what'll I do?

[pensnest]

I have a quandary. I need help. I need advice.

I have been feeding the local birds for a while now. Highest count so far, at the bird feeders, is four great tits, four blue tits, four robins (!!) (only once), two coal tits, seven long-tailed tits, two nuthatches, two blackbirds (m&f). Also in the garden are pigeons, magpies, an occasional jay, and a pair of crows, but they don't really go for the feeders. And there is a wol, which I have not seen but have often heard.

There are also at least three squirrels, and the squirrels very much appreciate the bounty of peanuts and suet pieces that are regularly put out for the birds. They are assiduous in clinging upside-down to the food holder and nibbling out whatever. Yes, we have one ball-shaped bird feeder that is basically squirrel proof, but there is another holder which is... not. I now refrain from putting peanuts into this—they only go into the ball—but the squirrels still find plenty to nibble.

My dilemma is this: should I or should I not shoot the squirrels with a water pistol?

On one side—they are living creatures and as entitled to eat as anything else in the garden.

On the other side—dammit, those seeds etc are for the birds! Content yourselves with eating my bulbs, burying sweet chestnuts, and generally making a nuisance of yourselves. Also, a squirrel that has been hit by an unexpected jet of water is *hilarious*

On the one hand again—that's kinda mean, isn't it?

Back on the other hand—it's non-lethal, the weather isn't that cold any more, and it gets them to stop. At least temporarily.


I am torn. Your thoughts?

Comments

[smallhobbit]

Having worked somewhere where a) the squirrels would throw things at us and b) they ate through telephone wires I'd be quite happy with shooting them with a water pistol.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I think shooting them sounds like a good idea. Our squirrels are very brazen, and I am not certain it would get them to stop!

[corvidology]

I'd say the water pistol is fine, particularly as you know they have many other food sources.

There are bird feeders in the States that spin fast if the perches get hit by too much weight, flinging the squirrels off. I'd say that's potentially much more cruel - I've only seen one in person that was suspended quite low over soft grass and I got the distinct impression it had almost become a toy to the squirrels.

[badly_knitted]

Sounds like a humane deterrent, if it works.

I got up this morning to find a squirrel had managed to squeeze into my hanging bird table. I have no idea how, it barely fit. I shooed it out, but it will probably be back. My biggest problem is the brazen and almost fearless wood pigeons. There are so many, they're greedy eating machines, and they even scare magpies away from the food.

[dine]

I'd say, shoot away! it's not actually harmful, and provides you entertainment - so why not?

[manna]

You can shoot the squirrels with a waterpistol, but I can tell you from experience that squirrels are canny, and all you'll do is teach them how to spot when there's a water-pistol-armed human around. I'd get a second squirrel-proof feeder, which is what we did. Then if you feel kind you can put some extra nuts and feed on the ground and let the blackbirds and squirrels duke it out.

[minoanmiss]

Get your guns Annie

[ephemera]

Training squirrels to identify when water-pistol-wielding humans are around sounds like a fun side project - although I can imagine it may result in squirrels visibly taunting empty-handed humans somewhere down the line

[iconis]

The way I CACKLED picturing you and Beast with Supersoakers guarding the bird feeders.

[turlough]

Well, shooting at the squirrels would probably feel very satisfying but I doubt it will do much good in the long run. Squirrels are crafty little buggers :-)

What I've seen people do here in Sweden to protect their feeders from jackdaws and crows and squirrels is constructing a sort of enclourse like this, this, and this. The drawback is of course that larger birds like blackbirds and woodpeckers won't be able to reach the feeders either, just smaller one like tits and finches and nuthatches.

[rikes]

Interesting! I think that would stop bigger birds, but definitely not squirrels, they can squeeze through at least some of those holes!

Ultimately I think a war against squirrels is one you will always lose, unfortunately. :D

[turlough]

Yeah, you're probably right. Maybe red squirrels aren't as likely to rob bird feeders as the grey ones in the UK?

[brandywine28]

I don't know if it'll work, but I don't see the harm! However, the rules state that the first time you hit one between the eyes, you MUST say, "Hasta la vista, baby" in an Austrian accent. That one's non-negotiable.