I have one very crafty squirrel who has found a way to our HB feeder despite the baffle and he just sips from the feeder hanging upside down. I sent Max out to scare him off dozens of times a day. I have used the cayenne on the baffle and pole after spraying it with pam but he still finds a way to the feeder. I don't choose to move the feeder as its in the hummer garden and is used by the Downey woodpecker. I don't have an issue with him - I rather enjoy watching him. When the rain washes the pepper off - I put it back on and start all over again - its only one squirrel - the others must have low IQ...

I have heard of some folks even putting it around flowers but I haven't had to do that...Am just baffled and hope someone has an idea?

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

I have tried cayenne, tobasco sauce and nothing bothers them. I didn't use it on flowers but did put it on birdseed. I have even bought birdseed that was comercially fixed with cayenne and the squirrels ate it anyway. There is some guy on TV called The Bugman and he says to use oil of pepperment to keep away squirrels, or any rodents. He said it has to be oil of pepperment and not pepperment extract. Haven't tried it yet. So don't know if it works or not.

Marilyn
FL zone 9

Well its worth a laugh anyway I guess - maybe a picture will help - I may have to change out feeders - next quest is to find a feeder that can't be tipped !



Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Carol that is funny! My squirrels have never bothered my hummer feeders. I guess they haven't figured out that there is sweet stuff in there.


Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

That is cute!

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

At least they're entertaining. Don't know what to tell you...

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

That is funny, dont have a problem with squirrels here. It looks like those feeders are on a pole or sheperds hook. Have you tried greasing the pole with some super slippery oil or grease?

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Steve
A few years ago I tried using graphite to make my poles slippery so the squirrels couldn't get up to the seed feeders and it didn't work

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Carol,

Your photo is a riot!  I have a shepherd's crook with 2 hooks, 1 with a seed feeder and 1 with a nectar feeder. I watched a squirrel hanging upside down from the seed feeder eating seeds, and then reaching over once in awhile to grab the hummingbird feeder and take a swig of nectar! Like some kind of upside down squirrel buffet.  I've also figured out that he's the one ripping the yellow bee guards off that I find underneath in the grass!

Linda V
Connecticut zone 6b

Linda, Ha Ha...I have the double shepards hook as well and used to leave the seed feeder up till I planted the new hummer garden. Then I took it down because I did not want the squirrel to be climbing up next to the hummingbird feeder...well I guess he was so used to doing that he thinks he still owns the space ...thankfully he does not do it often..and hummers are not here yet. I have used Pam, cayenne pepper and that works for a little while...Haven't seen him since I put cayenne pepper on the feeder he was using. time will tell...

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Carol,

Quote"have one very crafty squirrel who has found a way to our HB feeder despite the baffle"


What type of baffle do you have?


Pam NJ 6B

Carol,

I have this baffle shown below.


It's like a tube - open on the bottom but closed on the top. So far, in 3 years, no squirrels have ever gotten up it. Also, the post with my feeders is quite tall - about 7 feet high and far enough away from other structures and trees that the squirrels cannot jump to the feeders from above or the side.

If you can spend a little money and have a wild bird specialty store near you, this set up may solve your problem. It won't help with things like Coopers Hawks of course!


Another thought - what might have attracted your squirrels to feeders initially might be that they thought it was water. Do you have a water source for the squirrels and your other backyard birds? It might keep them from bothering your hummingbird feeders.

Personally, I pay a small tribute to the squirrels! I accidentally on-purpose spill a little seed on the ground for them whenever I fill my seed feeders and I also keep a bird bath filled for everyone who needs it.

Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

Well Mr. "Crafty" squirrel is back this morning doing his acrobatic acts. He had the nerve after I chased him off the big HB feeder, to jump up on the sheperds hook near the house where I have the Goldfinch feedder and a .97 Walmart feeder. He sat there and looked me square in the eye. I took that as my cue and so, put out some seeds in the seed feeder and some on the ground...guess I will have to get out the peanut butter to shut him up completely. Hey its cold here - 55 degrees at 5:30 a.m....what did I expect!

Also for Ron and Pam - I do have the same baffle feeder (specially for squirrels) that you do. The problem presented is not the baffle but a trellis that is apparently too near these HB feeders. I guess I will have to move it farther back or put up with this one CRAFTY squirrels occasional flying hop!

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Can't help but laugh looking at the photo but am really sorry you've somehow managed to have a very smart squirrel take up residence.

I have my own squirrel troubles but now feel very thankful that they evidently aren't the brightest of squirrels and figured out the feeders. lol

I've used the cayenne pepper just placing it on the dirt around the flowers in pots and as mentioned it does work for a while pretty well. I'm guessing their little memories kick in after a bit and then it doesn't bother them.