Last time we were home, Travis' parents told us their secret for keeping squirrels off their bird feeders. When I was growing up, my grandma would grease the bird feeder poles, so the squirrels had a hard time climbing them. I remember watching them scramble up a little ways and
sliiiiiide right back down. While it was an entertaining thing to watch, there were still a few highly skilled rascals that made it up. This solution also required regular "greasings"...not much fun.
Terry and Jenny's solution started in their toy box. Are you ready?? It's...a slinky. Yep! Check out what they did!
The solution was as simple as dangling a slinky from the top of the string or pole, so it hangs down the length. When a squirrel grabs on to climb up, the slinky stretches and sends the squirrel right back to the ground. No traction on the pole = no reaching the yummy seeds!
Hope it works as well for you as it has for them!