A couple of years ago when I started putting out seeds and nuts for the birds, I bought one of those corn holders on a bungle cord for the squirrels.  I enjoyed watching them and even enjoyed their unsuccessful attempts to reach the bird feeds.   Apparently, they do learn and find ways to be completely “unbaffled” by a typical squirrel baffle on the pole … and I will admit that on at least a few of those occasions I laughed.  But when they tried to move into my attic last summer, I decided I was done with feeding the squirrels.  I had apparently set them up in a welfare state … gave them corn … laughed when they took all the corn and got into the nuts and sunflower seeds … so naturally they thought I’d be more than happy to provide them a cozy place to live, as well.   I’ve invested in a few squirrel proof bird feeders which leaves them picking through what the birds scatter beneath the feeders.  (I’m working on ideas for ways to catch these seeds, etc … I think it might not only reduce the number of squirrels hanging out, but might also cause a few of the mourning doves to find another place to hang out.)  So enough about why I’ve come to dislike squirrels …

I still find them fun to watch when they aren’t gnawing their way into my house or balancing on top of the squirrel baffle dumping nuts and seeds on the ground.   Today was overcast, but there was a golden glow highlighting some of the browns in the landscape … and in the squirrel’s fur.  I suppose my reward for providing them a diet rich in sunflower seeds and nuts is that they have full, bushy tails …