Attempting to hide....

[reible]

Trying to add a photo from my phone of the squirrel who though if it crouched down far enough I might not notice it in the feeder. That didn't work but I hope the photo does.

Ed

[algale]

I stopped putting bird-feeders out many years ago because I couldn't keep the squirrels out of them. But when I stop and think about it, I'm not really sure why that should make any difference. I know Ed in Tampa will have something to say about this, but as long as they aren't getting into my attic, I don't mind the squirrels. Their behavior is just as interesting to watch as that of the birds. In fact, it was always more entertaining to watch the squirrels figure out how to defeat whatever anti-squirrel technology I deployed to protect the feeder than to see the birds lazily fly up to the feeder! Even without the feeders, I am fortunate to have a wooded lot with excellent bird habitat and to see and hear them year round.

[mountainbreeze]

Yeah, I gave up trying to defeat the squrrels and instead, gave them their own feeder. The Teeder Feeder was my favorite thing to watch them try to master. Once they figured it out, it kept them occupied all day long.

[JPG]

Whooda thunk.

Aurora Ill is North of the current snow line in Ky, but has bare ground.?

[Ed in Tampa]

I stopped putting bird-feeders out many years ago because I couldn't keep the squirrels out of them. But when I stop and think about it, I'm not really sure why that should make any difference. I know Ed in Tampa will have something to say about this, but as long as they aren't getting into my attic, I don't mind the squirrels. Their behavior is just as interesting to watch as that of the birds. In fact, it was always more entertaining to watch the squirrels figure out how to defeat whatever anti-squirrel technology I deployed to protect the feeder than to see the birds lazily fly up to the feeder! Even without the feeders, I am fortunate to have a wooded lot with excellent bird habitat and to see and hear them year round.

I would like to know how you keep them out of your attic? I have seen them chew through wood, plastic and aluminum. When we were building a house I replaced a piece of soffit about 5 times. The squirrels kept eating through it. The house was new construction so there was nothing inside they should of wanted except to be inside.

Finally I figured I won only to find a squirrel wiggling out of a hole so small I could not believe a squirrel or anything as large as a June bug size could ever get in.

I will agree squirrels are fun to watch and even more fun to watch them overcome obstacles that prevent them from going where they want. If I could keep them from getting inside houses then I would not classify them as fuzzy tailed rats.

[reible]

Whooda thunk.

Aurora Ill is North of the current snow line in Ky, but has bare ground.?

We now have a scant 1" of snow. We had a series of 40+ degree days a short while ago combined with rain, that did what little snow we had in. I think we have had about 20" of snow this year so far, not our typical winter. Down to just a few degrees above zero last night and has yet warmed much despite the cloudless sky and abundant sunlight. The winter is not over yet but we have missed most of the big snows this year, either farther north or south of us.

Ed

[reible]

We got a feeder last year that has been squirrel proof. Last year they tried and tried and gave up.

This year they didn't even try. I added a second feeder just like it for general purpose seeds and it has easy squirrel access but again they don't even try. I like to feed black oil sunflower seeds for the most part but did get one 40 pound bag of the other. That is about gone so I've started mixing in more sunflower seeds.

I have some videos of the squirrels from last year at my youtube site:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpI78e ... =0&sort=dd

The front feeder that is pictured in this thread gets a scoop of seeds from time to time as well as left over popcorn or other such things. We also have compost bin that the birds/rabbits/squirrels and what ever visit.

The addition of a roosting box has been a nice addition to the yard. I think I'll make a couple more for next year. Maybe a more open style that things like doves might use.

Our squirrel house is occupied by 4 this winter. If there is a female with young they are often born about now so the young from the last batch might find themselves out in the cold soon. You don't see the young until they are looking like miniature adults, only the smaller size gives it away. Months away from that now.

BTW I get the feeders at Menards. If someone needs information let me know and I can get you the name and price.

Ed

[algale]

I stopped putting bird-feeders out many years ago because I couldn't keep the squirrels out of them. But when I stop and think about it, I'm not really sure why that should make any difference. I know Ed in Tampa will have something to say about this, but as long as they aren't getting into my attic, I don't mind the squirrels. Their behavior is just as interesting to watch as that of the birds. In fact, it was always more entertaining to watch the squirrels figure out how to defeat whatever anti-squirrel technology I deployed to protect the feeder than to see the birds lazily fly up to the feeder! Even without the feeders, I am fortunate to have a wooded lot with excellent bird habitat and to see and hear them year round.

I would like to know how you keep them out of your attic? I have seen them chew through wood, plastic and aluminum. When we were building a house I replaced a piece of soffit about 5 times. The squirrels kept eating through it. The house was new construction so there was nothing inside they should of wanted except to be inside.

Finally I figured I won only to find a squirrel wiggling out of a hole so small I could not believe a squirrel or anything as large as a June bug size could ever get in.

I will agree squirrels are fun to watch and even more fun to watch them overcome obstacles that prevent them from going where they want. If I could keep them from getting inside houses then I would not classify them as fuzzy tailed rats.

We used to hear them running around at night in the attic above our bedroom. We aren't allowed to kill 'em here in MD so we hired a company, Trap Pro. First they trap 'em with baited cages on the roof, then they seal up all the holes. Don't ask me how. All I know is it has been a long time since we've heard them up there. Maybe they've just learned to be quiet?

Funny story, before we got them out of the house, one night we heard rustling of the clothes hangers in my wife's closet. Turned on the light and opened the closet to find a flying squirrel staring back at me! These guys are nocturnal so I'd never seen one up close. Huge eyes, wide flat tail. Told my wife to go get my son's butterfly net. I proceeded to chase Rocky The Flying Squirrel around the bedroom in my underwear as my wife laughed in hysterics! Just as she uttered the phrase, "He's too fast for you, you'll never catch him," I got totally lucky and snagged Rocky, who became pretty sedate in that flimsy butterfly net, and I marched him outside and released him. I figured he was way too embarrassed to come back into the house and explain to his squirrel friends that a middle aged guy in his underwear had managed to catch him! Since there was no hole in the closet, the best explanation I can come up with for how he got in the house is that he found his way from the attic into the air handler closet, which must have some opening to the attic for the duct work and then made his way into our room.

Al

[swampgator]

Canola seeds are not attractive to squirrels. For the past 10+ years I have used only canola seeds available at Lowe's in the garden section. No squirrels, but also limits the type of birds it attracts. Will try a combination to see if the squirrels are still discouraged.

Steve, the old swampgator in Pensacola, FL

[Ed in Tampa]

I'm told squirrels don't like black oil sunflower seeds. Not sure if that is correct or not.

Someone above told the story of hearing squirrels in their attic.

I knew a builder that told me of a young couple that were in bed one night when a mother possum with about 8 babies fell through the ceiling onto them in bed. I can only imagine the screaming and shouting that took place.

Frankly I think in bed is where the coroner would have found me, with scream contorted look on my face.

Apparently the mother possum had been going back and forth on the ceiling carrying her babies on her back. As the babies grew the weight of them plus the mother was too much for the dry wall and down they came. WOW!