Squirrels running riot

Design Bod

Is there anything we can put around our tree bases, other than metal, to 
deter tenacious squirrels getting up to constantly empty the bird feeders?

Lyn

We find squirrel proof bird feeders work. 

Hostafan1

a steady hand and an air rifle.? Just a thought.

Bobby Spray

Buy yourself a fenn trap and learn he laws on how to use it. pretty simple and very effective.

Blue Onion

My aunt has one that shuts down when there is too much weight on the feeder, that has proven fairly squirrel proof.  They still hang out and eat up the scraps from the ground.. but better them than rats. 
Something like this one: http://www.birdfeedersspot.com/bird-feeders-reviews/squirrel-buster-wild-bird-feeder.html

The_herpetologist

You could always make your own squirrelproof bird feeder like I did....

Blue Onion

West Yorks certainly has some funny looking birds.

treehugger80

the hottest chili powder you can find mixed in with the seeds, birds are totally unaffected, but squirrels take one bite and don't come back

Lizzie27

Blue Onion is right. The squirrel proof feeders with the drop down metal shutters (triggered by the squirrel's weight) are the only ones that work for us - expensive but worth it. They are also very easy to clean which is a bonus. A company called "homegar" sell them online. You do have to make sure that there are no branches within a squirrels reach of the bird feeder though.

Design Bod

Thanks All. I think squirrel-proof feeders are the way to go. Have ordered a couple of 'Squirrel Busters' which hopefully will do the trick!