Intervention!!

[aveareya]

My prayers have not been answered, so I shall turn to you mortals. The war on squirrels is a losing battle. I need help.

Don't defend the squirrels unless you hate freedom.

Comments

Re: I hate freedom AND I hate squirrels

[twelveoaks]

Ah! If it's just bird feeders you can buy bird seed that the squirrels don't like. Whole Foods (and probably the bird store) sells a sunflower seed called "hot meats" that in covered in some kind of red pepper dust. The birds don't notice it, but it keeps the squirrels off. It's serious stuff though, If you get it on your hands, don't touch your face and get it in your eyes. Ouch!

I also don't think the squirrels care about thistle seed, which attracts goldfinches and some other nice smaller birds.

I am told squirrels won't eat safflower, but my birds didn't eat it either. I may try it again some time in a mix with the hot kind.

They also make several feeders that keep squirrels out. The most common one closes a door on the food if anything heavier than a bird gets on it. If you want to come over some time I can show you the one that worked for a year or so until the springs rusted out. The one I'm using now is sturdier and I have high hopes.

If you want to spend more money, there is a fabulous device called the Yankee Flipper. It has a motor, and when it detects a squirrel (by weight) it spins violently and flings the squirrel off. I don't have one, but I've seen a video. It was very satisfying.

The joys of the Flipper

[nighthob]

The Yankee Flipper is the best! I can't tell you how much fun it is to see those greedy vermin being flung away from the feeder. )They don't get hurt, so nobody call PETA on me or anything, okay?)