Revisiting the Backyard Feeder Raider - The Squirrel
Hi,
There are some interesting posts in the works, but for now I didn't want to leave you hanging. So I thought it might be neat to revisit the old backyard rapscallion - the squirrel!
We've noticed something interesting here concerning these rodents... We offer them ample seed, water, and "rural backwoods" habitat, but their population remains at a dozen or two. As best as the wife and I can tell, the squirrels act as a sort of "buffer zone" for the birds. That is to say that red-tailed hawks, cats, dogs, fox, and coyotes will all attack the easiest prey first. Fortunately, that means that our birds usually go unmolested. But unfortunately for the squirrels, that equates to a rather brutal form of population control.
But we still enjoy the little rascals. Note in the photo above how the squirrel has wedged himself between the feeder and the bungee cord that holds the top on. Clever little buggers.
I can't leave this post without noting the obvious. This is fall, and the furry mischief makers are going to try to bust into your house. An earlier post, Keeping Out the Squirrel Menace might help. (By the looks of the photo in that post, I'd better go check the security of that screen!)
See you by the gnawed feeders,
CapeCodAlan
There are some interesting posts in the works, but for now I didn't want to leave you hanging. So I thought it might be neat to revisit the old backyard rapscallion - the squirrel!
We've noticed something interesting here concerning these rodents... We offer them ample seed, water, and "rural backwoods" habitat, but their population remains at a dozen or two. As best as the wife and I can tell, the squirrels act as a sort of "buffer zone" for the birds. That is to say that red-tailed hawks, cats, dogs, fox, and coyotes will all attack the easiest prey first. Fortunately, that means that our birds usually go unmolested. But unfortunately for the squirrels, that equates to a rather brutal form of population control.
But we still enjoy the little rascals. Note in the photo above how the squirrel has wedged himself between the feeder and the bungee cord that holds the top on. Clever little buggers.
I can't leave this post without noting the obvious. This is fall, and the furry mischief makers are going to try to bust into your house. An earlier post, Keeping Out the Squirrel Menace might help. (By the looks of the photo in that post, I'd better go check the security of that screen!)
See you by the gnawed feeders,
CapeCodAlan
Comments
Cute little guy. Notice he has a chunk of ear missing!
{CCA: Yup... Life ain't easy being a squirrel!}
Posted by: kathryn | September 3, 2007 10:03 PM