If you are wondering, I did mark the day of Sunday, although I forgot to mention it. Sunday was Squirrel Appreciation Day, and since I like most squirrels, I gave them a bit of extra food on Sunday.
Many people might refer to what I put out as bird food. I’m just a bit more realistic. You don’t have to watch long to figure out who’s getting the choice morsels from the feeder. And it’s not the ones with wings. Although they are not always at the top of the pecking order at the feeder.
Squirrels can be kicked out by an organized resistance from larger birds like blue jays. But usually it takes more than one and they have to work together. I have also noticed that squirrels seem a bit put off by mourning doves, who attempt a bigger than the really are approach by puffing up and spreading their wings. Although there are squirrels who have figured out their act and just ignore them.
Since I kind of like squirrels, I don’t mind them around the feeder. In general, I don’t have an issue with squirrels. Except the one that was living in my attic. I think it was a squirrel that I heard running around in the night, but I believe he moved out. I haven’t heard him lately. (I tossed a couple moth balls in there. Animals in general don’t seem to like moth balls.)
I think I had about four squirrels around to help clean up seeds for me. It’s hard to tell with squirrels, but I did notice slight variations in colour, and a few notches in ears and things like that to help tell them apart. But it’s hard to get them to sit still most days.
To be honest, I prefer chipmunks, who are a type of ground squirrel. We tend to get along better because chipmunks show very little interest in trying to move into my house and eat all my food. They’ll eat all my food. They’ll just wait until I bring it out. Far more polite.
The same could also be said for flying squirrels.
So far, I haven’t spotted any black or grey squirrels around. I’ve heard people mention they have spotted the off one who probably hitchhiked down from Ontario. They tend to be a bit more aggressive, so I can tell we probably wouldn’t get along very well. And I seem to have reached a pretty good understanding with the little red ones.
It’s simple. They stay outside, I provide snacks. And they may even leave a bit for the birds.