Nature Done Wright

November 2, 2017

My New Column: All about Suet

My latest column for The Record provides the answers to the 10 most pressing questions about suet. Theoretically.

The link is here. (Photo by Susan McTigue. Thanks, Susan!)

Elizabeth Cieri

9 years ago Reply

Jim, I found your column on suet interesting; there are several responses that I would like to enhance with my own experiences.
Regarding suet going bad, yes, it can. I had several sleeves of suet packets in my house next to the deck where I feed my birds. Having kept them over the summer, I found with the natural heat of the season,the mealworms which may be be part of the ingredients began to emerge, and there was a flurry of gray flying bugs that were annoying. I would recommend as they say on the packaging, store in a cool dry place.
And the most important of all, how does one keep squirrels from eating the suet? Buy hot pepper no melt suet dough. The birds can’t tell the difference, but the squirrels hate it. Although the flavors sound appealing and are much cheaper, unless you want to have all your birds fighting for the goodies with the squirrels, buy the hot pepper variety. I have found them in very few gardening/hardware stores, but most notably at Walmart which I tend NOT to patronize because of their low employee pay and general negative business practices. I hope these additions to your information provide some help to other bird watchers/feeders.
Rene

9 years ago Reply

Thank you Jim. You answered all my questions regarding Suet:

Elizabeth Cieri

9 years ago Reply

Jim, I found your column on suet interesting; there are several responses that I would like to enhance with my own experiences.
Regarding suet going bad, yes, it can. I had several sleeves of suet packets in my house next to the deck where I feed my birds. Having kept them over the summer, I found with the natural heat of the season,the mealworms which may be be part of the ingredients began to emerge, and there was a flurry of gray flying bugs that were annoying. I would recommend as they say on the packaging, store in a cool dry place.
And the most important of all, how does one keep squirrels from eating the suet? Buy hot pepper no melt suet dough. The birds can’t tell the difference, but the squirrels hate it. Although the flavors sound appealing and are much cheaper, unless you want to have all your birds fighting for the goodies with the squirrels, buy the hot pepper variety. I have found them in very few gardening/hardware stores, but most notably at Walmart which I tend NOT to patronize because of their low employee pay and general negative business practices. I hope these additions to your information provide some help to other bird watchers/feeders.
Rene

9 years ago Reply

Thank you Jim. You answered all my questions regarding Suet: