Quote Originally Posted by Galena View Post
Mike, what kind of lids are you using? The metal ones have a gap in them so they fit around the spigot, but if you're using plastic lids,I think they cover the whole surface area and the spigot too. Just don't know if you want the lids flipped up, you'll get bark and bugs and possibly critters in there too. Tales of squirrels found drowned in sap pails are common. (And if that ever does happen...dump that sap and give the pail a really good cleaning before putting it back into use.)

And don't worry I'm in the same boat as you, only my smallest trees, the bush maples, are doing any real work, the big trees are still pretty froze up.
Lids do not offer any protection against squirrels - just give them shelter while they sip.

Several years ago - I did an experiment using 1/2 metal and 1/2 plastic taps - the plastic taps do take more time to thaw in the morning and appear not to give sap while metal ones are - but over the season there was no noticeable difference in the quantity of sap between the two. Repeated the experiment the next year with the same results - then switched 100% to plastic taps for the reduced hole size and faster healing.