For years, I have tried to fend off squirrels, often losing feeders in
the process. Squirrels are VERY smart and doubly as inventive. I made a
small elevated platform feeder. It is about 16" x 16" and has 6" legs on
it. I put a piece of fine metal screen on the bottom. I keep this filled
with sunflower seeds. Occasionally one of the squirrels still wants to
try & get onto one of my feeders, but for the most part, they stay on
the platform feeder. It has actually gotten enjoyable to watch them.
Especially this time of the year when the young are out playing. We even
built a squirrel den & put it on a tree. They took to it immediately.
Take it from me, there is no sense trying to fight them. They are doing
what comes natural, trying to survive. Like they say, if you can't beat
'em, join 'em.

Good Luck

Ray Congdon
Auburn, Washington

>----------
>From: John Larsen[SMTP:jlarsen at teleport.com]
>Sent: Saturday, June 14, 1997 10:05 PM
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Cc: obol at mail.orst.edu
>Subject: Squirrels
>
>I've about three very smart squirrels that I'm having problems trying to
>keep off our feeder. The feeder is really protected with a stove pipe
>below, a large metal cap on the top but they still manage to get to the seed.
>
>So my question is, is anyone familiar with the "Wild Bills Bird Feeder" as
>advertised in BirdWatcher's Digest. It is a feeder which well give a
>squirrel a harmless electrical shock. Does it work?
>
>Thanks for any replies.
>
>
> John Larsen jlarsen at teleport.com
>