We have a variety of bird feeders that hang from tree limbs and dot the perimeter of our home, and we are in constant warfare with the squirrels who think we set this food out for them. For the record, we do not. But squirrels are a clever and tenacious species, and they are determined to prove us wrong.
They can frequently be found hanging upside down from a tree branch, hanging on by their hind claws while their front claws are grabbing seeds left and right from a feeder.
This past weekend they found the mother lode with no problem at all. Here’s how.
One of Earl’s pricier feeders was clogged, so that neither bird nor beast was getting any food. So we decided to return it to the store where we’d bought it and take advantage of the product’s lifetime guarantee. But first Earl emptied the contents onto our deck.
Enter Porky the Squirrel.
There was probably a pint of good bird food on our deck, and it wasn’t long before a brown squirrel arrived to sample it. Not only did he sample, but he stayed. He stayed for two days eating every little seed and nut while fending off other squirrels who might want a bite of the buffet. Hence, we named him Porky and were sure we saw him grow fatter in real time. We wondered if he’d explode.
The interesting thing was that, while Porky refused to allow other squirrels to partake in the birdseed buffet, he shrank when approached by two bluebirds who wanted their due. It was fascinating to watch bird and beast accommodate each other, dancing around the food feast and keeping a wary eye.
Today, however, Earl blew the deck clear of debris in anticipation of our houseguest who arrives tomorrow. In essence, the buffet was closed. Gone were the seeds and nuts, as they were blown into the grass. Gone too was Porky, although I suspect we’ll see him rummaging in the green blades for more food. It makes me wonder if squirrels are more like humans at Thanksgiving than we acknowledge.
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