Saturday, December 5, 2009

Squirrels Really Are Coordinated!

For 18 years, my family lived in a neighborhood where there were no squirrels. When we moved 11 years ago, I started out hating the squirrels in the neighborhood. They dug out plants in my pots, and took bites of my tomatoes. I wanted to do everything I could to discourage them from being in my yard, and was disgusted that a neighbor lady had a feeder for them. They would bring the corn she gave them to our yard and leave it around.

When we started feeding birds, the squirrels thought the food was for them. Larry tried putting out a corn feeder for them, and puts dried (whole wheat or mixed grain) bread in a spot birds or squirrels can get to. I have gone to feeding the birds safflower, but Larry still had some food he called, "premium" that he put in a feeder, and they still eat what bird food they can get. I have noticed they haven't dug as much this year, but think they ate some of my tomatoes. I have grown to tolerate them, and have gotten to enjoy taking photos of them.

We just put the bird feeders out today, so maybe next week, there will be some bird photos for Camera Critters, hosted by Misty Dawn. I did scare a dove near the spilled sunflower seeds today. I will apologize ahead of time to those tired of squirrel photos, but I wouldn't be surprised to see more of them next week.

This tree is in the front yard of the neighbors whose back yard I garden in. It gets full of blooms in the summer, and I'm thinking they are white. I had great fun a few days ago, taking photos of several squirrels eating the seed pods in the tree. I think I have 3 of them in these. I took a couple videos. My camera sure does have a great zoom! If you look closely, you'll see teeth in one of the photos.

Squirrel 1:




Squirrel 2:

See the teeth?




Not sure which 2:



Squirrel 3:





Look how high it is!:



To see more critters, click on the Camera Critters link in my sidebar.

22 comments:

  1. The squirrel mafia rules in my neighbourhood too!

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  2. I bet we have a million and I am so growing to detest each and everyone of them!

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  3. My cat and dog just hang around waiting for one to make a mistake. Eventually one does.

    We gave someone who eats squirrel permission to hunt; the squirrels ran off and hid.

    We've had trouble in the past with squirrels getting under vehicle hoods and chewing wiring. How do I know it was a squirrel and not a rat? Ask the cat.

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  4. I love the squirrels in my yard although they do make some trouble now and then

    we all need a place to be :)

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  5. Great series of photos, I like the flashing of its pearly whites at you.

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  6. Most of the time I don't really mind the squirrels. I have one platform type feeder they share with the birds and since I gave up trying to get them to stay out of it, they leave the other feeders alone. Lately they've been taking the remaining apples out of the tree and running off with them. I love seeing the babies chasing each other around in the spring.

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  7. Hi Susan... I have mixed feelings about squirrels but your number one might win me over. Great portrait.

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  8. They are very entertaining to watch even though they can do annoying things at times.

    I am surprised to see that it looks like you have more snow than we do though. Strange!

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  9. Society Garlic--I can send you some..You could probably grow some in a container and put it on your porch in the winter..I have a LOT of it!! It's evergreen here. Just let me know..rusdar at hot mail dot com

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  10. Hi Sue! 'Your' squirrels are very colorful...we have dull grey ones. I think, because of Bandit, they are not so rampant in my yard, but also maybe because i don't have bird feeders. Thanks for the video...cute!
    Lynn

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  11. They have hands.. and they know how to use them! LOL

    Cameron

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  12. Fun post !
    Great captures !
    Have to admit they sure are entertaining.

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  13. Do you have any gray squirrels? I have both species, and I can't decide which is more trouble. I'm glad you're getting along with your squirrels. I had to give up on birdfeeders because of the bushy-tailed pigs here. I tend to not mind them in the winter, when they can't get into as much trouble. I find it entertaining to watch their acrobatics as they reach for the farther out crabapples, but I have to remove the farthest out, or the squirrels will clip off the branch ends to get at the fruit. And it's not like they're starving - my next-door neighbor feeds them peanuts.

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  14. so fascinating on tiny wires an albino is eluding me now..sandy

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  15. I've got the same realationship with squirrels as you. They dig up my newly planted bulbs and can chew through anything. Still, they are very entertaining.

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  16. I love squirrels. But that’s probably just because I don’t have any in my garden, only in nearby woods. If they were to come and eat my tomatoes... I’m not sure that I would like that as much.

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  17. Squirrels can be irritating but they are all part of balance in a garden......I deter nothing and kill nothing and my garden survives. Do you think we are to obsessed with perfection? I know that I used to be....I changed around twenty years ago and have never looked back.....

    Your photographs are stunning.....the first three are just full of detail...tku for sharing......

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  18. Great photos, Sue--your squirrels are prettier than ours:) Isn't it amazing how they can climb out on those tiny branches so high and yet not fall? I've been lucky not to have any really bother my garden, though--they keep their distance, probably because of the cats and Sophie.

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  19. They really are, Sue! I often wonder how they keep from falling as the leap from treetop to treetop on slender branches. They are a nuisance here too with the digging of pots and anything freshly planted, a constant battle to keep tender roots covered with soil. We had to get all squirrel proof feeders, for they could empty them in one day.

    Frances

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  20. They are talented acrobats and keep me amused most of the time. I usually enjoy the squirrels and try to keep them fed and off the feeders! What really gets to me is how they attack the suet feeder! I love the visiting woodpeckers. The squirrels can clean out suet in an hour. The rascals! gail

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  21. Oh, how cute. I love squirrels. We don't have any but I s'pose that makes sense. We don't have trees! :D

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  22. Maybe someday I will be at peace with the squirrels like you are now! :o)
    Rosey

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