Here’s the culprit:
Well then, I’d have to blame Scruloose for squeezing a goat into a squirrel proof feeder.
Looking at the pictures, I might actually vote more for racoon–though I was’t aware that they were all that strong. With a bear, I would expect the thing to not just be torn off of its brackets, but to be fairly well deformed. That the device is still pretty much in it’s old form except for the tabs makes me think that it would have been pulled instead of knocked down.
That’s one of my big reasons.
There are several websites with eyewitness accounts from people who have seen teenagers in Maine. There was even this one guy who was able to get several minutes’ worth of out-of-focus video footage of what appears to be a teenager.
Yes, but if there ARE teenagers about ,why are there no skeletal remains? No fossils? No campsites with half-devoured pizzas and such?
I have nothing to add in terms of the guesses about which critter was responsible.
Just a mild point to add… when you’re talking about metal bars or fittings, the strength needed to bend something out of shape can be far less than the strength needed to straighten it again. This was the basis for an old sideshow ‘strong man’ stunt or trick. Performer shows a moderately thick steel or iron bar. Puts a bend in it, with much fake display of strength. Then passes it out challenging anyone to straighten it again. In point of fact, the bending would only require a fraction of the strength it would take to straighten it again.
Teenages? Sheesh.
:: Puts on tinfoil hat ::
Usually, when something breaks into a squirrel-proof birdfeeder, the culprit is a squirrel. The MO doesn’t quite seem to indicate that here, but squirrels can be mighty resourceful at getting into them. Heck, I wouldn’t put it past a squirrel to pile stones on top of the feeder until it collapsed from the weight, or somthing of the sort.
Heck, I wouldn’t put it past a squirrel to hire the bears as “muscle”.
How big are your squirrels? Perhaps it was a rodent of unusual size.
[Mainer]
Ayup, little known fact abaht Maine - not only ah billboards outlahwed, but so are the teenagahs.
Ayup.
[/M]
OK, I supposed I deserved that, and should have clarified that I haven’t seen any teenagers around this subdivision. I’m pretty sure I saw one once at a McDonalds in Portland though.
Yes, it’s all starting to make sense now. Notice the squirrel in this pic. Notice how he’s not looking up at the feeder, but down - where he thought it was supposed to be!
Yes. It’s time to bring Mr. “Squirrel” in for some questioning. :dubious: