If you're a squirrel and you see a new bird feeder being set up in someone's backyard, you immediately begin devising a way to defeat whatever anti-squirrel device the property owner installs.
We know this is true from our experience. We put up the bird feeder with a plastic hood. If the squirrels jump on the plastic hood, they will be flipped to the ground. We watched with great amusement as this happened several times.
But then the little rascals held a meeting. The next thing we observed was one particularly agile little squirrel shimmy up the shiny steel post (which, we naively thought he wouldn't be able to do). Then, as in the first photo, he jumped to the feeder, grabbing it with his feet.
He then proceeded to pull himself up so he could access the feeder.
It worked great. He could eat his fill and then knock more seed to the ground where his partner in crime waited to sample their ill-gotten gains!
But, I'll think of something else. I'm not beaten yet!
34 comments:
All the best Jacob! These are cute little intelligent creatures! I'm sure you'd find a way to not allow them commit a crime again... Nice shots... specially the first one.. looks amazing..
that is brilliant work! both by the squirrel and by you too! thank you!
superbe acrobate ;o) bien vu les photos
superb acrobat; o) seen well photographs
Sympathique aventure, ces écureuils sont drôles ... et très ingénieux !
Squirrels are surprisingly intelligent. When I was a kid we used to feed the birds right outside the window. Enter Mr Squirrel. My dog was absolutely furious about this intrusion and she voiced those concerns in the loudest possible way inside that same window. The distance between them was less than 10 centimeters. But she was behind the glass and consequently not an issue so Mr Squirrel didn't care and instead kept on munching happily.
I visit often, but rarely comment...but I can't pass this one up. How smart the little rascals are! My son-in-law's mother has a bird feeder that spins the squirrels off. It works like a charm. I feel sorry for them...but as determined as they seem to be in your photos, I shouldn't feel any sorrow for them at all.... perseverance pays!
Excellent and funny set of photos, you started well my week! Don't want to spoil the fun, but a thin veil of greasy substance (not harmful) on the post may be fair with these acrobatic squirrels. Keep up posted, that's too funny!
This is great, Jacob. I enjoyed your photos and the story. So cute. I like squirrels (we don't have many squirrels here, and ours are brown, not grey).
You should talk about your mother. I'd love to read about her books.
I often think they should be called Squirrel feeders not bird feeders.
I went through this with squirrels for years until last summer when I bought a feeder known as the "Eliminator" from Wild Birds Unlimited. It's fun to watch the squirrels try to get into it. It's expensive but it works. http://www.wbu.com/education/squirrelfreebirdfeeding.html
Amazing! Very smart and agile little cuties!
LOL! We have the same (similar) kind of feeder, on a pole, and witnessed the EXACT same kind of shenanigans! Cool pictures, nice series!
Great captures Jacob! We have the same feeder right below one of or windows but the squirrels here just wait and pick up what the birds spill. My cats love to watch the show.
Put up a sign, Birds Only. an idea truly "for the birds"
Great squirrel gymnastics. Perhaps there should be a rodent's Olympics.
Who says animals can't problem solve! Tricky tricky squirrels.
I could have told you they can shimmy up those poles. We have a feeder on a shepherd's hook in our backyard and they're up and down it all the time. I've given up on trying to keep them away. But if you come up with a better idea, I might just try it myself!
This made me laugh out loud!! Thanks.
Jacob and Lois Anne, congrats to both of you on your day! Same day....how fun!
Thank you, Jarat! And a happy one to you and hubby, too!
Training for gymnastics at the squirrel Olympics, no doubt!
Watching this one with interest Jacob :::)))
Those critters are so clever and destructive ... and those pix are just wonderful! I think he was posing!
Cute friends! The first shot is awesome!Fabulous pictures indeed!
God bless you
Léia
Admit utter defeat human. There is no way you will ever outwit this guy. Look at those agile feet at play, the tail working it, the determined jaw. His whole life is centered around bedeviling and out-squirreling you. It's obviously hopeless. Go back to your camera and let the guy gorge himself and his friends.
Great photos, real gymnasts:)
Regards,
m_m
Thank you all for your interesting and pithy comments. Lois, I checked that website and it looks good. I'm assuming you have one of the two variations...
We may invest in the squirrel-proof feeder before long.
Out-squirreled. I like that. LOL!
Using vaseline on the pole will out wit them but only for awhile. MB
What a great story !!!!
I love animal shots as you know and these are simply wonderful. Mischievous little creatures they are. Still, their ingenuity for being so simple minded is so fun to watch unfold.
That would have been fun summer afternoon entertainment for sure. The more and more I see candid's, be they human or otherwise, the more I realize this is my style of photography. A wonderful display.
What an amazing series! The 1st shot is incredible! Great capture!
I'm very late here... But I can't help just agreeing with Frank, the squirrel is way too smart and agile to be outwitted. But look at the bright side, at least the little fella provides us with such great scenes! In fact I'm so impressed that you caught the very moments!
God bless you!
Cezar
He is quite and acrobat!
So cute and funny! Great shots!
Greetings from Berlin (Grace)
What a great shot of the stretching squirrel! :-D I miss those little devils... our squirrels are half the size and too wild.
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