Fun and frustrating experiences with squirrels in the yard - hogging the birdseeds; methods used to try and prevent that!
Squirrel Stories
As I was reading my beloved large Sunday Advocate newspaper this morning, I was keeping a careful look-out through our adjoining dining room window for those pesky squirrels that come and hog all of the bird seeds meant to be shared with sparrows, blue jays, cardinals and other species that come to our many feeders in the front and backyards. While I certainly do have somewhat of a fondness for those furry critters, they do seem to monopolize on our bird treats and be opportunistic.
Like many others have tried, I’ve used those barriers attached to poles and other means to thwart the critters from overeating what is mainly meant for birds to no avail. One of my friends even suggested that I put one of my favorite spices, cayenne, in with the birdseed as a type of repellent for squirrels, as apparently, birds are not affected by it.
While I’ve held a grudge at times against those furry guys for taking too much away from our flying friends, one of the worst feelings I’ve had occurred after one of them unsuccessfully tried to dart under my car. Even after adjusting my already slow speed as the squirrel appeared to be going in the direction away from my car and towards the sidewalk, it frantically hesitated and shot right into my path and didn’t survive the collision. The St. Francis of Assisi statue in the backyard evokes a true tenderness that I strive to espouse for all of God’s creatures.
Lately, what I’ve devised to scare off squirrels is a simple big dose of water from one of those large pool squirt guns. After I had gotten a few of those soaker toys last year for kids, it became readily apparent as to who really liked them most. When Dana and Richard’s families came for a swim last summer, the adults were using the squinters much more than the youngsters!
So in order to prepare for when the squirrels come to invade the bird feeders, I usually start by having my big two water holder soaker filled and ready to shoot and is placed in a bucket full of water right outside the front door area. This is somewhat of an obscured covered entrance section to the front of our house, so the critters can’t see me when I slowly go out to ambush them.
It is neat how an adjacent bedroom window makes a mirror-like image for the trees that support our bird treat holders, so I can stay incognito and wait for an opportune moment to jump out and give them a good soaking! Usually, I have to unlock the door first and keep it slightly ajar so as to not scare them away from the noise of our old creaking door opening up reverberates.
As my wife laments and laughs when I make these attacks, she wisely notes that I get more of a kick out of this “cat and mouse” game than the complaints that I appear to be making on behalf of the birds losing out on their feed. While our youngest son has also joined me at times in these fun squirrel squirt gun adventures, it is obvious to them who is really the biggest kid in the house!
Lastly, I’m reminded of fun experience that I had during my only semester at LSU in the fall of 1977. Rick and I were taking a walk to go take pictures and feed the ducks at the LSU lakes. While still on campus, we noticed a little squirrel rather boldly coming up to us from a nearby tree; he probably had been used to seeing people around much and begged for food. I thought I would try to feed it some of the bread we were taking to feed the ducks.
So I bent down and motioned to Rick to ready himself for taking a picture with the old Kodak Instamatic. At that moment, I had a quick flashback to what mom had always warned me about possibly getting rabies a squirrel bite. But I decided to take the chance and was surprised how gently the critter took the piece of bread from my indexed and middle finger without a flinch! The picture came out great and reminds me to follow the example of St. Francis more fully – instead of squirting squirrels, I need to feed them.
Squirrel Stories
