We found out the hard way that bears aren't in hibernation yet. Yesterday morning I looked out the kitchen window and noticed that a woodpecker was going from post to post at the clothesline (where I hang up birdfeeders in the back yard). I knew what he was looking for, a suet feeder, but it wasn't there - it was on the ground, empty. I had filled it just a couple of days ago with 3 cakes of suet. A seed cake feeder was on the ground and empty too (which had also had almost a full, large cake of seed), The only thing left alone back there was the thistle feeder.
Just out of curiousity, I looked out to the feeders in front. Any time feeders have been hit by a bear, the front feeders have been left alone. Not this time. One of two suet feeders was gone and the squirrel-proof feeder was on the ground.
Upon further investigation (and taking out a cake of suet to the poor woodpecker out back), the wire suet/cake feeders from out back were salvageable. I just had to replace some s-hookes and we were back in business. The wire feeders usually fare well when a bear gets them because the hanging chain breaks easily, which releases the top, making it easy for the bear to get t the contents.
The feeders out front did not fare so well. The suet feeder was a simple wood and wire feeder, but the chain keeps the wood top from being pulled off by squirrels, and the bear just got frustrated and ripped the wood off (parts of that feeder were under the tree it hung from, and parts were over by the well). That feeder will need replaced. The other suet feeder is fine, and was never damaged (which I figure only remains because the chain was looped over a small branch that would give a lot while the bear was pulling, which would keep the chain from breaking).
The mixed seed, squirrel-proof feeder was the biggest loss. It is the most expensive feeder I have ever bought, and it has been well worth the money. Squirrels can't get the lid off, and their weight closes the feeder openings. The heavy-guage steel keeps squirrels from chewing their way in. It has a large holding capacity so when I fill it, the seed usually last 5-6 days. The bear couldn't figure out how to get the top open either, so he pulled the side out in a "V" shape to get to the seed.
So, during the dump run yesterday, we stopped at Agway and got another squirrel-proof feeder. I will not be setting that out until I'm sure the bears are asleep for the winter. I also got a No-No feeder for use until then. I was lucky too, Agway was having a one-day sale for 25% off feeders.
So, The backyard feeders just consist of a thistle feeder and one suet feeder which I brought in last night and will put out again in a little while). The cake feeder will not go back out for a couple of weeks. The front feeders consist of the No-No feeder (to be replaced by the mixed seed feeder in a couple of weeks) and the remaining suet feeder. There is also the mixed feeder over by WS's shed (inside the fenced area so it is safe from bears).
Hopefully this was the bear's "desert" before he goes into hibernation.
You and WS really treat your birds well. Great! I'm glad that we needn't cope with bears in our bird feeding. Your dad filled the feeders for the first time this season, late yesterday. Just checked and it appears that they've not yet been discovered. We had a "No-No" feeder for a short while a couple of years ago. The sunflower seeds came out of it like a sieve, and the raccoons just shook the seeds out. How do you keep the seed from falling out? If it's still around, I'll ship it to you sometime--when there is something else to be mailed.
Posted by: Cop Car | December 04, 2005 at 09:16 AM
This is the first no-no feeder I've ever had. I have no idea about the seed being shaken out.
Posted by: bogie | December 05, 2005 at 03:48 AM
We do well with the squirrel-proof feeder, but an occasional crop of raccoons will figure out how to hang from one side while they shovel seed into their mouths from the other side. This year's marauders don't seem to have figured it out yet, so the seed lasts us a couple of days.
We haven't had any luck with the No-No feeders. The raccoons can disable them in a hearbeat.
Posted by: buffy | December 12, 2005 at 09:15 PM
Buffy--I had forgotten, but you are correct. Our racoons just opened the door at the top and dived in, too.
Posted by: Cop Car | December 13, 2005 at 09:59 AM