Squirrel 0 Donna 1

Lesson 1: Squirrels love bird feeders

Lesson 2: Squirrels are pigs

Lesson 3: Squirrels are very, very persistent

We have a great bird feeder in the back yard. It is located right long the common area where there are trees and bushes. Proof that Ron and I technically have no life, we like to watch all the cardinals come in and feast. We have counted at least 8 out there all at once; some on the feeder, some on the ground under the feeder and others in the bushes or trees near the feeder. Unfortunately, we have found that where there is a feeder, there will be squirrels. Not sure why it makes me crazy that they get up on the feeder and chow down because as we all know, squirrels gotta eat too! They are just pigs though. It would be like serving an all you can eat buffet and the hot dog eating champion shows up hungry. Just not good.

We have tried the BB gun route but apparently squirrels have heard that the biggest risk of BB guns is that maybe it can put an eye out; so not much to fear. But, thanks to our son Daniel, we did discover a BB gun can put a hole in a bird feeder and actually even kill a bird, but that is another story.

I came up with the idea of taking Crisco and putting it on the bird feeder pole. Have no clue what I look like out there smearing it all over the place, but thankfully my neighbors are pretty used to me at this point. I looked out today and there were not 1, not 2, but 3 squirrels!! They were taking turns shimmying up the pole, getting up on the feeder, causing it to list to its side, dumping seed on the ground, so the squirrel buddies on the ground could reap the benefits.

I decided the rain had let up enough that it was worth trying the Crisco. I applied it and came back in the house. I sat at the table to do the puzzle and looked up and there was 1 squirrel shimmying his or her way up the pole. He or she made it half up and then slid completely back down. It tried it again and down it came again. It actually gave up after the third try. Do you think it went back to its buddies and reported a problem? Do you think the birds were laughing at it? Do you think Ron and I need to watch our back for squirrel payback? I can confirm for you that it is pretty funny seeing a squirrel losing its grip, holding on for dear life, sliding back down the pole.

My only concern now is fear that PETA will pick this blog up and we will be in big trouble.

Donna B