Crazy Squirrel, Crazy Mary

You never know what I’m going to do… or what I’m going to write about. That’s because I don’t know either! Yesterday I was ironing. I looked out the window and saw the squirrel hanging upside down on the woodpecker seed block that I bought two days ago.

Now, I’m not really fond of this squirrel. I know squirrels are just animals and I realize they have to eat. They are even amusing to watch. But this one is also a voracious little thief who will do anything to get what she wants! She has already destroyed several “squirrel-proof” bird feeders! She has literally snapped off and removed the perches from feeders. She has bent and broken “squirrel-proof” lids. She has reached through wire cages. She has lifted the acrylic panels out of feeders. I’ve tried to thwart her destructive ways by putting corn on the ground and on an old tree stump and in an open hanging feeder. Apparently that isn’t enough.

I didn’t even give her a second thought when I bought the woodpecker block. Fool! It has…or rather had peanuts, sunflower seeds, and other goodies glued together with some sort of sticky concoction to make them stay on a stick. It might as well have been labeled “squirrel popsicle”! I tied it to a branch and waited for the woodpecker to land on it so I could take his picture. Well, he did…once or twice…but he was too quick and wary for me to take a decent photo.

So…yesterday I was ironing. I watched the squirrel for several minutes before I finally turned off the iron, got the camera out, and changed to the telephoto lens. Every few seconds I glanced out to see if she was still there. Yep…still devouring the woodpecker’s treat.

I quietly went out the front door, down the steps and over to the tree. I just stood for a few minutes to give her time to see me and run away. She turned and gave me a look that said, “Bring it on!” Apparently she wasn’t going to budge until she was finished with the business at hand. So I spent the next few minutes taking these photos.

I have to admit she was a joy to watch! She tried several times to just take the treat with her, but it was firmly tied to the tree. She managed to break off big chunks and take them higher up into the tree branches where she felt safer, but she was then compelled to come back down near me and get more. I want you to know that after I got tired of taking her pictures she continued to eat until she had finished every seed and kernel! In the afternoon the woodpecker came back to a bare stick fluttering in the wind!

 

 

Comments

[Megan]

She's beautiful! Love the squirrel popsicle. Too funny.

[Marilyn Crabtree]

How could you tell the squirrel was a "she?" Just wondering.

[Mary]

Marilyn- I thought that was obvious. Much too smart to be a male!! LOL