Question on how to keep chipmunks away and still feed squirrels

[LilLulu]

I'm not sure if this is in the correct area, but a friend of mine that enjoys feeding the squirrels, is getting cleaned out by the chipmunks. ..does anyone have any ideas on how to help with this issue?
Thanks Guys!!

[DaSquirrelMom]

I am anxiously watching this thread for answers. lol

My outdoor squirrels awaken at 7:15 am after I sing out "squirrelies" for 5 minutes. (I wear my pajamas, have Einstein bedhair, and hobble from arthritis at this early time of the morning, so my neighbors are certain I'm insane.) I give them their free breakfast AFTER they come to the feeders or the chipmunks would quickly take all of it. After their free breakfast, they go back to bed and snooze alllllllllll day. I put a free dinner out around 6:00 pm (in the summer). If they are out of bed, they come to get it, but more often than not, the very industrious, non-napping chipmunks take every bit of it.

Last summer there was a large black snake that resided under my hot tub. I forced it to leave on 4 occasions, but it kept returning. My chipmunk population was very small at that time. (I live on the edge of a large forest. It wouldn't help chipmunks to trap and relocate one snake.)

[Lighten-Up]

I don't have an answer, I am just another who has had the same experience. Since I started feeding squirrels, the chipmunks have caught on to this, and frequent the site, though I love them...

I appreciated this line by DaSquirrelMom - "very industrious, non-napping chipmunks take every bit of it" :gigg

That sums it up, while the squirrels sleep, the chipmunks are very industrious, always active, alert, on the go, and industrious...

I will do my own thinking and pondering of this. I do absolutely love chipmunks, but I have seen them use their pouches to clean off the table of stuff intended for the squirrels.

Maybe it will just come down to feeding the squirrels when they are up and active, and not leaving food out for them.

The way I see it, there is always an answer, and often situations make us stretch to think in ways we had not before in order to find an answer that works well. Often I find, the resulting new answer makes a thing much better than what it was prior to the problem.

[TubeDriver]

I am watching this thread to see what answers come up but I think this might be a dilema with no solution other than to buy treats in bulk! :)

[Lighten-Up]

I had that in my mind, I just did not say it. :grin2 My husband scanned the pantry yesterday and said, "It seems that we have more nuts than anything else in here.":grin3


I am watching this thread to see what answers come up but I think this might be a dilema with no solution other than to buy treats in bulk! :)

[Spanky]

I have multiple squirrel feeding stations and the only ones the chippies do not seem to get to are those attached to 6" X 6" posts supporting the deck upper deck. The boxes are mounted a few feet above the railing. I have three of these that I have never seen a chippie getting into. For what it's worth the younger, smaller squirrels seem to have trouble climbing the 6 X 6 posts as well.

When the chippies feed on the upper deck they run back and forth and up and down the stairs (cheeks full!) while the squirrels will gain access from the trees or climbing up the posts.

[Nancy in New York]

I saw this little one from the kitchen window in Owena's cage.
Went outside to get a better shot. (Camera shot :))

I too will be interested to know how to keep chippies away and
still feed squirrels. :tap:grin2

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vXc8m2V/0/M/i-vXc8m2V-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nPL2T7d/0/M/i-nPL2T7d-M.jpg

[DaSquirrelMom]

Oh my gosh! That's a reeeeeeally assertive chipmunk. lol

[JoanneInWis]

Try putting a squirrel baffle on the pole to the bird feeder. Neither squirrels nor chipmunks will be able to climb the pole. Then relocate the pole with baffle and bird feeder close to something that the squirrels can use as a launching pad to jump on the bird feeder roof.

[Bravo]

:yeahthat Perhaps possible that chips are more inclined to search the ground than go climbing to spots that a squirrel would?

[CritterMom]

Well, I feed my squirrels exclusively the peanut butter/oil infused /Mazuri blocks which are in their squirrel cafe. The chippies will come and take a block or two but they EAT them and that is about all a chippie can consume! They seem to understand that they can't be stored, so they don't try to stash them. I actually hide little piles of sunflower seeds in the shrubbery for the chippies to stash!