Vickie and I enjoy watching the birds feed from the feeders, but we are having squirel problems. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching the stupid squirels too. We have one of those 4 legged contrapctions that you put corn on the cob on and we like watching the squirels figure how to get some corn without falling off, so getting rid of the squirels isn't an option we want. What I need to know is will they be able to climb a 3 or 4inch PVC pipe if I make a pole out of it and hang the bird feeders from that. My thoughts are to plant a piece of 3 or 4" PVC pipe and put a crossbar to hang the feeders on and then mount a light globe on top so it at least looks somewhat like a lamppost. I don't want or need a light, but can't figure out how to disguise it so it doesn't look like a piece of pipe in the ground to hold a bird feeder.
Can anyone tell me what size pipe to use that is "squirel proof", or any other ideas for stopping the theft of the bird seed?
Here is a pic of the 4 legged thing I was talking about. You just run an eye screw into the end of a cob and it hangs there waiting for the funny stuff to start. Later, Nat
We get a kick out of watching some of the "wildlife" around here. Most of it isn't to wild or they wouldn't get this close to poeple. We see 1 or 2 Foxes everyday, but most of the time I don't think to have the camera with me. Yeserday I had it out to take a pic of the squirel on the feeder and saw one of the Foxes coming out of the woods so I waited and got 4 pics of it. He doesn't pay us any attention as long as we are on the porch. We have a handrail around the porch and it seems they don't look past it. If I'm on the golfcart and they come out of the woods they make a beeline back in, but disreguard us sitting on the porch. We have rabbits, squirels, foxes, deer, and the ocasional skunk that we see daily. I have only seen wild turkeys out there 2 times, but we hear them more often. Here is apic of one of the foxes. He is about 60 feet away when I took it. Later, Nat
Cool pic of the fox.
I'm only going to guess on the PVC pipe idea, but the sharp nails of a squirrel *may* be able to grab hold of it, especially in the diameter you're talking. If it was smaller diameter it may be harder, or maybe you could get a "storm collar" like what you put around a metal flue that would deter their climbing. I really have no idea, but let us know if it works. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
These squirels can shoot up a piece of 3/4 and 1" pipe like they are on a superhighway. they can climb a piece of string and a 1/4" steel rod doesn't even slow theur climbing a bit. That is why I thought of the 3or 4" pvc. Maybe they can't get their paws around it. Later, Nat
The diameter certainly counts. But my guess would be that the PVC will be soft enough that they can dig in. I've got some 1 1/4" & 2" EMT - I think I'll try an experiment...
The 2" EMT may be big enough, I doubt they can get thier grubby little paws around it enough to climb, but those little suckers are pretty smart, may find another way. Did anyone see Tremors 2, where the blind Graboids stacked up in a gymnastic manuver to get to someone? Maybe they will try that next. Later, Nat
I made a fake lightpost using a 10' piece of 3" ABS pipe. I drilled a 3/4" hole thru it to insert the cross bar and siliconed a globe from an old ceiling fan light on top. I drilled a 1/4" hole thru the bottom of the cross bar on each end to hold an S-Hook that holds the feeder. I put it up where the squirels can't jump from other trees and it works!!!!
I have been sitting out on the porch for an hour watching those squirels get so frustrated they were jumping each other. They would jump as high as they could and then slide down, it was ROTFLMAO funny. I watched 3 or 4 of the little suckers try to get up the pole and they would slide right back down.
I had to go to the doc today and get a cortizone shot in each shoulder, and after I have it done I only feel like sitting for 24 hours, but those squirels made my day.
Last Sun morning I watched a fox cross the drive and within a minute here came another, with 2 kits. She walked right by the porch and never paid me any attention. I was wishing Vickie could have seen them cause she was still in bed, lazying around at 6:15, imagine. She came out at 6:30 and as I was telling her about them here came another with 3 kits, so she got to see them anyway.
For future info a squirel can't climb a piece of 3" pipe. Later, Nat
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