Here are some photos of a squirrel climbing a metal martin pole and gaining access to the martin house. Squirrels are a potential martin predator; they will eat eggs and young. Notice how the squirrel is agile enough to get from the pole to the house. Raccoons are similarly agile, and, just like squirrels, they climb by "hugging" the pole, which means even smooth metal poles are easily climbed. For info. on predator guards, go to http://purplemartin.org/forumarchives/archive/poleguard.htm

These photographs appeared in Purple Martin Update 4(2). p.12 and were taken by D. Trinter, a PMCA landlord from OH.