There are usually two camps in this conversation. There are those, (like me,) who, at a distance, find them to be clever, entertaining creatures. Now, I recognize that they are glorified rodents, but their cunning schemes do amuse me. Squirrels are phenomenally deft at outwitting humans in their quest for sunflower seeds and suet. They’ll dig in our hanging baskets, pull bulbs out of the ground, and detach hanging feeders with the adroitness of a human. Gloriously nimble and acrobatic, they leap over tree limbs and shed rooftops with a dexterity that, to me, is quite remarkable. While I wouldn’t necessarily want one for a pet, I enjoy watching their mischievous antics, and I have a healthy respect for their extreme persistence.
Then, there are those like Joe, for whom the battle began some time ago: he spends an exorbitant amount of time attempting to outwit the little critters. Droll Yankee squirrel-proof feeders and pepper suet are the modus operandi in this camp. The squirrels will bustle about, wreaking havoc on our deck, and if I appear, they basically ignore me. But at the merest suggestion of Joe’s footstep, they will come to an abrupt halt, with eyes and ears alert, assessing what the latest weapon in the battle is going to be. They sense his passion, because they possess that same zeal themselves. Undeterred, they never surrender, but plan each defensive attack with glee.
So far, in the war against the squirrels, the score is squirrels 1, Joe 0.
Enjoy the squirrels on flickr here, with Linda Yvonne:http://www.flickr.com/photos/from_linda_yvonne/sets/72157594557694388/
