Exit2Eden wrote: 
There aren't that many this year, last year there was a drought so there  weren't enough acorns to get them through the winter. I haven't even seen a black squirrel yet this year and I used to have 4 or 5 mixed in with the mob of greys after I  put corn out. This year I haven't seen 5 at once of any color.

 Nature usually has them produce 2 litters in the year after a bad winter as opposed to the usual one litter.

 We've got  redtail hawks around here, when they come past it's like a  ghost town out there no matter how much food is out.

 bokey wrote: 


We have those cylinder thingies on our bird feeder polls, too. Sometimes there is one crafty critter who manages to bounce off of it and go UP! Something about these squirrels in Maryland, eh?

Just a few minutes ago, a marsh hawk came swooping down and landed on the pole....the mass exodus of birdies and squirrels was FAST!

hobiejoe wrote:
love this! 
especially the moment where super squirrel pauses to scratch after just landing on a pedestal!

The original prototype was made from a 5 gallon bucket but the little pychos would jump from the tree branch (since cut down)above and land on it, so he made it smaller and since it just rests on the bolts it's too wobbly for a landing pad. They would dive on and it would tilt and they'd go sliding  off, it was hilarious.

 highwindows wrote: 
The  little bastids don't even try anymore. As a matter of fact, I think they are born with the knowledge not to bother.

 It's just mecanical.
  Heres the top- he just put some rubber on the pole and used a hose clamp to secure it. There's a couple bolts that stick out and the thing just rests on them.

 bokey wrote: 
I think I've got it figured out...the metal canister is hollow underneath giving the offender little means to climb from the pole and beyond to the feeder.  If, however, they do manage to make it to the feeder, a sensor is activated which delivers a small, but lethal explosive device, like a half stick of dynamite along the string to the base of the feeder.  Blam!  the squirrel is evaporated!  Just go back to the shed and retrieve another feeder.  Problem solved!

 bokey wrote: 

Impressive.
1. Did it (does it) work?
2. Is it mechanical only or is it also "electrically powered" in some way??

My dad came up with this. He's a retired mechanical engineer and defeating the squirrels was a Holy Mission for quite a few years

OK Scott....just found the UK Distributor who offers for the princely sum of £88. 

 oldslabsides wrote: 
Better. If they stay in business I get to keep working for them!

HW: They may not make a UK version so you'll have to have an adapter for the charger...

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 


What?  Do you get a cut?

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 

Hi Scott,

This gizmo looks REALLY neat. Not cheap ... but have to check out if I can buy in the UK! 
(Cost probably justified by the sport you can have watching the little critters being hurled off!!) 

We have one of these and the only time a squirrel ever got to it was when the battery died. And they found out about that pretty quick... it lasts a long time (most of a year) on one charge. I'd filled it up and it was still spinning but a day or two later Justine saw a squirrel sitting on it having a feast. We thought they'd learned to not even try but every day they're out there eyeballing it. Haven't ever seen one actually get flung, tho, but obviously they try it every day. They still forage on the ground because the birds drop a lot of seed but what're you gonna do about that?

Buy one here and tell them I sent you.

A 5 gallon plastic bucket upside down on the pole does the trick.

 highwindows wrote: 
Keeping the dog outside where the feeder is always works.

We have a feeder with the little perches that droop down if something heavier than a bird lands on them.  This has kept the big grey squirrels away 100%.  But the little red squirrels just hang on the feeder itself and load up.  (Our feeder is on a corner of the deck.)

 highwindows wrote: 

I don't think there is one.  Check out this squirrel going through an obstacle course...

It's from a documentary about squirrels called "Daylight Robbery."  If you have the time you should watch all four parts listed in the 'related videos' window, it's very interesting and quite funny.

(sorry its just a link, can't figure out how to embed it)

 Has anyone found a total solution??