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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWatching the squirrels in my yard.
I put out roasted in the shell, unsalted peanuts for them. They run down a tree, grab a peanut, run back up to a safe perch and eat their peanut. I can almost hear them saying nom, nom, nom. This is repeated until they have their fill. I feel my blood pressure drop down a notch or two while Im watching. Such hardworking little guys! I know winter is hard for them and it feels good to make it just a little more bearable.
3catwoman3
(24,133 posts)We have several that are regular visitors to our patio, and I find them endlessly entertaining. So do our 3 indoor cats.
hlthe2b
(102,561 posts)as well as the hay "nests" I put in the little alcove under the front of my house.
SO many neighbors dislike the rabbits; I adore them and try to give them a fighting chance against the raptors, nearby coyotes, cats, and the cyclical Tularemia outbreaks.
It brings me intense pleasure to see them fat and happy out in the snow.
CatMor
(6,212 posts)I watched two chasing each other yesterday. It amazes me how they can run on wires, tree branches and fences. They jump from the garage roof to tree branches with the greatest of ease.
Some people consider them pests, but I think theyre so much fun to watch. There are two that chase each other up and down and round and round my big maple trees. The trees provide plenty of seeds for them to eat. My former neighbor used to feed them by hand...shed hold out a peanut, and theyd run up and take it from her.
CatMor
(6,212 posts)Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)ever seen a squirrel war for position in a huge tree. Its non-lethal of course and lots of daring and courage involved
red dog 1
(27,935 posts)Any chance of you videotaping them?
(I'd love to watch it)
redwitch
(14,954 posts)It really is sweet.
red dog 1
(27,935 posts)I love squirrels.
We used to live in a place with two large fruit trees in the back yard; and the squirrels would deliberately pee on my red Dobie
(He didn't like squirrels)
onethatcares
(16,211 posts)they chew their way into your attic and eat through the wires leading to your heater and then chew through the duct work of that so they have a warm place to sleep while digesting those peanuts.
Your bp will love you for it.
trust me, we feed the birds and squirrels but have had to move the squirrel feeder down the yard a bit and put cayanne pepper on the bird seed to keep them from eating it all and the birds getting scraps.
redwitch
(14,954 posts)Ill take my chances.
FirstLight
(13,368 posts)Love giving the birds and critters seeds and nuts, sometimes even suet for cold stormy times... It makes my heart feel good and they give me so much joy to watch them...
Sometimes the squirrels will shoo away the jays, or even the sweet chickadees will get feisty with eachother...love them all!
akraven
(1,975 posts)They are SO funny and terrify neighbordog (who is about 120 pounds) and have built 3 new nests in the spruce trees. In spring/summer (when the snow is gone) they'll come right up on the deck and chatter. Wish I could take a video! You'd love them. They're pretty big (about 15 or so pounds each). Very animated and very well-groomed!
redwitch
(14,954 posts)I didnt know they got that big!
akraven
(1,975 posts)It's "protected" in that kitty won't get loose or lost (Cat-Fence-In) but nope, open door, squirrel present - immediate under-couch hide!
Lots of most "little" critters from the Lower 48 are bigger here, I think to store fat for winter and better defense.
redwitch
(14,954 posts)A 15 lb squirrel would give any cat pause!
akraven
(1,975 posts)redwitch
(14,954 posts)LOL!
akraven
(1,975 posts)hunter
(38,353 posts)I swear the squirrels go out of their way to taunt and scold our dogs from high in the trees, just for fun.
Winters here are mild so I don't much worry about them
When we lived in the Midwest (and we had no dogs) we enjoyed feeding the squirrels, carrying on the tradition of the elderly woman who had lived in the house before us.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)cute little paws. However, city squirrels are very bold and even if you don't have food they will come up very close to you begging. As much as I like them, sometimes I am afraid they will bite. I like to carry nuts w/ me in my pocket, but if I don't have any they still beg pretty aggressively. They will actually come up and take food out of your hand if you don't get rid of it right away.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,256 posts)They can get up to 36" nose to tail! Look at those colors!
redwitch
(14,954 posts)I would have to buy lots more peanuts!