there was one squirrel that developed a taste for it. It defeated every baffle and once it hung on to the feeder, I could swear I heard a giant sucking sound as it literally inhaled copious quantities.

Then there was another squirrel - then there was another one - you get the idea.

Finally found a better baffle from Audobon. Not a cylindrical one (those failed me). Precise measurement from the ground was critical. Success at last.

Good luck.

He once actually fashioned a fishing pole with a drilled through nut on the end. The squirrel broke the Tess line and made off with the nut.

Thanks. I'll let him know.

The kind of plastic cover that comes on store bought cakes.

I came up with this idea, out of frustration, about 5 years ago, but never thought it would work. Surprisingly, I haven't had a problem with the squirrels, ever since. The pine needles are so dense and sharp, I have to wear gloves to take the feeder down for refilling.

However, being a realist, I also have no doubt that they will, someday, conquer it.

Crisco. It was funny as hell and they never got up. sometimes just under the feeder but when they had to reach up to the feeder to get a grip it was fast slide down. I knew the Crisco would not harm them so on the pole it went. You do have to keep applying it but Crisco is cheap and goes for a long time. Cheap entertainment.

Seriously, I don't think that's a problem. Blend was developed by a bunch of "treehuggers" that are committed to care of birds in an aviary.

I'll ask, but I doubt there is any chance it's harmful to the birds.

Only issue is that there are some hawks that hang around.

I did this once and found a small dead squirrel near my bird feeder. I felt so awful about it I never did it again. Now I just feed whoever. The squirrels don't eat that much and I give them peanuts too. The birds still get the bulk of the bird food.

It was called "Daylight Robbery."