Squirrel Victory

December 6, 2013



I am a beaten, defeated woman. The squirrels have taken over my yard. In fact, I have even stooped to feeding them. I bought dried corn to nourish them. I have had a long talk with them about the fact that I am on their side as long as they don't hang upside down from my bird feeders and eat all the seed. I put the corn out ever day and even some bird seed that they can reach without ravaging the feeders. And for the most part it works. But every once in a while I find one of them joyously feasting from the feeders.


I am ashamed to admit that I have been known to run outside screaming like a lunatic and threatening to purchase a BB gun. Probably the reason I don't have a pistol permit. Although the squirrels would be far down on my list of targets. Anyway, it is mostly working. My cardinal couple is back and the rodents seem happy with the corn.


But today I was looking in the Agway brochure. Did you know they have deer food?!!! Do I have to feed them as well? They eat my crab apples, shrubs and tulip bulbs. Do I really want to attract them to my back yard? But they are beautiful to look at through my window. Especially when there is a soft dusting of snow on the ground. Delicate and serene. So maybe I will consider feeding them as well. Does that put me in the "crazy lady" category?

If You Can't Beat Them....

December 12, 2012



A continuation of my battle with the squirrels. I decided to take Hilary's advice and feed the squirrels. I put out food for them at ground level with the understanding that they would leave the bird feeder alone. I had a very long talk with them and I thought we understood each other.

For a while all was well. They ate their food and the birds flocked to my feeder. I watched them from my kitchen window. It was lovely. My cardinal couple came everyday.  I felt like Snow White without the dwarfs. But that's a story for another day.

But then I looked out and saw a squirrel climb over the baffle and hang upside down eating out of the feeder!!! I went running out there to chase it away. I was disappointed that they had broken the very good deal I gave them. I had no choice but to spray the pole and the feeder with olive oil. I went back inside and watched that rodent run up the pole and slide all the way back down. Hysterical.

So for now there is a truce. I will continue to put out food for all of them, occasionally spray the pole and enjoy the scene. It has been my experience however that these creatures always outwit me. I hope not. I don't want to have to resort to any weapon more drastic than olive oil.

Mr. and Mrs. Redbird

October 23, 2012



One thing I was determined not to relinquish was my bird feeders. Although I was not the one to maintain them I love looking at the birds. My particular favorite is my cardinal couple. They are here all year long but in the winter with the snow in the background they are spectacular.

The male is of course the bright red of the couple. The female is a reddish brown so she is not so visible to predators. The male feeds the female during courtship and she makes the nest and of course has the babies. Just like humans. But unlike humans, cardinals mate for life. It makes me sort of happy to know that at least some birds can be faithful and trustworthy. The human race should take note.

Now if I can only figure out how to outwit the damn squirrels. I have moved the bird feeder three times, bought a squirrel baffle and new poles. But they STILL get to the feeders. This weekend I decided to put out food just for them and thought I had the problem solved. But I left a 25 lb bag of sunflower seeds in the garage with the door open and guess who nibbled through the bag and was in my garage cheerfully eating away? My nemesis, the squirrel! Oh well. Maybe I should just learn to live them.