In the fall, shortly after placing my bird feeder out on the top of our fire pit wall, we started to get visits from a small red squirrel. At first I was very happy to have this cute little creature running about until…I came out to fill the bird feeder and found this.
The squirrel had decided to use my bird feeder as a storage bin for his pine cones; having some bird seed in there already was just an added bonus.
Thus the battle had begun. Almost every day I go out and clear whatever he has jammed into the hole of the feeder. Some days it is only one pinecone like this and other days he has managed to get three or four pushed into the feeder or various other things.
I tried to move the feeder onto a tree branch that I could still reach. Unfortunately, when filled, it ended up sitting lower than on the other spot. It was knocked to the ground one night by either the deer or the squirrel trying to jump to it. I decided to just put it back where I had it.
I took a picture of all the things he has tried to jam into the bird feeder. There is grass, pinecones, cardboard, rosehips and even part of a wasp nest. We had some cardboard left by the firepit but I am not sure where he found the wasp nest.
He has also collected some mushrooms from the sides of our trees which he has laid out to dry in the sun.
It becomes difficult for the birds too on warmer days as he stays close by guarding his treasure palace scaring the birds away before they can get any birdseed. Some afternoons I lure him farther away with peanuts to let the birds have some feeding time.
If it has been a few days and he has built up quite a stash, when I toss it all on the ground he sits in a nearby tree and lets me know how angry he is. He chatters away incessantly until I go back inside.
We have not had any new snowfall in January so squirrel has created some tunnels for himself in the snow. He goes in a hole in front of me then somehow shows up in a tree behind me.
My encounters with the squirrel reminded me of this Donald Duck clip that I recalled from my childhood. Here is a shortened version of the original. Unlike Donald, I plan to outsmart the squirrel.
Even though his antics frustrate me some days, it is really quite enjoyable to interact with this cute forest friend.
I loved your story about your squirrel. I laughed at the part where he chattered angrily at you for taking his stash out of the feeder! I am that crazy neighbor that is out in the early mornings in my pajamas yelling at the squirrels to get out of my birdfeeders! I love the squirrels and often give them peanuts or an ear of corn on the cob dried to nibble on. Doesn’t matter though…they want that expensive birdseed. I run them off when I can because they gnaw on the feeders and do a lot of damage to them. But I, too, love the squirrels. Just wish they would quit getting into my birdseed!
Oddly enough, it is the birds that are picky with the birdseed. They only want the sunflower seeds and corn. The squirrel eats all the seed they ignore. I guess it is a happy balance that way.
Good story! 😘