How to keep squirrels out of flicker boxes? (1 Viewer)

M

mtnlvrs

New member

• Feb 23, 2005

• #1

Any ideas for keeping squirrels from taking over flicker boxes? Each year I clean the boxes, fill them with sawdust and cover the hole with a wooden slat.
The flickers excavate and things look good. Then the @#$%^ squirrels move in, rousting the flickres. I have done this 2-3 times in a spring, only to have the same result.

Any good ideas for preventing this would be appreciated!

 

D

dampflippers

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2005

• #2

...What is a flicker? I don't think w have them in the UK.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Feb 23, 2005

• #3

dampflippers said:

...What is a flicker? I don't think w have them in the UK.

Click to expand...

American equivalent of Green Woodpecker.

As to how to keep squirrels out, try fitting a metal plate over the hole, large enough to let the flickes in, but too small to let the squirrels in.

 

M

mtnlvrs

New member

• Feb 23, 2005

• #4

dampflippers said:

...What is a flicker? I don't think w have them in the UK.

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The common flicker is a 12-14" woodpecker found all over the States. They prefer a 2 1/2" box opening, which unfortunately is the perfect size for squirrels too :C

 

A

amasara

amasara

• Feb 24, 2005

• #5

You might try smearing hot pepper suet around the opening - I've used it all winter with great results - if they do try it they don't come back and it doesn't bother the birds!

 

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

• Feb 24, 2005

• #6

amasara said:

You might try smearing hot pepper suet around the opening - I've used it all winter with great results - if they do try it they don't come back and it doesn't bother the birds!

Click to expand...

amasara,

Sounds great. How do you prepare hot pepper suet? Or, can it be purchased somewhere?

Thanks,
elkcub

 

R

Red Tails Rock

Active member

• Feb 24, 2005

• #7

Just fill it in with cement.

 

timmyjones

Well-known member

• Feb 24, 2005

• #8

to prepare hot chilliy peper sue just get a load of suet melt it and mix in some chilli peper powder simple as them take the nestboxes down and smear on

 

A

amasara

amasara

• Feb 24, 2005

• #9

I buy my suet at the local feed store - Tractor Supply Co. here in Ohio - it's twice as expensive $1.94 but goes 5x further!!

 

greenbill

Member

• Feb 24, 2005

• #10

mtnlvrs said:

Any ideas for keeping squirrels from taking over flicker boxes? Each year I clean the boxes, fill them with sawdust and cover the hole with a wooden slat.
The flickers excavate and things look good. Then the @#$%^ squirrels move in, rousting the flickres. I have done this 2-3 times in a spring, only to have the same result.

Any good ideas for preventing this would be appreciated!

Click to expand...

I've seen birdhouses with a tube (3" long or more) over the hole to try to prevent mammals from entering.

This interests me since I placed a house intended for flickers this winter. Its probably over 15' high and I filled it with sawdust. Flickers were common in the neighborhood several years ago, but I haven't seen any lately :C . No excavation yet.

 

Last edited: Feb 24, 2005

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

• Feb 25, 2005

• #11

Red Tails Rock said:

Just fill it in with cement.

Click to expand...

I see where the ROCK comes from, Red Tails.

 

B

BlueJaybob

Well-known member

• Mar 24, 2005

• #12

Use fox urine. Put it all around the box and on it.... It will realy work.

 

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

• Mar 24, 2005

• #13

BlueJaybob said:

Use fox urine. Put it all around the box and on it.... It will realy work.

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I'll bite. Do you squeeze it like toothpaste?
:eek!:

 

A

amasara

amasara

• Mar 24, 2005

• #14

BlueJaybob said:

Use fox urine. Put it all around the box and on it.... It will realy work.

Click to expand...

Seriously, how do you catch the fox?

 

C

cavan wood

Well-known member

• Mar 24, 2005

• #15

amasara said:

Seriously, how do you catch the fox?

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You order fox urine through a trapper's/hunter's supply store. Try the internet or the phone book. Or ask a trapper if you happen to know any.

Don't spill it....it reeks.

Scott

 

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

• Mar 25, 2005

• #16

cavan wood said:

You order fox urine through a trapper's/hunter's supply store. Try the internet or the phone book. Or ask a trapper if you happen to know any.

Don't spill it....it reeks.

Scott

Click to expand...

I'm NOT going to ask how they get it to urinate. Let's rethink. What's wrong with squirrels?

-elk

 

Chigrl

What she was to gorillas, I am to chihuahuas

• Mar 26, 2005

• #17

If it is on a pole, you could fashion a plastic bowl or one of those huge e-collars for big dogs just under the box facing the ground so the squirrels cannot climb up it. If it's in a tree, I'm afraid you're out of luck, unless you want to reach inside the nest and pull the squirrels out yourself. Not sure they'll return if you do that.