Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-38792995-20191122231842/@comment-43508460-20191123120446

The only baffle that has worked for me is the umbrella-shaped collar that goes around the pole, combined with moving the feeder to a spot where they can't leap to it from a tree. I understand a second baffle above the feeder will deflect leapers if there's not an open spot for the feeder.

I had good hopes for a homemade feeder where I strung craft beer bottles on fishing wire and hung them around the pole. The clanking of the glass bottles when they climbed the pole did scare them away for several days, but sadly they soon got used to it. Greasing the pole was also entertaining, but requires too much effort to keep it sufficiently greased. I also tried cayenne in the birdfeed (doesn't affect birds, but makes mammal mouths burn) without noticeable success. They are crafty little critters!