They’re vermin to some, cunning adversaries to others. Squirrels have long been a source of fascination and frustration for gardeners and bird enthusiasts, who fight back with greased poles, loud music and motion-activated sprinklers.
Bill Adler Jr. has heard all the strategies and tried many of them.
The 57-year-old humor writer has been collecting for three decades. He recently updated his 1988 book, “Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Stratagems to From Your Birdfeeder by Squirrels” (Chicago Review Press, 2014).
The most important thing to know? While technology has changed, squirrels still have little else to do all day but strategize. And they’re good at it.
“There’s that works for everyone,” Adler says. Try a , and be willing to change. Most of all, Adler says, don’t sweat it too much. Here are some tips from Adler and others.
Be natural
Resigned to the fact that squirrels are going to call his Washington, D.C., yard home, Adler puts out some unsalted mixed nuts along his steps. “If you feed (squirrels), they will ,” he says.
also love corn, so if you don’t want them invading your feeder, keep your birdseed corn-free. You also can try filling your feeder with safflower seeds, which are high in fat and protein.
“Many favorite backyard birds favor safflower seeds, but squirrels typically do not,” says John Schaust, chief naturalist for Wild Birds Unlimited.
Get technical
These days, there are motion-activated outdoor cameras if you want to monitor your feeder and even motion-activated sprinklers to douse .
abound. The best, according to Adler and other experts, are those that sit on a 5-foot pole and are covered with a plastic dome or “baffle” that’s hard for squirrels to cling to.
There also are weight-activated feeders that actually cover up the feeding ports when a squirrel latches on.
“Squirrels ,” Schaust says.
While some have been known to scratch up the pole and baffle enough to gain access, bird enthusiast Barbara Bergin of Austin, Texas, has a slippery solution: petroleum jelly.
She actually greases the pole her feeder hangs from with Vasoline every now and then, and says it works like a charm.
Go crazy
Also included in the book are 101 “cunning stratagems” to keep squirrels at bay. Some are practical. Most are .
Some of the more entertaining:
• Dig a moat around your feeder. Fill it with piranha.
• Encourage your neighbors — and what the heck, your local government — to use drones to monitor and, ahem, deal with squirrels.
• Cry. Maybe the will feel sorry for you and go away.
