hummer feeder and a squirrel

[Molebird]

Just purchased a hummingbird/oriole feeder and yesterday found a squirrel wrapped around it sucking the red liquid until there was none left.  Is this normal ?

The one feeder in our backyard I thought would be safe from squirrels was the hummingbird feeder.  Does this happen often to others ?

[Howieh]

You must be from another planet (one that doesn't have squirrels!). Ok, just kidding but squirrels are more resourceful than California politicians, heads of international monetary funds, etc. If you put out food they will eventually find a way to get it. I'm about to suspend a hummingbird feeder from a wire strung from my bird feeder to a tree branch about ten feet off the ground and I'm sure it's just a matter of time before some furry trapeze artist raids it. I'll let you know what happens!

[Molebird]

Thanks for that.  It may be that with their brains and smarts squirrels would make better politicians and IMF heads and would not require $3000 a night hotel rooms.  We put grease on the wire leading to the feeder.  Yesterday the squirrel "slid" down the wire and we found it slumped on top of the hummer feeder not being able to make it back up.  Finally after a lot of contemplation it jumped off (luckily not hurting itself).  I wonder if it will learn and not come back.