What to do about these &*_^ !!@!! squirrels?

[baby_bear]

I am a pretty new birder. I live in a condo and have put several feeders in a big old rhododendron that is next to my big living room window. I have successfully attracted house finches, purple finches, sparrows, bush tits, black-capped chickadees, a couple of gorgeous and huge stellar's jays, and at least two or three hummingbirds. The squirrels are relentless. They have forced me to move the hanging feeder with sunflower seeds, the net feeder with nyger/thistle (one squirrel ate a big hold in the net) and the sunflower heads. A couple of days ago, I caught one squirrel with its head inside the suet feeder cage (I don't know how he got it in or out). The supposedly squirrel-proof feeder I have does pretty much seem to be, except that the squirrels jump on it and crash it to the ground, spilling the seed. The only ones they haven't bothered with is a little hopper feeder that is stuck on my window with suction cups, and the hummingbird feeder. Guess they don't like sweetened water!

So, what is the answer? Should I get a squirrel feeder so they just go for that and hope they don't bother my bird feeders? Or is that naive?

Thanks
b_b

p.s. I'm in Seattle, if that helps.

[BikeWriter]

1. Well... If you'd asked a question about kitties in most of DU...

Well... If you'd asked a question about kitties in most of DU, you'd have had a bazillion answers by now. To be honest, I'd put my bird feeder on top of a slick pole far from the trees, and feed the squirrels elsewhere.

[semillama]

2. My gues is that getting a squirrel feeder won't work

I'd bet you'd just get more squirrels. If they are that big of a problem, you may have to scale back to just the squirrel proof feeder and hang the suet on a hook under a squirrel baffle. Otherwise, just learn to live with it. Sounds like you get pretty good birds regardless of the squirrels.

[BikeWriter]

3. I found a supposedly squirrel proof feeder through...

links in my webring.

http://www.rollerfeeder.com/

[jeanarrett]

4. I feel your pain.

Airsoft gun. :D

[wildflowergardener]

5. feeder

I finally gave up and got all squirrel proof feeders. I have had good luck with ones similar to this:

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=HF-7536

I also got a tube one this year enclosed in a metal cage that smaller birds can go in - however, this is my second one - the first one had plastic at the top that the squirrels chewed through. This year I got on that is metal at the top so they can not chew on the top.

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=WDL-COPCAGE6S

is similar to what I have.

I also have a squirrel feeder, and throw seed on the ground for the birds that eat on the ground and squirrels. There will always be that one squirrel who somehow manages to hang by his feet and heat out of the feeder, but at least the food isn't getting spilled all over the ground like it was before.

I'd stick with metal feeders - wood and plastic will get chewed up. The squirrels even came into my screened porch through the doggie door when I didn't get food out quick enough - so I started storing it in the house - but that was a bad idea, cause I've now been dealing with a bad moth problem in the house. Now I keep it in a metal can on the porch. I buy something called squirrel munch mix - nuts, corn, sunflower seed - the birds like it too.
Meg

[eleny]

6. That's a neat web site

I had fun looking around. Lots to see.

We have red squirrels here west of Denver. This winter they've gotten even more aggressive. I think there's a raccoon that's especially hungry. My feeders are good ones but are getting spilled and messed with in general. Last night I finally saw the raccoon culprit responsible for the majority of the spills.

[baby_bear]

7. My colleague has rats in her suet feeders

She doesn't live far from me here in Seattle. I guess I should count my blessings that I have only squirrels to contend with so far!

b_b

[eleny]

8. I never thought about rats finding feeders

Now I don't feel so bad about that raccoon!