Defeating the squirrels

[Harry Bloomfield]

She came home with a fancy bird-feeder - tall metal pole, with various arms at the top, for dishes, and hangers for those nut feeders. The base of the pole, then, goes into the ground. The place is inundated with squirrels, which are certain to climb the pole, to get at the food intended for the birds.

How do stop the squirrels climbing up the pole, please?

 

[Mottie]

A big round disc on the pole - a bit like those discs they have on mooring ropes to stop rats getting on a ship.

 

[Stivino]

Put a bit of Vaseline on the pole.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NDVK2R

Works for me.

 

[johnny2007]

Rats glue on the pole.

 

[RandomGrinch]

How do stop the squirrels climbing up the pole, please?

You don't!...

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075NDVK2R

Works for me.

Thank, I'm afraid the arms etc., will be far too big to fit in one of those... I'm going to see I can make up something like Mottie suggests - a round plastic downward facing cone/disc, something like they put round a dog's head when it's had an op..

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

A big round disc on the pole - a bit like those discs they have on mooring ropes to stop rats getting on a ship.

We have a bell one, made for the job, it does not work. Now I know why it was for sale on Marketplace! Thinking we might need to splash out on something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Squirrel-Peanut-Feeder-Outdoor-Garden/dp/B08T5V24RB/ref=sr_1_11?crid=2HAYY2RL0MV3T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zY5WmQHm__QzVnZbjN0wdMAJ04au2fv_6BJpTuXnB1fooVnAynZf8ohhahTZxtwwk_X9YwUafxpiPx8SbCChK9CUDlYFj5dNt9drjlc8rBl-Qe5tJ-H7F0SQwKjFG3PJAs7EWWANJLSFwaaV5zePNRFF2um7rL7c8M3Nma28atuIK9xU_j5zsmdW7ydwqV64qcLOVJEPIkyKUocrwIKs1IKCUlyR3y19-cQUxXP2HsPosiTcB-pertKVDZVm1uCItrjKSWxtowBXllSRb3u5G3Rz8gwBiCUal-RaJtXBlbY.0fM58fYeUtgYH8Iok5n6FRQ7bqScELmFw-I90GKu81I&dib_tag=se&keywords=anti+squirrel+bird+feeder&qid=1728673658&s=outdoors&sprefix=anti+squirrel+bird+feedeer,outdoor,74&sr=1-11&th=1
At least with Amazon we can send it back if it doesn't work.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

After I'd ordered the "Rudding's Wood" one, I realised I probably could have made one with low-grade gabion baskets for a bit less.
But yeah, they take up a fair bit of space.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

A big round disc on the pole - a bit like those discs they have on mooring ropes to stop rats getting on a ship.

I've just made a cone shaped disc, around 18" diameter, which I've installed on the pole, around 4' up from the ground. Cone made from thin alloy sheet, pointy end up, with a jubilee clip supporting it on the pole, so it wobbles about a bit. See if that deters them!

They've stopped climbing and scrabbling about on my summerhouse roof, ripping it, since I reroofed it with box section steel sheet - it seems the slippy surface deters them.

 

[JBR]

What have the poor squirrels done to you?
Why not feed them as well?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

What have the poor squirrels done to you?
Why not feed them as well?

Wrecked my summer house roof, ripping felt off, several times. We have lots of them, there is a nature reserve alongside my garden.

 

[JBR]

Ah, I can see your problem.

We've had a couple of these hanging up for a few years now:

Roamwild PestOff Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder 2.0 For Mixed Seed/Sunflow

Patented PestOff™ Technology: Spring loaded feeding ports close when larger animals land, automatically reopening for songbirds, with no complicated settings or adjustments required. Dual Squirrel Proof Baffles: Prevents access from squirrels and large birds. Anti Squirrel Ring: Prevents...

roamwildproducts.co.uk

You just have to make sure to hang them from a suitable support:

Roamwild PestOff Bird Feeding Station

Squirrel Proof Design: Feeders hang 45cm/18" away from the pole, keeping your bird feeders safe from squirrels. Quick Assembly: Easily put together your Roamwild PestOff Bird Feeding Station in no time. Heavy Duty Capacity: Each arm holds up to 5kg/11lbs, allowing for multiple bird feeders...

roamwildproducts.co.uk

Squirrels have tried many times, but have now given up completely.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Why not feed them as well?

They're an invasive species introduced by humans, which out-compete the natives and carry disease that can kill them. The metaphor isn't quite complete though, as the boats they came on were large and not small.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Roamwild PestOff Bird Feeding Station

Squirrel Proof Design: Feeders hang 45cm/18" away from the pole, keeping your bird feeders safe from squirrels. Quick Assembly: Easily put together your Roamwild PestOff Bird Feeding Station in no time. Heavy Duty Capacity: Each arm holds up to 5kg/11lbs, allowing for multiple bird feeders...

roamwildproducts.co.uk

That's quite similar, but it lacked the cone, so I made one today.