Hi! I've been lurking for over a year and never posted being intimidated 
by my lack of knowledge of birds (but enthusiasm for them)and not wanting 
to violate any posting rules. 

But I do have an experience that I wanted to share regarding disappearing 
suet: 

I also have a green wire suet cage that we 'lock' closed by a bread twisty 
tie that is drained regularly. I had suspected squirrels or flying 
squirrels, but about a month ago we were up at 3 am with my sick daughter 
and found the culprit.

Our neighbor had been leaving their flood lights on and we were able to 
clearly see a huge raccoon on my back deck sampling my suet. He was in no 
hurry and we sat in our darkened family room and watched him for about 1/2 
hour as he nibbled and cleaned out the suet feeder. 

I've been putting out less birdseed more often and less than a full block 
of suet. It does get expensive.

I've got new birdfeeders and christmas birdseed out but have only had the 
regular customers on my deck feeders- house sparrows, junco, mourning 
doves, titmouse, chickadee, goldfinches, downy woodpeckers, and nuthatch. 
A nice little bunch of regulars.
 
Emily Wilberg, Germantown