Big Sur and the Central Coast Book

This is the third time I’ve read this book and though there is always something new that I learn from it, it never really solves my squirrel wars.

My husband and I have been pretty successful keeping our furry friends out of our bird feeders. He made a great baffle that sits below the feeder which twists and flops and keeps the squirrels from climbing to the feeder. No other trees are close enough for them to jump (very important) and the only time we have to worry is when we get a bountiful snow storm and piles are high. Squirrels are great at charging the snow hill and jumping to the feeder.

So what’s our problem? We have a beautiful Japanese maple tree in close proximity to the feeder. In recent years this has turned out to be a squirrel’s delight. Like little gourmands, they dine on the buds in the spring and some other seeds in the fall. This is proving stressful to the tree and we’re afraid if we can’t keep the squirrels off it, we are going to lose it.

We do enjoy watching their antics and really would like to live in unison with them. This year we have a real beauty with a really red bushy tail. I call him Little Irish!

Outwitting Squirrels is a great resource and does have some excellent stratagems as well as some humorous solutions. Some of my favorites

Bury rubber acorns. Confuse and confound them.
Rattlesnakes are a major predator of squirrels. Acquire some for your lawn.
Sic the IRS on them.

So short of bringing in a busload of hawks or red headed woodpeckers (squirrels don’t like them) or taking pot shots at these cuties, we have no idea what to do. There’s another book called Squirrel Wars: Backyard Wildlife Battles & How to Win Them by George H. Harrison. I just ordered a copy. It's up next on my list!