Squirrels at the Feeder

I Give Chase

Twice yesterday I had to chase an athletic squirrel away from my bird feeder, once while on the phone. My son wondered what the heck was going on at first when, halfway through a sentence, I yelled, "Hey, get out of there you little rat!"

I've been thinking about buying a slingshot, BB-gun, pellet gun, etc. because tossing stuff out the window and shaking my fist isn't working. Later in the day, during my 'fun and fitness' walk, I saw something that I'd like to add to my arsenal.

Ready. Aim. Fire!

: )

Link to My Morning Smile

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Squirrel Houses

Boxes Done

 ["Balcony railing keeps young ones from flying away at a fragile age"]

I think the two squirrel boxes turned out very well. When I finish two small signs for the faces I will say, "All done!"

[Signage comin' up: "The Nut House"]

FYI Though the workshop only gets up to 6 - 7 degrees Celsius this time of year, life is good out there.

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Squirrel Boxes

Looks Good

 ["The lid can be removed w one hand while you're on a ladder"]

 ["Clean out door opens easily, again w one hand"]

["Plexiglass floor (almost invisible here) may be useful

for high-climbing photographers"]

All I have to do now is add cedar trim and a sturdy railing to the balcony. Then, call for pickup.

Note - Balconies are recommended for two reasons:

     1. Young squirrels are unsteady on their legs for the first week of life

     2. New Years parties get pretty crazy up there in the trees!

Link to The Workshop

Photos GH

The Workshop - Squirrel Nesting Boxes

It's A Living

["What's Gord building this time?" "Oh, dear"]

Readers may know I am not fussy about squirrels because they occasionally lodge over winter in my attic and eat seed from - and lay siege to, the fuzzy brutes - my bird feeder. I've considered buying dynamite but that comes with some issues.

However, I was recently asked to make two nesting boxes for a person who rescues injured animals and wishes to provide a sanctuary of sorts for squirrels. (If only the little beggars would stay in this person's yard and not visit or nest in mine!)

["I am well underway, more to follow, hopefully not more squirrels"]

So............. after considerable thought ("Again, how far away do you live?").............. I said I would build the boxes.  More progress re these projects will be posted here soon.

FYI I found it interesting that plans for nesting boxes exist online and many come from the UK and the southern USA. In both those places, as I learned in the past, squirrel meat commonly appears on menus and in butcher shops right beside the pork chops.

Link to more from The Workshop

Photos GH

One Grateful Squirrel Part 2

He's Back

I might have made a big mistake. I tossed a stale English muffin out the back door a couple of days ago, which was immediately nabbed by a hearty gray squirrel, and maybe made a friend for life.

The squirrel seems to have staked out my backyard as its current home even though I'm out of muffins. Now what? I want fewer squirrels in my yard not more.

Doh!!

Link to One Grateful Squirrel Pt 1

Photo by GH

Pumpkinman - Life and Times

Exciting Conclusion

Shortly after Hallowe'en, about an hour after polishing off the last of the mini-chocolate bars, I posted the first photo of Pumpkinman and predicted 'the only one caught by any surprise (about 'what is going to happen to sad old Mr. Pumpkinman over the next two weeks') might be the man of the hour, now that his hour is up'.

That being said, I also was surprised, especially at the guy's durability. He hung in there until the bitter end (i.e., today's last photograph), suffered many indignities along the way, yet maintained a somewhat ambivalent demeanour (albeit with a surprised look upon his face - not entirely his fault, of course), even after being dumped - unceremoniously - beside a tired pot of asters in my backyard garden yesterday.

If Sad Pumpkinman chose 'last words' I think they'd be, "There is such a thing as a free lunch if you're a squirrel."

'Til next Hallowe'en then!

Link to Sad Pumpkinman 13 - The Smile is Gone

Photos GH

Sad Pumpkinman 13

The Smile is Gone

Squirrels are still nibbling on Pumpkinman to supplement their sparse meals so I'll leave him be for another week.

Link to Pumpkinman 12

Photo GH

Sad Pumpkinman 12

Half Gone

Sad Pumpkinman's head is half gone but yesterday's lovely smile is all gone. Fortunately, he lives only 12 feet away from the compost bin.

PS That's one squirrel I am really hoping to trap and send on a long car ride.

Link to more Sad Pumpkinman photos

Photos GH

Sad Pumpkinman 11

Pumpkin Love

The End is near. Sad Pumpkinman is nothing but snack food now for a few hardy rodents.

That being said, he gave me a special smile this morning.

Link to Sad Pumpkinman 10

Photos GH

Sad Pumpkinman 8

I'm Back

["Chick, chick. Did ya miss me, Pumpkinman?"]

Pumpkinman approved when I trapped a gray squirrel last week and delivered it to a green space about a kilometer from the backyard.

So he is quite surprised - and just a wee bit disappointed - now that it appears the furry varmint has returned for second helpings!

Where's my trap?

Link to Sad Pumpkinman 7

Photo GH

Sad Pumpkinman 6

Losing My Mind!

["One week ago I looked terrific!"]

["Fuzzy rodent is eating my memory card!"]

Week Two won't be pleasant for Sad Pumpkinman.

Link to Sad Pumpkinman 5

Photos GH

It Strikes Me Funny

Trapper Gord

["Fifteen squirrels moved away in October. Movember?"]

Back in action.

Have humane trap. Will travel.

Link to It Strikes Me Funny

Photo GH

Sad Pumpkinman 5

Frets and Worries

Pumpkins in general have a colourful, peaceful, albeit short lifespan. But Pumpkinman's face expresses deep concerns.

"Something's really eating at me."

Link to more Sad Pumpkinman

Photos GH 

Zoom w a View: Sad Pumpkinman 4

Oh, He Hates Company

It's bad enough Pumpkinman is on a 'marshmallow free' diet. He hates company too.

"I'm definitely not wild about squirrels," he says.

Link to Zoom w a View

Photos GH

It Strikes Me Funny

Very Clever?

This little gray squirrel likes to jump from a spruce tree branch into my bird feeder. Oh, it thinks it's very clever. It also likes the smell of the peanut butter I spread upon a carrot.

Next stop: London's Greenway Park.

Link to It Strikes Me Funny

Photos GH

It Strikes me Funny

Got my Baker's Dozen

["Beware the fuzzy ones w bushy eyebrows"]

I've trapped thirteen critters in the last week or so. That was my goal. But some have returned or sent in replacements.

New goal: Trap 6 more - and deliver to large green spaces - before I go to Scotland.

Friend Don says my attempt to rid my yard of squirrels is futile.

Pretty strong language! What says you?

Link to It Strikes Me Funny

Photo GH

It Strikes Me Funny

Possum Prison Blues

Yesterday morning I looked outside and thought I'd caught the large gray squirrel that had evaded capture just a day earlier. Nope.

I'd caught me a possum. And it didn't look too happy.

Link to It Strikes Me Funny

Photos GH

It Strikes Me Funny

Less Damage to Our Homes?

The tally, re trapped squirrels, has increased to 11. Perhaps the bill for damages to our house will decrease. (I know we have had squirrels in our attic in the past. Did critters leave a mess for me to clean up one day?)

 ["M. Lincoln writes about damage to wiring caused by friendly squirrels"]

  

["I feed 'em carrots w PB, catch 'em, and deliver them to faraway places"]

 ["Squirrels chew holes in houses and then rain water can create a mess"]

The gray squirrel got away. It scampered out of the trap - like gray greased lightning - as the doors were closing! But, when I have a minute, I'll load a carrot w more PB.

Link to It Strikes Me Funny

Photos GH