Endless war: squirrels vs. bird feeders
Ionce trapped a squirrel that had found its way into my attic, was tearing through insulation and otherwise driving me crazy.
After I secured the entry point, the little critter was released, but the incident stimulated some reading up on these industrious rodents.
Fully aware of their adaptability and perseverance, I was not surprised when all of the research emphasized their intelligence and evolutionary success. Little wonder birders have struggled for decades to keep squirrels from pillaging their birdseed. Fortunately, there is a whole new line of squirrel-proof feeders and deterrents now available.
However, not all squirrel-proof feeders are as they seem. Many of them simply do not work.
The caged feeders are one type to avoid. They are designed to keep larger birds and squirrels out by enclosing the feeder. While they may prevent larger birds from flushing the smaller ones, they do not effectively solve your squirrel problem. I will never forget the morning after I placed one of those feeders near the house. I went to bed that night with vivid visions of brightly colored red- bellied woodpeckers covering the feeder, but in the morning, all I saw were grey forms swarming over the feeder.
The scent of the Woodpecker Delight, full of nuts and corn kernels, was far more than they could resist. Driven by the cold and the struggle of survival, the feeder was defenseless against what appeared to be every furry beast within a quarter mile. They were everywhere, some on the deck, many on the roof, and all with the woodpecker seed as destination number one. There were fights, bloodthirsty brawls, replete with tufts of fur and those irritating incessant barking distress calls. The squirrels had ingeniously figured out a way to get the seed simply by reaching in and eating them individually; they had learned the virtue of patience.
I would not recommend those powder formulas made from hot peppers and mixed in with seed either, because there are always a few squirrels that can tolerate the spice. Don't waste your time with it.
What I do recommend is the Yankee Flipper, a motorized tube-shaped feeder manufactured by Droll Yankee. This feeder has a weight-sensitive perch that creates an electrical connection when a squirrel presses down on it.
The perch then spins, which turns the furry little beast into a flying squirrel. Children, especially, will enjoy watching the squirrels launched into orbit with each attempt. The only drawback is that the shape is only accommodating to the smaller birds.
The Heritage Farms powder-coated steel squirrel-proof feeder features a weight-sensitive perch. A horizontal perch provides space for several birds. The perch closes access to the seed tray when squirrels attempt to feed.
The attractive spring-operated perch is adjustable to allow or exclude large, heavy birds, too.
My best advice is simple; they call it the fly-through feeder, and when it is mounted on a six- foot pole with a baffle, it completely solves the squirrel problem. It must be set up away from overhanging tree limbs and shrubs within jumping distance. The beauty of these feeders is that they accommodate almost all feeder birds and allow you to offer everything from suet to grape jelly.
Although I appreciate and encourage all wildlife in my yard, I prefer not to see squirrels chew my feeders, devour the seed, and scare away birds. I am happy to observe them eating acorns and performing their acrobatic maneuvers in the treetops. You too can prevent these respectable rodents from being labeled as pests with the right choice of squirrel-proof feeders. The weight-sensitive feeders and the basic pole baffle are the best choices.