squirrels and their cleverness
I HATE squirrels! We have a great number of them around here, and several of those regard our garden as their private banqueting hall. I love to feed the birds, and as I don't always manage to get around easily, I need to have the feeder somewhere where I can see it, and thus the birds,g from my computer table window, from whence I am writing this.
We have lived here for 18 years, and in all that time I have been fighting to keep the squirrels off the feeders.
I have bought just about every brand and style of 'squirrel proof' feeder on the market, and not one of them is. I have treated the feed with every flavour they are supposed to dislike, and they just ignore it. I have used garlic, salt, soap, chilli - both fresh and dried - pepper, and probably several others I can't quite recall now.
I would not encourage other types of rats to come to my garden, so why do we have to put up with these? We are not allowed to trap them - well, you can, but you are not permitted then to let them go as they are vermin (hear hear) so what do you do with your trapped beast? I'm certainly not going to try and kill it, I'd almost certainly get bitten as I nearly did when I soaked one inside a `squirrel proof' feeder last year, soaking wet you could see there was no disguise for the stinking rat it is. I do dislike them intensely but I'm not going to hit it and cause it dreadful suffering, I don't kill anything if I know about it and am not starting here.
I could put the feeder in the middle of the grassy area, from whence I would not see it, and the birds would not use it as there would be no cover - I'm stumped! I don't expect anyone to come up with a definitive answer, I just wanted to vent as I sit here with my cold water spray trying to catch them. It is the only thing they run away from, and that only for a few seconds, but I cannot be there 10 hours a day with the window open, and even if I could, thy'd just get used to it I am sure.
I've chased them off 17 times in the 10 minutes it took to write this - grrrrr.
Posts
I know exactly how you feel Bookertoo. In a recent thread someone mentioned using a horizontal line and hanging the feeders from that. They may well still overcome it though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWU0bfo-bSY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMtn25zxT10
Shotgun Bookertoo! Sorry a non native tree rat introduced by the Victorians. You have my commiserations.
That's all I wanted really, just a chance to get some others on board! Interesting about a horizontal line to hang the feeder from, I can't see any reason why they should not walk across it, but am certainly willing to give it a go - let's be honest - I'll try anything by now.
Runnybeak, I am so glad we don't have moles as well - poor you, my friend invested in an electric sound maker which she says works, but I guess like me with the rats, you've tried it all?
Dave M., I'd love to try a shotgun but I'd probably shoot the neighbours, who are very nice people, and the chance of my hitting the squirrels is remote. I know they are an import, that makes it even worse somehow doesn't it?
Bookertoo, I sympathise as I'm having the same problems. Are your feeders suspended from a tree/bush or are they on a pole? I ask because my brother has a pole with feeders and uses one of those clear plastic pudding basiny thingies at the bottom third of the pole which apparently the squirrels can't climb over - says it works for him. They are expensive though about £20-£25.
My feeders suspend from a pole but are near to a magnolia and a rose arch which the squirrels jump from - can't move it as won't be able to see the birds from my chair.
I suspect it's a case of learning to accept them and the fact they'll eat a lot of bird feed and thus keeping your blood pressure down!
You could try those feeders where a metal cover goes over the feeding holes when the squirrel lands on top of the feeder. It does work.
Apparently moles taste quite unpleasant - very few animals will eat them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We are so fortunate! Not a squirrel left in the county. A government project to eradicate them was carried out two years ago. It was 100 per cent successful. Our local gamekeeper was involved in it so I heard the details you won't see one from Dumfries and Galloway all the way up to Central. As is usual it has stepped down in intensity due to funding. I have actually seen red ones surviving now
A A Milne
I must be on my own then, I love squirrels
cover the nuts/seeds in the hottest chili powder you can find, bird can't taste it as the capsaicin oil only effects mammals. (it will also stop any mice or rats you have eating fallen seed)
and wear gloves when you do it! otherwise...unpleasantness can follow when you rub your eyes, or worse go to the bathroom!
I could rent you out one of my cats, he's a very adept squirrel hunter, doesn't leave much behind either, just the odd tail!