>
> Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>> I have a problem with Squirrels and need to discourage them without
>> killing, damaging, or hurting them badly.
>> I've though of an electric fencer, but that's a bit pricy for just
>> discouraging squirrels. I could also charge a cap from a small, low
>> current, HV supply and use adhesive backed copper foil around the
>> edges
>> of the feeders. This will work, but I'm not sure what size cap to
>> use
>> and the supply would need to be simple and RF quiet.
>>
>> I know this works as "in the old days" it was not uncommon for some
>> one
>> to holler, "catch" and too late you'd realize they'd just tossed
>> you a
>> fully charged cap with the "bare" leads taped down the sides.
>> 450@40 or
>> 50 mikes, *hurt*! The "old timers" would just step out of the way and
>> watch it go by while the newbies ...er new comers would catch them,
>> at
>> least once or twice.
>>
>> My goal is to discourage them without wiping out any of the bands
>> from
>> broadcast through upper TV AND not have my wife have her sense of
>> humor
>> ruined by it when she fills the bird feeders. We've been fairly
>> successful with variations of height, spacing,
>> mounts...etc...etc... But
>> the more successful we are the more destructive the little buggers
>> become. So far they've left the coax cables alone.
>>
>> I've suggested squirrel stew...<:-)) but they are "out of season" AND
>> more importantly we live in a subdivision, AND even more
>> importantly, my
>> wife says NO!<:-))
>>
>> Any suggestions?
You need a three pronged approach:
1. Give up.
2. Give up
3. Enjoy the squirrels too.
Seriously, one way you will be able to control the squirrel issue is
to mount your feeders from a tree, using a line to keep the feeders
further away than they can jump, above or below. There are a few
weighted feeders that will shut off their seed doors when an animal
larger than say a bluejay lands on it. However, I have watched
bluejays toss food out to waiting squirrels below.
Another way is to quit your job, and shoot every squirrel that comes
through your yard. Kind of an ironic end to something that started out
as feeding critters.....
Finally, the only way I have been able to come to grips has been to
just give up and feed the squirrels too. You have to make a
philosophical decision that works. The squirrels don't know they are
the "bad guy", they are just hungry, and very, very clever. And the
idea of keeping them away from the food, but not killing them equates
out to us preferring that they starve to death rather than allowing
them to eat the food we place in tantalizing but out of reach places,
or finding other ways to kill them, like shooting or poison.
BTW, I've tried everything except poison. In the end I just gave up,
and I'm glad I did.
We even tried that seed coating that is supposed to make the seeds too
"hot" to eat. Worked for one day, then they showed up in serapes and
Mexican hats looking for some salsa with their seeds....
So now, I buy bulk peanuts, and scatter some around every day. The
squirrels like them more than other food, they take a while to eat,
and they leave the other stuff alone (mostly) then I just enjoy the
show. The squirrels "won".
The bluejays and titmice love the peanuts too. It's fun to watch the
bluejays pick up and weigh the peanuts, putting ones that are smaller
down and hopping to bigger ones, and it's amazing to watch a titmouse
fly with a peanut that is almost as big as it is.
- 73 de Mike N3LI -
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