but no! it can't be true!

[pensnest]

Intrepid Little Bastards, part whatever.

So we hung up the fat balls on the fishing line, and as documented yesterday, an intrepid magpie stole one and had it re-stolen by a crow. We later discovered the fat ball holder on the ground, and well emptied, presumably by several happy squirrels and perhaps a corvid or two.

So Beast found a better means of affixing it to the fishing line, which, I may remind you, is strung between the corner of the house and the nearest fence post. The fat ball holder is furthest from the house, then there are three empty plastic bottles strung along the line, then a cylinder which is regularly filled with peanuts, suet, sunflower seeds, and mealworms.

Well. Today, as I was about to start on lunch, I realised that there was a fat and very happy squirrel dangling insouciantly upside-down on the suspended cylinder of peanuts, suet etc. I was impressed, and frustrated at not having seen how it got there.

So I opened the window. The squirrel dropped to the ground and fled into the bushes, along with its ground-based brethren.

Not. Five. Minutes. Later, I spied the squirrel making its way along the fishing line from the fence side. On top, like a tight-rope crawler, not shimmying along underneath. When it reached the fat ball holder, it rebalanced itself, then jumped fleetly up, bounded along the plastic bottles and leaped for the cylinder. And feasted.

I summoned my Beast, roared at the squirrel, it fled, and after five more minutes, did the whole performance again, this time underneath the fishing line until it got to the fat ball holder, where it regrouped. In the interval between cylinder feasting, it drove the other squirrels away from the bounty spilled onto the ground during its feastings.

I am (a) impressed with this squirrel's agility; (b) wondering if putting the fat balls up there was a strategic error, since the container provides a platform and quite possibly also steadies the plastic bottles; and (c) determined to thwart the intrepid little buggers once more.

Tomorrow.

Watch this space.

Comments

[dine]

squirrels are amazingly creative when it comes to getting the goods.

I hope you can prevail!

[pensnest]

I don't think even our cat is as food-motivated as the squirrels!

[minoanmiss]

I am loving the Chronicles of The Squirrel War.

[pensnest]

Heh. I do enjoy having a new chapter to recount.

[watervole]

You have to give credit to the little devils!

[pensnest]

Yes - and then, thwart them once more!

[turps]

I must say, I'm enjoying these Squirrel Wars tales.

[pensnest]

I am quite enjoying the battles.

[turlough]

I'm quite impressed by the ingenuity of your squirrels! I share your frustration though - that food is for birds, not for greedy squirrels! All the good luck finding a better way of safeguarding the bird food *keeps fingers crossed for you*

[pensnest]

The squirrels are already fat and happy - they are supremly chunky beasts. So I feel justified in my attempts to thwart them.

[chalcopyrite]

Eventually, the squirrels' chonkiness must overcome their athletic ability to pull stunts like this... surely?

Then again, I watched a near-spherical rat launch itself through space to grab the peanut feeder, so maybe not.

[pensnest]

They have mighty powerful haunches, though.....

Remember that rat that ran across the path in front of us, by the castle? Eugh!

[word_geek]

I saw a fantastic clip the other day of a squirrel attempting (and failing) to get to a bird feeder placed on a pole around which had been wound a slinky. I do not doubt that given time, the squirrel would have won, but it was hilarious to watch it face off against the spring

Good luck

[pensnest]

They do provide quite a bit of entertainment! I love the idea of a slinky - brilliant.