We have the mini model, lightest one in the kit, and now after hanging we're finding it on the ground. Whatevers doing it has figured out a way to get it to unhook from the J-Hook that is "covered" and knock the whole thing down.

So either some smart tree rats have figured out how to get it down, or, it could be a racoon, don't have a game camera on the tree, might have to do that to see what critter is unhooking the thing.

We use the hot seed feed and I'm not seeing a pile of it on the ground so whatever is doing it is eating it all. Brome has suggested an additional spring to keep the J hook cover down, so I'll do that and see if it helps.

I had a problem last fall and it turned out to be a black bear!

Purchase a trail camera and point it at the feeder. The GardePro E5S gets good reviews for a trail cam w/o cellular and w/o WiFi.

It'll be easier to solve your issue if you see how they're unhooking it. Between seed loss and possibility of a broken feeder the camera should pay for itself quickly.

Why I bring in the feeders as soon as the weather warms up.

~10 feet from my living room window.

Had a Fisher raiding one of our feeders recently, first time I ever saw one up close. Also counted 8 squirrels this morning trying to come up with teamwork to tear a feeder down.

I never had any problem with my "squirrel proof" feeder being knocked down but One of those buggers figured out if he crawled along the side and kept his back fee on the counter balance on the back it would not close the flap which was supposed to cover the ffed trough. Little son of a gun would eat his fill and I supposed store some of the seeds elsewhere.
I see that I need to replace the perch bar as it is hanging from one end now. Something to do before Fall.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Purchase a trail camera and point it at the feeder. The GardePro E5S gets good reviews for a trail cam w/o cellular and w/o WiFi.

It'll be easier to solve your issue if you see how they're unhooking it. Between seed loss and possibility of a broken feeder the camera should pay for itself quickly.

That is a good idea, I see they have a wifi model for a few dollars more, would be good to have lazy-boy access to the feed....


Another SF money spending idea! LOL


Link WiFi unit

I have considered buying one of these several times. Then I read about enough failures that it’s hard to justify the price. For those that own them, do you regret it?

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Another SF money spending idea! LOL

My first Squirrel Buster lasted 10 years. Deer would lick it, several times Black Bears knocked it down and carried it down into the woods and it withstood many attacks by both Gray and Red Squirrels. Chipmunks too. It finally failed when something (possibly a bear) tore off its perches. My newer one is 2 years old and going strong. It currently supports many, many Chickadees, Nuthatches, Blue Jays and small Woodpeckers. The squirrels and rabbits stay underneath it and eat the seed the birds drop. I even have Flying Squirrels that come to it. Its not just a feeder its an ecosystem for many animals. Its pricey but it works great for me. I feed black oil sunflower seed year round and Safflower in warm weather.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
I have considered buying one of these several times. Then I read about enough failures that it’s hard to justify the price. For those that own them, do you regret it?

No it's been good for many years, just something in the past year has decided it's a great place to dine and dash. We live on a golf course so dressing up in a ghillie suit and arming myself with the AK47 would be frowned upon.

Camera would let me ID the thief and determine a course of action, which is likely, move it or put it up.

We don't get a lot of bear activity but it's been reported, likely a raccoon

There goes another $100+
I might make up for that in seed though. The squirrels around here eat pretty well.

PS: It might remain that way, minus a Squirrel Buster Feeder, unless I catch those tree rats sniffing around my shed or house. In that case I’ll have to go all Trump on them. Again.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 400m,