We have several feeders at our house and feed the birds all summer long. For a number of years we didn’t have any squirrels. I think our dogs kept them away, but now that they are getting old, the squirrels have returned. We decided not to try to fight them, but have provided them with feeders of their own. As long as they are kept full of corn or sunflower seeds, the squirrels tend not to destroy the bird feeders. My husband hung this cricket bucket on a hanger and as you can see it gets visited frequently. (I think this one was laughing at the dogs lying on the deck watching him.)