[.ca] Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Stratagems to Reduce ... (ISBN 1556523025)

Serious approaches, humorously written:
I wish I had known about this book two years ago. Mr. Adler provides insight into the single-minded focus of these furry creatures and their expensive impact on attempts to fill the backyard with a variety of colorful birds. Be sure to read the section on Nixalite. If only Bill Adler could be convinced to write a book on squirrels and their egregious misappropriation of the attic.

One thing works for sure, cayenne pepper in bird food:
I bought the book but only one strategy has kept the squirrels out of the feeder, bird food with cpasicum pepper pre mixed. Those that say capsicum doesn't work are using only a recipe amount for human consumption which isn't enough. Buy the capsicum laced food and the birds will feed and you won't have to modify your feeder. People have asked us regarding the safety of mixing capsaicin in with the bird seed to repell squirrels from eating the seed. Here is one reply from a couple of scientists. "I asked Russ Mason, an expert on chemical repellents, whether birds are affected by capsaicin. Here's his reply: "No--the ethmoid branch of the trigeminal nerve innervates the eyes, nose, and oral cavity. This is the nerve responsible for mediation of chemical irritation. There is no evidence that birds code capsaicin (red pepper) as an irritant at concentrations as high as 20,000 ppm (the hottest chili is about 2,000 ppm). Mammals like squirrels (rats, mice) reject capsicum concentrations as low as 1-10 ppm." In other words, birds are insensitive to red pepper, period. They could be irritated by excessive dust, however. Robert H. Schmidt, Associate Professor, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Utah State University, Logan UT 84322-5210"

Inadvertantly increased my appreciation for squirrels:
I really enjoyed this extremely humorous book. After reading it, any failure on any birder's part to get rid of his sleek, well-fed squirrels is understandable. They're great athletes, motivated and social to boot. It is great stocking stuffer for your squirrel-obsessed birder spouse or friends!

Extremely funny but helpful with practical ideas and advice:
As I was standing at my double patio doors with my nose pressed to the window watching the squirrels raiding my bird feeders, I became so agitated I abruptly jerked the door open to scare them off and banged myself in the mouth with my door. I decided at that moment to wage war. Although I haven't won yet, the book offers good advice on how I can get revenge without doing bodily injury to the little monsters.

A definite stocking-stuffer for any birding friends:
There are some books that you just HAVE to have - if only because the topic they're on is so funny. This is one of those! Not only that, but it actually is handy for birders, in a practical way. Whether you like or don't like squirrels, you have to account for them when you're trying to feed birds. Otherwise your birds end up with no food and you have many fat squirrels running around. This book gives you ways to handle this situation whether you mind the squirrels, or just want them to be in their own area. It rates various feeders, complete with photos, showing you the drawbacks and benefits of each one. It talks about different kids of food, and different ways you can work with them to make them bird-only. It gives you ways to distract the squirrels. And it's REALLY funny! A must-buy for any birder on your present list, and tuck one into your own stocking, too.