Spring has arrived in northern Alabama which brings plenty of backyard activity. Many wonderful bird species are returning from their winter homes down south. We’ve seen the gold finch, the black and white warbler, and the dark-eyed junco return to our feeders. A couple of days ago, we even put out the hummingbird feeder.
Not only birds, but squirrels in abundance are now finding their way to our backyard even though it is fenced off. They’ve made it their mission to investigate our bird feeders and enjoy the nuts and seeds.
We’ve tried all the tricks, like oiling down the poles which hold the feeders. One friend on Facebook told me her husband provides a squirrel feast on the other side of their yard to distract the creatures.
My husband looked for another solution. Squirrel traps. Yes, he decided to put the critters in jail then haul them off—miles away from our yard.
I had my doubts at first when the squirrels still arrived in our yard around squirrel dinner time and enjoyed the seeds the birds dropped on the ground. But—the next morning, my spouse strutted into the house from the backyard and informed me he’d caught a squirrel.
I raced outside and sure enough, the poor creature darted from one side of the cage to the other, helpless to make an escape. For a fleeting moment I felt sorry for the little guy then I remembered he was an unwanted visitor.
My husband decided to go golfing that afternoon and let the squirrel out at the golf course. He said he’d never seen a squirrel run that fast before.
Since then, he’s caught and released two more. Do you suppose the squirrels will get the general idea they’re not welcome, or are we in a losing battle?
Squirrels are crafty animals. Hope all is well at the feeder today. 🙂
Joe had to move the feeder outside the fence but still in our yard to stop encouraging the squirrels to have a feast in our yard!