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Re: Squirrel problems



Hi Carolinabirders,

Just writing to vouch for the cage method of squirrel deterrent. My 
parents have a large number of formerly very fat squirrels in their yard. 
One year I bought them a feeder which consisted of a dome of vertical 
bars a foot or two across surrounding a mesh cylinder. Now the 
chickadees, nuthatches, etc. can eat heartily but the squirrels just 
fume; the squirrels' only option is to knock the feeder down and eat the 
spillage!

The drawback of this feeder is that it only feeds small birds. No 
grosbeaks, cardinals, jays, etc.

Here so far I have been using a square cylinder feeder with a cage close 
around it; the critters haven't tested it yet though. Too much easier 
food available so far...

As for suet, the red pepper stuff worked for me, but when I switched to 
less spicy stuff a squirrel figured it out in less than 3 hours. However, 
he didn't eat for long, or finish the cake; I guess he got tired of 
trying to push his face through the mesh. I use a heavy wire cage for 
suet and nail it to the tree, otherwise raccoons will usually steal the 
entire feeder!

Good birding,

Josh



Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Zoology

jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/