Over the years I’ve had many battles with squirrels getting into the birdfeeders. No matter what I try, they always figure out a way in, or up, or over. It’s always just a matter of time.
Once, I had one of those feeders marketed as a squirrel buster. The bottom was motorized so that when the heavier-than-a-bird squirrel grabbed the perch, it would start to spin. Supposedly the squirrels would be knocked off. That might have happened a few times – until they learned to grab on tight and just enjoy the ride. Of course, all the while they were spinning, the birdseed was flying. When the fun ended, there was a party on the ground.
I know placement is important. Our feeders are now freestanding instead of hanging from a tree branch where I originally placed them. The addition of a baffle kept the feeders squirrel-free…for a time. Eventually they learned to leap from the farthest outstretched limb they could find. I was amazed watching them practically flying through the air to land on the top of the feeder and shimmy down to grab a meal.
Last spring Allan built a beautiful large feeder for my side garden. The pole was too slippery and fat for the squirrels, and for several months I thought they were finally busted. That is, until a few weeks ago when I started seeing those furry rodents sitting on the platform of the feeder. I also noticed that the short garden flag next to the feeder was getting all bunched up. It didn’t take a lot of detective work to figure out that jumping from the flag frame to the platform was doable for my “friends.”
I truly think the squirrels enjoy the challenge! I imagine them practicing their leaps, communicating new ideas to each other, drawing up plans, and celebrating each victory.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Imagine the Possibilities 
So glad to know I am not alone in the furry rodent battle! And I agree, I think they do enjoy the challenge. I just keep moving and adjusting the feeders often to keep them guessing and give the birds a fighting chance!
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I think you will have to let them have their way 🙂
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Their cousins must be in my yard! They provide such entertainment for us that I have given in. I totally agree they love the challenge. My squirrels have outsmarted at least 4 different types of “squirrel proof” feeders. They do have grit!
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I have a friend who oils the pole to his platform feeder and sprinkles cayenne on the bird seed. Apparently the oil makes the squirrels slip and the pepper is distasteful to them, though not to the birds. I think humans trying to outsmart squirrels may go through as many mental gymnastics as the squirrels do aerial ones! Great idea for a slice!
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This made me smile. We have the same problem. I swear that if squirrels were allowed to enter gymnastic events their acrobatics would win every time.
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You have quite the squirrel journey here and as I finished reading your post I imagined squirrels with a plan of action drawn on grid paper somewhere in your backyard. They are impressive creatures sometimes at my bird feeders too.
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I love the image of the squirrels plotting their taking of the bird food! They’re as fascinating as they are annoying, truthfully. My handyman father-in-law once slid a big inverted bowl on his bird feeder pole so that when the squirrels ran up, they ran right along the inside of the bowl and dropped back to the ground again. Imagine their consternation!
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