i see people around here use the joints of stove pipe that you wrap around the pole and they snap together. then they take large hose clamps and put one above and one below and drill a hole in two sides of the pipe use tie or bailing wire to each hole and to the hose clamps

I managed to use a bowl type baffle on a pole (not a shepherd's hook). You just need to keep it high enough so that the squirrels can't jump up on it. I reinforce the center with some metal after I find squirrels trying to chew through the middle.

For shepherd's hook, I have seen a metal cone that's opened on the side so you can insert it and wrap it around a pole. The problem is that they also need to be place high enough so that squirrels can't jump on it, so if your hook is short then it won't work.

Another simple idea would be to use a upside down plastic bucket. You can probably cut out the side so you can insert it. The bucket would too wide for the squirrel to get their paws around.

Paul

THANKS for the advice and information so far. I read somewhere the idea of using a plastic slinky on the main pole, with the thought that the squirrels cannot get the traction needed to climb the pole. May be worth a shot in that I can pick those up cheaply at the dollar stores.

Hmmm.. I never tried the slinky idea, but from what I read, it should work. However, one squirrel did defeat it by pushing it up with his nose.

But I thought the reason you didn't install a torpedo style baffle is because you can fit though the middle. How will you get the slinky in there?

Paul

Well, I was hoping that since the slinky is actually just twisted plastic/steel, it actually has an opening at each end where the plastic/steel ends. I would open up the end and start twisting until it is wrapped around the pole (I still have the problem of attaching it to the pole though). I think this would work similar to how I attach keys to a key ring. The stove pipe would work similar to the predator guard on bluebird houses and I am also looking into the metal cones.