opossums, like squirrels, are masters of practical physics. i had to move a pole holding a windmill that one smarty pants was using as a launcher to fly to the feeder that's protected by a no go cone.
i'm telling you.
there's also an engineer who keeps finding ways to dismantle the clamp holding the cone. i finally put one of those metal wire suet holders around it, tightly hooked.
we're gonna see how he deals with that 🤣
i just watched the engineer take a look at the new challenge. after fighting it for awhile
he tried going under the cone by reaching upside down while hanging onto the suet holder with his hind feet
i assume
because i saw the underside of his chin emerge beyond the cone
just before he fell off when trying to reach the feeder with his front paws.
i may have to lower the cone a couple inches to make that move impossible to accomplish.
they should make these cones transparent 🤣🤣🤣
@holon42 don't threaten them w/ a good time. you know they're going to take you up on it. 😉
i know. birds love drama, squirrels love puzzle challenges.
were are co-evolving 🤣🤣🤣
and i think they're actually winning
i mean, i do continue to feed them, eh🤔
actually, birds love puzzle challenges too. especially ones involving acrobatics, which squirrels are pretty adept at as well.
really, we are outmatched.
@holon42 I have found these bird feeders to be squirrel-proof.
Brome Squirrel Busters
I have three. This year, I want to get the suet feeder.
yes, but they replace with free shipping included any parts that wear out or break, forever.
i've had quite a few parts replaced since 2016 when i bought them. squirrel damage, worn parts from usage, etc.
it's worth the premium.
yes, i have 4 of those, but this year i thought i'd try their tube solution, which the birds love, but the squirrels can also get enough seed out of those beak shaped recesses to make it worthwhile,
hence the need for the cone.
but also, there's a weight lifter too, who was lifting another entire large feeder full of seeds right off the hook and dropping it down to the ground where they all could access it.
i had to put something over the hook so he can't do that anymore.
@holon42 I had a raccoon knock a feeder off a hook, then he rolled it around on the ground so the seed and nuts would fall out! I had to come up with a solution to that.
*be smarter than a raccoon* O_O
Instead of long hooks over the tree limbs, I made up lengths of thin cable with loops on the ends. Used carabiners to hook them together and hook the feeders to the cable. Cable is too thin for the raccoons to climb! Been safe ever since.
your solution sounds good. i have a feeder rack and a shepherd's hook.
around here raccoons piggy back to reach the feeders, so i take them in at night. they were taking them down from the feeder rack as you described, and sometimes they stole the parts too.
@holon42. AH!
I suspended my feeders from tree limbs. There's a big old Norway Spruce in the back yard that's been trimmed up pretty high. I use that as my bird feeder place.
here's some photos of the cone and what i've had to come up with to try to keep the engineer unit from dismantling it.
it's been through numerous incarnations and so far he's found ways to bring it down.
the closeup shows the vulnerable plastic holders, hard plastic
but not hard enough 😱
so, we'll see if this suet holder keeps the teeth at bay🤣