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Re: Squirrel problems
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Re: Squirrel problems
- From: Joshua Stuart Rose <jsr6@duke.edu>
- Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 17:50:56 -0400 (EDT)
- In-Reply-To: <199908061845.OAA26339@bacchus.acpub.duke.edu>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
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/