Photog Vs. Squirrel

O'Rork · Feb 4, 2013

In the beginning I hung the bird feeder from the hook on the eave of the garage. The squirrel simply climbed the corner of the garage and leaped onto the feeder.

Then I strung a yellow, nylon cord from the garage to a standing post some 20 feet away and moved the feeder beyond his jumping range. The squirrel again climbed the garage and this time he chewed through the cord and dropped the whole mess to the ground.

Then I attached a wire hanger to each end of the cord. For days the rodent was baffled. He didn't dare climb out the wire and chew through the cord as he would plummet.

Today I watched the vermin climb the garage and traverse the wire/cord, hand over hand like some mountain ranger and scored the prize.

Googled squirrel proof bird feeder and came upon a cheap solution. I needed a spinner to stop this acrobat. So off to the hardware store for some rust free wire. I retrieved a couple plastic soda bottles from the refuse and passed the wire through them.

Lets see how long, if ever, he can figure out how to defeat this system.

Hey, at least I'm getting better at polishing RAW files.

Tony S · Feb 4, 2013

Would have been a way better story with a picture of the squirrel. :albino:

sm4him · Feb 4, 2013

I give it less than a week before that squirrel gets to the feeder. :lol:

Light Guru · Feb 4, 2013

Quit trying to stop him and have some fun with it.

O'Rork · Feb 5, 2013

Well the enemy rodent hasn't figured out a way to get to the feeder yet. But I did load a birch feeder with peanut butter and put it in his realm. Seems this pecker likes that too.

Fatso appears content to graze on his mess from yesterday.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Mully · Feb 5, 2013

Light Guru.... great video ...very talented squirrel ...bet he learned that in one day

Light Guru · Feb 5, 2013

Mully said:
Light Guru.... great video ...very talented squirrel ...bet he learned that in one day

And once things warm up you can teach him to water ski.

WesternGuy · Feb 6, 2013

O'Rork, interesting tale of your "combat" with this furry critter. It never ceases to amaze me how "creative" they can be in the search for food. I am sure this will be an ongoing story. Keep us informed.

WesternGuy

O'Rork · Feb 9, 2013

Two more days to complete a week since the new spinners were put on the bird feeder wire. The vermin have studied it and scratched their little heads, but have yet to attempt to traverse the spinners. The seed level in the feeder has only dropped 2 of its' 6 inch capacity since filled on the 4th.

sm4him said:
I give it less than a week before that squirrel gets to the feeder.

pgriz · Feb 9, 2013

There's time. It just wasn't that hungry.

480sparky · Feb 9, 2013

If you really want to drive a squirrel crazy, buy a coconut. Drill a ½" hole in it and toss it on the ground.

They know it's food, and watching 'em try to open one is hilarious!

ceeboy14 · Feb 9, 2013

Same thing can be said for a man...put him on a sand island with one coconut palm and no tools and watch him go crazy because he knows there's food in those nuts...hey, now there's a real hoot.

mishele · Feb 9, 2013

That video was awesome...lol

O'Rork · Feb 10, 2013

Earlier today he went for the feeder. I got to the camera in time to get it turned on and set the shutter speed to the meter. Then I captured this. SOOC, raw straight to Jpeg, sized down. D600, 70-200 2.8 VR @ 95mm, 1/40, F4, ISO 100. I like the IQ on this one. Shot through a B+W 010 UV-Haze 1x and 2 panes of sliding door glass.

No sooner had I snapped this one he fell off the garage, FOILED! Too bad The D600 was set to single shot, because when his butt hit the ground, the neighbors big yellow cat was on it! The chase was on before I could compose a thing. I really want to catch him while he's on the wire trying the bottle spinner.