Squirrel Deterrent
 

A friend of ours put a metal Slinky on the post that holds the bird feeder. No squirrels!

The Slinky acts like a 'jacket' around the post. Must be something about the coils that the squirrels don't like.

We tried it too - no squirrels.

I kind of miss watching the little critters climbing - don't miss DH and DS yelling at the squirrels, though.

I am definitely going to try this. Let me ask you this: assuming the slinky is pulled open to cover the pole of the feeder, what did you use to hold the slinky to each end of the pole? Hopefully this will deter Texas squirrels as well as it deters Minnesota squirrels!

What fun, to watch a squirrel try to climb a slinky! :D Talk about frustration!!!! :p

David says that a fencing nail - sort of a u-shaped thing - was used to hold the bottom down - and that he sort of 'hooked' the top end to the cross bar of the post. I didn't put it up - or watch the process -

Apparently a squirrel will only touch it once or twice and decide it isn't any fun at all to even try to climb on the post anymore.

Moved the feeder away from the guard rail of the deck so they can't do the flying leap anymore, either.

Leo is obsessed with squirrels so he'll enjoy this, too... LOL! He's not a very good deterrent, tho... waaah!

Wow, will have to try this. I think my DH and our two cocker spaniels are going to have heart attacks trying to chase off all the squirrels. Their mission in life right now!

This sounds a bit cruel to me-I almost lost a finger with one of those blasted Slinky's. My Pops gave the squirrels their own feeder attached to the same tree as his bird feeder and for the last 2 yrs this has worked out pretty good for him.And he also keeps a couple ears of corn spiked to a couple tree's. He use to get upset at the squirrels eating all the bird seed.But a very wise 5 yr old told him "Squirrels gotta eat too"--and they probably want their own plate,so Pops followed this advice and now his backyard critters are all well fed and happy


















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I finally found a baffle tha looks like a very large roll of paper towels that attaches below the feeder. It has a top & no bottom & the squirrels go up into it & come back out the bottom. Now I have no squirrels at the feeder. They deal with the left overs on the ground!

I love the squirrels, but I would like to get rid of the blasted Birds!!!

Cianan Pepper works good for squirrels as well, it does not bother the birds but the squirrels get a hot tongue out of it. Don't know if I spelled that right or not.
Thanks for th slinky trick I might have my mom try that, she is havig a terriable time.

Awe, poor wil squirrels!

[QUOTE=terry leffler;5343319]I finally found a baffle tha looks like a very large roll of paper towels that attaches below the feeder. It has a top & no bottom & the squirrels go up into it & come back out the bottom. Now I have no squirrels at the feeder. They deal with the left overs on the ground![/QUOTE
I'd love to see a picture of what you are talking about. I can't seem to get the idea and we have sooooooooooo many squirrels to contend with.

where are you finding metal slinky's anymore??? around here the stores all carry plastic ones---they are sure not the same- i used to love our slinky's! will have to watch yardsales for an old one i guess- i think that is a wonderful idea---& a bit better than the idea of a BB gun!

Will try the slinky for squirrels...they eat so much of the bird feed which is so costly now! Does anyone know what to do about pigeons?

I only have a few squirrels and they don't seem to bother the bird feeder, they are content with what the birds throw on the ground, however I wonder if the pepper trick will work on keeping ground hogs and racoons out from under my home. We have tried putting large pieces of cement around and plants in front of them so they are not an eye sore but they still find a spot to dig and get underneath and eat my insulation and heat ducts. Going to get some and give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

This sounds great for bird feeders. Those little rodents are not cute when they are stealing from the birds! I don't mind giving them what falls to the ground, but they make a pig of themselves in the feeder. Any ideas how to keep the squirrels out of tomatoes? ... or at least allow me a fair share?

Thanks for this posting ....

Just put on my shopping list...slinky...my Dad is going to have a ball with this. All he does, all winter is crab about the squirrels.

Tink, my chihuahua is my squirrel deterrant for the tomatoes...she and her favorite squirrel are always crabbing at each other. She chases him away from the veggies and he goes on top of the waterfall of the koi pond and teases her. He wants her to fall in...

We have found a solution to squirrels. We attached a 3-4 foot section of black or shiny stove pipe to the feeder over the post. Pull it up tight to the bird feeder and attach with wire. The stove pipe is tight to the top so that the squirrels cannot climb out the top and it wobbles so the do not try to crawl up it..and if they go inside...they have nowhere to go so they come back out. Only once in a while we get a smart squirrel to figure it out and go over the outside of the stove pipe...but he needs to be a big guy...

DS said he bought the metal Slinky at a WalMart in June (Eagan, MN)

Awe , I want squrrils to come in my yard,maybe I will get a bird feeder ,hmmmmm

If you REALLY want squirrels in your yard - make it so the feeder is easily accessible.

They are cute as can be - but can be destructive if they get inside your buildings.

They also chew up all of your bird feeders, they are pesky little critters

Persistent little critters, too!

To keep warm in the winter, they will chew apart the rug at your back door and your hammock to use for their nests. Argh, it's so frustrating. Picking up a Slinky this week...

The Slinky I purchased from our local Walgreens for $3.99 plus tax is a worthwhile investment when applied to the pole to deter squirrels, chipmunks, and even our neighborhood racoon. We thought we had tried everything under the sun to deter those creatures from getting to the caged suet cakes for the woodpeckers.

DH mounted a spare metal flagpole bracket to the railing on the deck. He then attached the cage to the far end of the pole with floral wire. We clamped the opened Slinky to the pole by using two extra large office binder clips(one each at the base and 3/5's way up the pole. Wahoo! We arrived back home tonight to witness success for five consecutive days. Thank you for the marvelous tip :-)