Squirrel Proof Feeders

Slickcraft · 08-05-2010, 02:22 PM

In 20+ years only two or three squirrels have beat our simple and cheap system.

At about 15' high I have a heavy gauge steel wire stretched between the house and a tree about 35' away with the wire very taut, stiff spring on the end to allow for tree sway. About midway there are hooks that hold plain old cheap feeders. When full the bottom of the feeders are about 10' off the ground. We use an 8' stepladder to reach the feeders for unhooking and refilling.

To reach the feeders a squirrel has to manage a high wire act for 15' in length. As help in lowering temptation we put cracked corn on the ground, one 50lb bag from the feed store last more than a year. The squirrels eat that as well as seed dropped by the birds. It's normal to see one try to learn the high wire act, fall part way and go back to the easy to get cracked corn.

The feeders are also above the reach of the local black bear.

Bear Island South · 08-05-2010, 03:08 PM

or you could try this method

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Ya6z-NlDo

Greene's Basin Girl · 08-06-2010, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

or you could try this method

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Ya6z-NlDo

I think the squirrel launcher is mean and inhumane.

08-05-2010, 02:22 PM	#1
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,310 Thanks: 1,228 Thanked 2,098 Times in 957 Posts	In 20+ years only two or three squirrels have beat our simple and cheap system. At about 15' high I have a heavy gauge steel wire stretched between the house and a tree about 35' away with the wire very taut, stiff spring on the end to allow for tree sway. About midway there are hooks that hold plain old cheap feeders. When full the bottom of the feeders are about 10' off the ground. We use an 8' stepladder to reach the feeders for unhooking and refilling. To reach the feeders a squirrel has to manage a high wire act for 15' in length. As help in lowering temptation we put cracked corn on the ground, one 50lb bag from the feed store last more than a year. The squirrels eat that as well as seed dropped by the birds. It's normal to see one try to learn the high wire act, fall part way and go back to the easy to get cracked corn. The feeders are also above the reach of the local black bear. Last edited by Slickcraft; 08-05-2010 at 03:26 PM. Reason: typo

08-05-2010, 03:08 PM	#2
Bear Island South Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southboro, MA Posts: 579 Thanks: 75 Thanked 384 Times in 170 Posts	or you could try this method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Ya6z-NlDo

The Following User Says Thank You to Bear Island South For This Useful Post:
Rattlesnake Guy (08-05-2010)