A couple of weeks back, Dashka Slater wrote about squirrels in her blog and provided a link to a squirrel video that showed the persistence and perhaps insanity of squirrels.  I responded there with a squirrel video that I had been watching of late, one involving a very tricky little birdfeeder that gave the squirrels quite a ride should they try to steal the seed.  Of course, this a potentially animal harming ordeal, but it was a funny video and gave me a great feeling of pleasure because we have been attacked by hungry, breeding squirrels.

It seemed harmless enough at first, the squirrels tentatively walking our top deck, jumping over either from the oak or the Monterey pine.  Plop, here I am!  They'd stare into the windows with their dark eyes and then eat anything that looked good.  Black oil sunflower seed, corn kernel bits, millet.  They were into it all.  And then as the birdfeeder became more popular, so did the squirrels.  There were at least three of them scurrying about, waiting on the ledge under the birdfeeder for treats until, of course, one day one jumped on and was giving the bird feeder mouth to mouth.

So we moved the feeder, and they decided that the only way to get there was to climb up the screen door and then fling themselves backward onto the birdfeeder.  That strategy didn't work, but you should see our screens.

And here's the worst part.  It's about poo!  I'm telling you, squirrels eat too much.  They leave poo everywhere.  And they have some huge issues with incontinence.  I had no idea about squirrels elimination rituals, but they are certainly never going to be invited inside.  Every morning, I am out there with the hose.

What we have finally concocted (instead of buying the whirling birdfeeder) is a pole that telegraphs out to five feet (out over the ground below instead of hanging over the deck) and a birdfeeder that hangs from it on a relatively long chain.  The birdfeeder itself looks like it is wearing a hat--in fact, it's a squirrel baffle.  After some back and forth, we finally purchased the correct mount for the feeder, and this weekend, we will hang it up.

I trust me when I say I don't believe we will win this.  Though I love the birds, I may have to give up feeding them because of the wily rascals with the fluffy tails.  If I have any success,  I will let you know.  But I think they have us beat, paws down.

Jessica