electronic squirrel repellent

[LCHIEN]

LOML wants to feed the birds but not attract the squirrels.

Anyone have any familiarity with the electronics ultrasonic pest repellers?
Some have selectable bands you can select the band that repels cats, dogs, rats, mice, fleas, mosquitos, cockroaches, spiders and maybe squirrels.
Some have two bands. Some are motion activated. Many seem to be for indoor use.

First Alert sells some. But their web site lists several models non of which actuals say what pests they repel.

Suggestions, comments, alternatives?

[Stan]

Have fun trying to figure that one out. Only thing that worked here was to buy a birdfeeder that fit inside a protective 'fence' that the squirrels could not fit through -- and having neighbors move in that like to feed the squirrels and not birds.

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Loring, coming from our small cattle community and trying to keep the mice out of the house with one of those electronic rodent repellent things...It never worked...My parents spent the money on this contraption and the sales person that sold it to them said it would get rid of the mice problem and would keep the gophers away also if put outside...well they spent something like $100 and got about 4 of them and they never worked...I know how some people would take care of the problem...Like Mark and his dad (who goes to Iowa to hunt squirrels) would take a rifle to them, because they tell me they taste like chicken.

Good luck trying to find a cure for the little rodents, or I would try calling a local rodent person or the local humane society people and they will give you some suggestions I am sure.

[SillyGoose]

Just curious why do people think squirrels are such a nuisence? I have yet to wash squirrel poop off of my car,deck,picnic table. Squirrels don't wake me up at dawn. Unlike rabbits, they don't eat my garden.

Do they interfere with bird nesting or something? Personally I think they are quite amusing.

We used to feed one when I grew up. He would come to the door and we would give it peanut butter on crackers.

[WayneJ]

I don't like them because they dig holes in the garden and eat the bulbs my wife planted last fall.I trap them and move them about 5 mi away. As for them raiding my bird feeders, I mounted the feeders on a 2 in pipe about 6 ft off the ground, I then lube the pipe with eather STP or wheel bearing grease. The squirls hate the taste of it, when they lick it off there feet. They get about 2 ft off the ground and then slide down. Its a lot of fun watching them try to climb.
Wayne

[jziegler]

Loring,

I don't know about the ultrasonics. But, there is a company out there that sells squirrel resistant bird feederd, Droll Yankees. http://www.drollyankees.com/

My parents have one and, when the battery is charged, it works well. They have the flipper, which starts spinning the perch when too much weight is on it. They also have a couple of other models. In stores that sell the feeders, they sometimes have a video playing demonstrating them, which is very amusing to watch. (http://www.yankeeflipper.com/droll/index.cfm)

-Jim

[gsmittle]

So what is a squirrel?

A rat in a better suit!

I seem to recall reading an article in Consumer Reports about the electronic repellers. The conclusion was save your money--none of them worked.

I had a boss once that got a bird feeder with a weight activated platform. Every time the squirrel would step on the platform, a door would close on the bird feed. It had an overhanging roof so the squirrels couldn't reach down from the top, too. I have no idea where he got it.

g.

[just4funsies]

I have tried the ultrasonics to keep critters of all kinds out of my attic. Have tried different types, including those "guaranteed" to work. Bottom line: NADA, ZIP, BUPKIS . Many that are quiet are that way because they do nothing at all (borrowed an ultrasound meter to find that out). Others that claim to be silent aren't, but the only critter they keep away is ME. The only thing they have in common is that they DON'T WORK. Maybe an effective model does exist, but I haven't found it, and I have spent much time and much bux trying.

[WayneJ]

A rat in a better suit!

I seem to recall reading an article in Consumer Reports about the electronic repellers. The conclusion was save your money--none of them worked.

I had a boss once that got a bird feeder with a weight activated platform. Every time the squirrel would step on the platform, a door would close on the bird feed. It had an overhanging roof so the squirrels couldn't reach down from the top, too. I have no idea where he got it.

g.

I have one of those weight activated feeders also. The weight is adjustable. It will hold up 4 birds before it closes the feed door. It works good,but I still like to watch them try to climb the greased poll.
Wayne

[sacherjj]

I don't know about the ultrasonics. But, there is a company out there that sells squirrel resistant bird feederd, Droll Yankees. http://www.drollyankees.com/

My parents have one and, when the battery is charged, it works well. They have the flipper, which starts spinning the perch when too much weight is on it. They also have a couple of other models. In stores that sell the feeders, they sometimes have a video playing demonstrating them, which is very amusing to watch. (http://www.yankeeflipper.com/droll/index.cfm)

That is hilarious. I wish we had more squirrels around. This would be great to get for my parent's place, because the niece and nephews would have a ball with it. I just wonder how often you have to charge it.

[tuttlejr]

Squirells do eat bird's eggs.

[mschrank]

The best way I've found is to set up a separate feeder for the squirrels. Unless you want to keep them away for other reasons, I'd suggest putting up a squirrel feeder stocked with something they like better than birdseed (I use nuts).

Ever since I did that, they don't touch the birdfeeder. Plus, I think the squirrels are more fun to watch than the birds.

[Russianwolf]

I'm with Mike on this one. I've never met anyone with a 100% success rate on stopping them. They are pretty good problem solvers. But if you give them an easy source of food they like, they won't feel the need to bother the bird feed.

We do the same thing with deer. We have some neighbors that were complaining about how the deer were eating all their flowers and shrubs. We noticed alittle damage and started putting out deer corn in one of our beds. Now we have about 8 or 9 that show up on a regular basis, but they eat the corn and apple we put out for them and leave the things we don't want to be destroyed alone. LOML loves watching them and the corn and apples are cheaper than the birdfeed. They only come around during the colder months so it's no big deal.

Last night she noticed a rabbit checking out the corn and now she's decided to put out some carrots for him. Before long we'll be opening our new petting zoo.

[Russianwolf]

Squirells do eat bird's eggs.

Sorry, but that's nature. I don't get mad at killer whales when they eat seals, or when a cat eats a mouse. It's what they do.

[mudder]

Truth be told, I’m going to become that crazy man you see at the park talking to the squirrels. I sit out in my back yard even in the freezing cold and hand feed my squirrels. There are six different furry little critters that come and visit me every time I’m out. I always have feed out for my friends and they never bother my bird feeders. I have a feeder that looks like a pinwheel and when loaded with 4 ears of corn I can sit for hours and watch those little buggers. I have another one that is kind of like a bungee cord and to watch them bounce on the cord and get shot across the yard if they lose their grip is amusing. I have had 4 of them on my lap at once eating peanuts. They trust that I will not hurt them; therefore they do not hurt me. Currently my medical condition limits my shop time severely. There are days that I wake up and can barely see. Other days I have headaches that are pretty severe but my little friends don’t care, they do their best to make me smile and they succeed. There is an experimental surgery that is being perfected and I might be qualified to be one of eight people to have a chance for a better quality of life as early as this spring.

I guess my random babbling is trying to make the point that you probably will not get rid of them completely so you might want to set up a separate area for them and it they are fed they just might leave your feeders alone and provide you with a little amusement to boot.