Squirrel Wars

 Cute little gray squirrels are the oppressed minority on the mesa.

 

I guess no matter where you go, there are squirrels to provide comic relief. We have two species here in Texas- red and gray, and both are amazing athletes, able to hang by their toes while stuffing themselves, as they constantly try to decimate the bird seed supply. 

 The mature red squirrels can wipe out a bird feeder in a few hours.

We decided to try and slow them down... and give the birds a chance, so we purchased a couple of different “squirrel-proof” bird feeders. Both automatically close off the feeding ports whenever a squirrel puts his weight on the feeder. They may only slow the little buggers down, but they have finally stumped them over time because squirrels are extremely impatient. They try to stick their hand into the contraptions and manage to get a few crumbs, but the progress is too sporadic to satisfy them. Sometimes they have to go rest and get their nerve up, then try again.

 This split-eared old red battler gets so mad he gets depressed.

Part of their challenge is the red ones are always chasing off the gray ones in an ancient blood feud, which drains them of energy but sure helps prevent gluttony. The little gray ones are very cute, and seem to only come out when the coast is clear, cramming in as much seed as they can before the big red bullies show up.

 Gray Squirrel has learned to stop, look and listen.

Anyway, after the “squirrel proof” feeders began to take effect, we began to feel sorry for the little guys, even the red ones, and bought some squirrel food, consisting mostly of corn, and hung that out as a peace offering. The squirrel food comes with an occasional peanut here and there, and they clog the feeders. So now the squirrels are more trouble than they ever were. BUT now there is relative peace in the valley. The birds can feed in peace but the red vs. gray skirmishes continue.

Here is a little video featuring the  change to the "squirrel proof" bird feeders.

During the rain some kind of predator... perhaps a cat or fox, came up on the porch and tried to snatch one of my furry comedians as it fed on one of the bird feeders which I had taken in out of the rain. There were muddy paw prints all over the porch, but I did not see any blood. Mr. Squirrel was almost too smart for his own britches, as they used to say. I found myself angry with the carnivore who caused such a near tragedy... and had to remind myself, these are not pets. Our back yard is WILD KINGDOM!

Yes, I see a moral to this little observance. When I was a kid, we used to torment the squirrels by wiring pecans to the boughs of the Chinese Tallow tree in our back yard. The unsuspecting squirrels would zip down the tree, grab the pecan in their mouth, and then instantly zip back up- as the well-bound pecan ripped out of their mouth. That had to hurt. Over and over. The squirrels would tug and bark furiously at the confounded uncooperative pecans. It was great fun to watch them go ballistic trying to get the tempting nuts, which sat low on the tree and a little too close to us for their comfort. But the squirrels would not be bested. They would keep returning, and eventually chew them free, and go to the very top of the tree to enjoy their prize...

And we would tie on another one!

It was great. So to I will be paying restitution for the rest of my life, picking peanuts out of the corn barrel, refilling the squirrel feeder every morning, trying to make up for my fun at that poor squirrel's expense. Thinking about those days, I still get a chuckle. So I guess it was worth it!