After I retired and moved into my RV trailer here in the south end of Santa Fe, I put up a bird feeding station, then later a suet feeder as well. They’ve become very popular with the local birds and I’ve had a lot of pleasure in photographing many of the species that show up for a free lunch. Unhappily, another local resident found the feeder and invited himself as well. Munch, munch, gobble, gobble……………….

I like squirrels and think they’re neat, but this guy is just too big and too greedy for this little feeder. What they’ll do is fill their cheek pouches…………………

Lookit the load he’s got. He’ll cart that home, stash it, then come back for another load. He’ll eat me out of house and home and there won’t be nuthin’ left for the birds.

“Whoops, busted,” he says, then away he went…………….

Chased him away umpteen times over the last month or 2, but, of course, he always returns. This is good pickin’s and he’s no dummy. I didn’t want to hurt him - he had best be glad he didn’t try this during my hunting days, 20 to 55 years ago………..he’d have been history, very quickly - but I did want him gone. Permanently. So, I found and ordered a live trap on the internet, and set it up beside the feeder about 3 weeks ago. Neighbor Don looked on with a skeptical grin. Can’t say I blame him, and the squirrel proved too smart to go in it, even baited with fragrant peanut butter. A week or so ago, Don suggested putting the trap on the ground, since the squirrel had to come by ground to get to the feeder. It sat there, and after a few days I gave up on freshening the peanut butter, and figured, “phooey, going on several months vacation next week, anyway.”………..but I did leave it there, just in case.

Today, I got home from a trip to Albu-Quirky and a side trip to scout - again - Cabezon Peak, and went out back with a scoop of seed for the feeder. A noise and a movement down by my feet caught my attention and I looked down. Did a double take, and grinned. “Why, hello, little friend,” I said. Squirrel in the cage told me where to stuff my humor……..he wasn’t amused. I let out a yell and called Don over, and he took my camera and recorded the event. “Gotcha, ya little bugger,” said Big Lar with a Big Grin. ………………

Friend squirrel now has a new home about 3 or 4 miles away. (I was fairly sneaky about the relocation. I doubt his new neighbors would thank me for my generosity) I sincerely hope they’re not like some dogs and find their way home again.

Lar.

–
Larry Bourne
Santa Fe, NM
www.gogittum.com
www.gogittum.com/blog

Posted: July 8th, 2008 under 08 New Mexico, 08-7-7 Bird-Feeder Squirrel.
Comments: none