So I have this little problem with gray squirrels. I can't seem to keep them off my feeders. It is not uncommon for there to be 6 to 10 of them under, on, and over my feeders.

I've tried hot pepper spices mixed in with the bird food that didn't help. I've moved the feeders around. I even went so far as to screw 40 3.5 inch roofing screws into the underside of the roof of the feeder to keep them from jumping on to it. I had to wire my suit feeders shut because the little varmints figured out a way to open the suit cage. Over the winter I went through 3 finch feeders because they destroyed they trying to get to the thistle.

I do like the squirrels it adds to the wildlife I so crave living in a metro area. Just as long as they stay off my feeders.

Any ideas?

Airmorse I was in your fine town this past saturday. Had to check out Gander Mountain and the new Dicks sporting goods store. Gander had nalegene bottles for @.50 apiece which i thought was a heck of a deal and bought sleeping bag liners at Dicks for $4.95. Didn't mean to highjack the thread just wanted to say Hey.

Those are great deals. Did you make it to Bass Pro or Cabelas??

I have found that the Yankee Flipper does a good job tossing the squirrels off the feeder, as do some of the other feeders that close the opening to the food when a heavier animal sits on the particular feeder.

Naa I didn't make it to BP or Cabelas I live in Laporte so get over to them quite often. I am not a fan of these stores anymore it seems like they are just yuppie stores pushing alot of foreign made products. Actually it is hard to find anything in them made in the good ole USA.

Satchmoa,

I work in Valpo we should get together and tell stories.

Curt

Sounds good Curt!!! Lt and I have been talking about putting a wingnite together in this area so I will post something maybe soon on that.

Let me know when. Can't wait.

quote airmorse: "So I have this little problem with gray squirrels. I can't seem to keep them off my feeders. It is not uncommon for there to be 6 to 10 of them under, on, and over my feeders.



I had to wire my suit feeders shut because the little varmints figured out a way to open the suit cage.

Any ideas?"

I use a cheap carabiner at the end of a length of chain to hang my suet cages. It works well as a closing device and the squirrels cannot get them down. It also makes it easy for me to take them down to be refilled. I also line the inside of the suet cage with 1/4 inch wire mesh. The squirrels and blackbirds cannot tear out big chunks but the other birds can get at the suet just fine. Suet cakes last much longer.

I live in So. Minneapolis, we have Chickadees, Hairy and Downy woodpeckers, Cardinals, Blue-jays, a Hawk, Coopers or Sharp Shinned, and assorted Sparrows. And lots and lots of squirrels.