raccoon baffles on the feeder poles. Keeps squirrels and raccoons away. It’s entertaining to watch the squirrels climb the pole, go inside the baffle and then come out only to try again…..and again…..and again.

Bigger problems here are deer……they eat my wife’s roses and she is…not happy about that.
 
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Squirrels must not be very intelligent in my area. They've never got on this one hanging from a 6 foot shepherds hook.

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I have a hangin bird feeder that is squirrel proof and is sold as such. It has a perch ring that runs around the lower perimeter that is weight adjustable. Four house finches can perch and feed, but if a squirrel jumps on the bar or hangs from the bar his weight is significant enough to lower the bar which then lowers the access gate to the food. I paid $100 for the damn thing, but it works like a charm. Its pretty sweet, even has a rain hood that covers the feeders at the ring, they love it.
 
I've found an isolated pole with a conical coolie hat or pipe guard is the only way here. When we tried the weight closing feeders, the bushy tailed tree rats would chew holes right through the walls of the feeder to get at the seed, and raccoons would dismount the entire feeder and drag it off into the woods.
 

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