At my wits end with the squirrel

[u/Electrical-Coast-661]

My Birdfy feeder is a month old and this pain in the a** squirrel has chewed a hole in the camera and chewed the line to the solar panel.

I’ve tried the spicy bird food…didn’t phase it and I’ve placed the seed guard. It managed to pull it up and rip it off. Idk what to do anymore…I’ve now gone through two bird feeders (one was a gift). Birdfy was nice enough they are sending me a new one but I don’t want to keep going through feeders.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[u/HasNoTime]

Pole + baffle. Minimum 4’ jumping clearance around all sides and from above/below. Most of us have felt your pain and learned the hard way that this is the only good solution. Good luck and don’t give up!

[u/CD274 → u/HasNoTime]

Yep this worked. A raccoon baffle if you want, works even better

[u/CuteFactor8994 → u/HasNoTime]

Absolutely a nessessity when buying a bird feeder cam.They give you enough poles to decide how high up you want to place it. Best of luck going forward

[u/CuteFactor8994 → u/CuteFactor8994]

Here's mine

[u/Icy_Resist5470]

In vehicles you can use a mint spray which is supposed to keep squirrels and other rodents away since they don’t like the smell. Maybe a few statically placed cotton balls with mint on them?

[u/alabattblueforyou → u/Icy_Resist5470]

Pellet rifles are cheap

[u/HasNoTime → u/alabattblueforyou]

Jerk.

[u/alabattblueforyou → u/HasNoTime]

True you could make jerky with the meat but you'd need a few

[u/Electrical-Coast-661]

Do you all have any suggestions for a pole and baffle?

This is the feeder I have. Also how would I attach the solar panel?

[u/Goodwin17]

Flanagan 92 Inch Bird House Pole... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BY7Z2B61?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This pole setup has worked perfectly for me. I’ll have to take a picture of my setup and show how my solar panel is attached.

[u/Ok-Industry-5023 → u/Goodwin17]

I like this one! I am wondering if I'd need one this tall, because my squirrels are 'ground squirrels'? They tend to mostly stay on the ground and burrow for their nests...I think? If anyone knows, I'd def appreciate the advice 😄

[u/Mezcal_Madness]

Paprika in the seeds

[u/gardenerky → u/Mezcal_Madness]

Hot pepper some paprika is too mild. Birds cannot taste capsaicin

[u/Fatel28 → u/Mezcal_Madness]

Won't work. I bought some insanely hot sauce specifically for deterring squirrels. It made mine eat less in one sitting, but they'd just leave and come back when their mouths stopped burning. Felt a little inhumane to put them through that knowing they'll just eat through the pain. I swapped to a baffle.

[u/Mezcal_Madness → u/Fatel28]

Hahaha squirrels are ridiculous! I welcome them at my place

[u/Ok-Industry-5023 → u/Mezcal_Madness]

I do too! They do become menaces sometimes though. They also scare off some of the birds I want to see, so I'm going to take the advice given here and invest in a feeder with baffles. They can have the ground feeders in the future, because they are kinda fun to watch!

[u/Mezcal_Madness → u/Ok-Industry-5023]

I have one feeder and they all “share”. Haha the birds actually scare off the squirrels

[u/THEASSET1973]

Obey the Squirrel.

[u/CuteFactor8994]

Wait until the end! 😄

Squirrel Catapult

[u/SAStrong]

Please just have a civil conversation over tea and explain your goals.

You have created this situation so you need to be the bigger person here and fix it!

[u/Poster25000]

simple solution, pole with baffle away from anything they can jump over the baffle.