Squirrel Antics

While we are overrun by ground squirrels wreaking havoc with their underground tunnels, our resident grey squirrels, Cyril and Cindy, are quite mild mannered and well behaved….except when it comes to invading the bird feeders.

When there were more shrubs and low hanging tree branches around the feeders it was relatively easy for them to jump down onto the feeder. Hence a bell shaped bafflle around the supporting pole and wide domes  over the tops. They soon learned to leap from the overhead branches landing on the skinny cross arm holding the seed holders.

It took awhile for them to master walking up the pole and  reaching from it to the holes above the perches. They kept us entertained for hours as the kept at it until they mastered the process.

After the fire and resulting tree cutting, they were foiled for quite awhile with only a tarp covered pile of dirt for a backdrop, and contented themselves with foraging around on the ground after dropped goodies.

This morning I looked out the door and saw Cyril sitting in the crotch of the intersection between pole and arms staring intently at the ground. It was easy to imagine him thinking, ‘what do I do now?’

I didn’t have time to watch as he pondered his dilemma, but the next time I looked, he had reached the feeder, wrapped himself around it and was stuffing himself with seeds. I’m sure he will be showing Cindy the ropes very soon.