Squirrels...the battle is ON!
By DIY Maven
Squirrels!! (Shaking my fist skyward a la Colbert.) Last month I bought a bird feeder, the new Kaytee Songbird Station and hung it from a hook that's attached to my deck. I knew squirrels would be an issue, but I thought I'd install it and then figure out later how to battle them. It took the little effers about a week to discover it. Once they did, our back yard became the local drive-through for the bushy tailed set. They simply sat on the deck's railing and reached over into the feeder and stuffed themselves silly. We decided Lexan might be the answer. We had some scrap in the garage, so MWT installed two pieces on the outside of the railing as a prototype. It seemed to work. At first. It does make the little bastards work harder for their meals, but it's not quite doing the trick. See? He's actually hanging onto the Lexan with his back feet as he reaches into the feeder!
We're going to stick with the Lexan idea, but we're going to install a bigger piece. Maybe six inches larger in all directions. We'll see what they'll do with that. The little effers.
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Self-proclaimed Maven of DIY, I'm up for anything from gonzo rehab to dressing a room. Check...
DIY Maven
De---that's funny! MWT says we need a cougar to move into the neighborhood to, you know, 'thin the herd'. Invariably, every summer there are reports of cougar sightings in the Mpls/StP area. So far no such luck in our area.
Sarah--true, but then the kitty couldn't watch them from her perch at the living room window and make those cute lip smacking noises. It's like Bird TV for her. ;
sarah
what if you hung the station a bit further from your railing?
dewonangus
Raccoons were also a problem in our last home and we had to trap and relocate a number of them (they went to a huge nature park). Anyway, the trap was set up with nothing in it and for some reason one of the squirrels got caught in it. When I released him he shot across the property, up the fence and ran along the top and then dropped his little body on the top rail with all four legs hanging ... it was hilarious! I guess his little ticky ticker could only take so much!
DIY Maven
It was supposed to make you laugh. ;) I've been laughing too--between the F-bombs I've been dropping like mad every time one storms the castle. About an hour ago one actually lost his footing on the feeder/Lexan and fell about 15 feet to the ground. Landed on all fours by the look of it--like a cat! I really think they'd eat until they'd explode!
dewonangus
I'm awfully sorry, but this post made me laugh! In our previous home (different location) we had the same problem. Even the squirrel proof feeders didn't stop them! Nasty little creatures.
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