Dave and I have recently marveled at how quickly the peanuts disappear in our "squirrel-proof" peanut feeder, and now you can see why. Turns out, it's not squirrel-proof at all -- at least not to a young, smallish squirrel.
As you can see, I've already had to wire on the lid because otherwise the squirrels will unscrew it.
Here's the escape:
You don't suppose it will ever get stuck in there, do you? I'm not sure how I would solve that problem.
We're reconsidering all our bird feeders -- both their placement and their structure. I'm putting out fewer suet balls, even though the birds love them, because they bring rodents, and I took one feeder down entirely because it got mobbed by pigeons. The others get mobbed by pigeons too, but they're built in such a way that the smaller birds also enjoy them.
I spent yesterday chilling at home. It felt so good, after such a busy week, to lie on the couch and do nothing. I got all my pictures organized and archived and I started a new book, "Dream Lovers," a biography of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee written about 30 years ago by their son. I have no idea what possessed me to buy this book. I read about it somewhere -- probably around the time Dee died in February 2025 -- and it sounded interesting. I have a soft spot for big, colorful '50s and '60s melodramas, like "Imitation of Life" and "Peyton Place," and of course Dee and Troy Donahue in "A Summer Place." Maybe this will inspire me to watch "A Summer Place" again. I haven't seen it since we lived in New Jersey many moons ago. Probably not the best use of my time, but hey, I'm retired now!
I remember seeing Peyton Place, who knows how many years ago and I had the book too, but it's vanished now. The Dream Lovers book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThose squirrels are agile little so-and-so's aren't they?
I read "Peyton Place" in high school and I liked it a lot. It didn't seem all that scandalous, but I guess a lot changed between the late '50s and the mid-'80s!
DeleteThere could come a time when a growing young squirrel can only just get in....fill its belly....and not be able to get out!
ReplyDeleteExactly! I worry about that!
DeleteI had a similar feeder years ago and a squirrel did become trapped inside the feeder. This occurred while I was away, and the poor dear died.
DeleteOh no. Well, I'll take it down if we're going away to be sure that doesn't happen.
DeleteWho but yourself is the judge of what is the best use of your time? Sometimes it is best to just do nothing, especially after a busy time like you‘ve had just now.
ReplyDeleteA squirrel will do ANYthing for a peanut, it seems!
A few days of doing nothing is just what the doctor ordered!
DeleteYou'll put on heavy gloves to protect your hands, cut the wire and unscrew the feeder lid. The squirrel will take off. It sounded like you and your brother's family had a great visit!
ReplyDeleteThe lid, unfortunately, doesn't open to the interior portion of the cage -- just to the tube that holds the peanuts. I'd have to cut out part of the cage, which would be a challenge with an angry squirrel inside!
DeleteSquirrels must be much skinnier than they look to squeeze in between those wires - good to spot and photograph the evidence.
ReplyDeleteRSPB are now saying to stop feeding during summer but I'm carrying on with sunflower hearts and niger seed - getting goldfinches all the time on those.
Oh, I didn't realize feeding in summer is not recommended. I'll have to read about that. I can see how they'd want to be sure birds can develop the skills to find their own food. (We reduce feeding in summer for just that reason.)
DeleteMy mother used to watch Peyton Place. It was on after 8.30 so we were 'in bed'. But there was always the glass of water I needed from the kitchen. If I stayed at the sink, and remained quiet, it would be forgotten I was there. As mild as it was, I did learn some 'adult' things.
ReplyDeleteBird feeders sure sound complicated.
Kids are sneaky when it comes to watching stuff they're not supposed to! I used to come out into the living room late at night to watch "Monty Python's Flying Circus," which for some reason was on at 11:30 p.m.!
DeleteWhat’s a “good use” of your time anyway? The squirrel photos are hilarious, if you‘re not the owner of the squirrel-proof feeder. We had a collection of feeders in rural Connecticut and finally managed to keep squirrels off with excellent squirrel baffles and placement in an open area far away from trees (and we learned how far squirrels could jump from tree to feeder). Given your garden, I don’t think you can win. And I sure hope the squirrel doesn’t eventually get stuck!
ReplyDeleteI should probably get some baffles, but as you said, they'd just jump to the feeders.
DeleteSquirrels rule the world! Especially skinny ones ;) think it is called ' survival of the fittest'
ReplyDeleteAnd eventually, survival of the fattest!
DeleteWe now only feed the birds hulled sunflower seeds, our neighbour puts out mixed seeds, they is very few bits dropped and we now never get rouge seeds growing underneath. Squirrels are very clever, we have had numerous feeds promising to keep them out, they have always found a way in.
ReplyDeleteOur seeds are milled so they won't grow, but I do see the tits and robins throw some of them out in favor of the tastier ones.
DeleteSquirrels are so determined, but that young one may well get stuck one day, and you'll have to don your heavy duty gloves to release him!
ReplyDeleteI hope he'll be unable to get INTO the feeder rather than OUT OF it.
DeleteI've never seen a feeder some determined squirrel couldn't figure out. They're great problem solvers, dangit.
ReplyDeleteThey really are incredibly smart when it comes to devices.
DeleteI often fear that some day squirrels will take over the world!
ReplyDeleteThat last photo is high-larious.
"Get me out of here!"
DeleteI've seen some , possibly on instagram, who are devising athletic puzzles/challenges for the squirrels...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure just like rats they could learn quickly!
DeleteThis is the season of young agile squirrels. The best use of your time, is doing things that bring you joy.
ReplyDeleteIt just feels so indulgent!
DeleteI looked up that book on Amazon and it's bloody $50 US.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember what I paid, but I'm sure it wasn't that much. Maybe it's cheaper here in the UK.
DeleteMaybe send the squirrel pictures to the company to show them that their products are not squirrel proof! I wonder if they would respond back to you!
ReplyDeleteIt's Sunday ... you're supposed to take it easy today!
Maybe they'd send me a free feeder!
DeleteI laughed at the squirrel inside the squirrel proof feeder. I imagine if it can squeeze in it can squeeze out but what if it gets stuck halfway? Might have to get some heavy leather gloves to pull it out. And laying on the couch reading all day is a perfectly acceptible activity for the retired.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd have to cut the metal cage to get it out, and that would not be fun.
DeleteI swear to you- no squirrels ever get on our feeder. It has a baffle on it and is placed so that no acrobatic squirrel can jump from a tree limb. Of course doves keep all the other birds off. Not always though. There's a lady cardinal warily pecking at seeds right this second.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could put ours somewhere away from trees, but in our garden, trees overshadow everything!
DeleteThat is one very resourceful squirrel. Brings to mind those old sayings: "where there's a will there's a way" and "adapt and survive".
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely adapting!
DeleteI don't have bird feeders but we still see a lot of birds in our yard.
ReplyDeleteDon't you get books from the library? Is there a branch near you? I agree with the other Ellen that reading is a good retirement activity!! ;)
I will eventually get books from the library but I have a backlog of books I've bought over the years and not read yet -- so I want to tackle those first.
DeleteSquirrels may not be smart but they are SO crafty. Retirement is all about relaxation and the freedom to do a lot...or nothing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not great at doing nothing. I need an activity.
DeleteI wish you luck in your on-going battle with the squirrels, you're going to need it, they're crafty little buggers.
ReplyDeleteIt's astonishing how smart they are. We don't give rodents enough credit!
DeleteYour photos of the squirrel invading the feeder are really funny.
ReplyDeleteI find squirrels very intent when they find a feeder. Nothing stops them.
I had a feeder attached to a large beam outside my kitchen window. I hung a feeder thinking it would be nice to have breakfast and watch the birds. A squirrel climbed a tall pine tree, found a long horizontal limb, jumped from the limb to the roof and lowered himself to the feeder. I'd knock on the window, and he'd jump to the ground. Within minutes he climbed the pine tree again and was at the feeder.
When the squirrel started chewing my roof shingles, I removed the feeder entirely.
Yeah, I've tried chasing this guy away and he's always back again within minutes.
DeleteI don't believe there is anything truly squirrel-proof. We use to have outside dogs that would keep the squirrels away, but Fred and Grady only seem to like chasing them in the wild (rather than in our yard). Fortunately not many come to the feeders these days.
ReplyDeleteMaybe when we get another dog the squirrels will be more reluctant to come around...but I doubt it.
DeleteDennis drilled a hole in a pie tin and put it on the cable holding the bird seed- Squirrel proof- the only thing that has worked, plus it hangs low from the branches.
ReplyDeleteSummer place was a HOT movie back int he day- boyfriend got to third base!
It tooks me years to figure out that the song "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee" from "Grease" was based on her role in "A Summer Place."
DeleteI've yet to find a truly squirrel proof feeder!
ReplyDeleteYou did get some great photographs of the squirrel though.
All the best Jan
Mischievous little monster!
DeleteIt's pretty tough to beat a squirrel
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure, but I'll keep trying.
DeleteSquirrels are determined. They WILL have their way with the feeder.
ReplyDeleteAnd they're really good at working out puzzles and problems!
DeleteI always thought Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin were so cute together! I remember buying film magazines if they were on the covers! I get chipmunks sitting inside one of my feeders but I think they're pretty safe. If that's a young squirrel, one day you might all have a rude awakening!
ReplyDelete