Do I really deserve this?

[jennyb]

I have a plague of squirrels (is that the correct collective noun, I wonder?)

Last autumn we had masses of acorns in the garden and all the squirrels gorged themselves all winter and all spring on those. Now it seems the acorns must be finished and they have decided to raid my feeder.

I have put up a baffle but I know that it is not going to hold them off for long. Here are the little devils.



Of course, when the regular hoover up'ers of the feeding station come along, the squirrels do allow them to share!



But, look - butter would not melt in it's mouth.....



They are actually better than anything on television these days. However, when they get past my baffle (just a matter of time), I am going to be so mad

Jenny

[Paul mabbott]

Not necessary the term that I'd use. I would suggest a competition for an appropriate collective noun but suspect most entries wouldn't get past the censors!
[quote=jennyb;126117]I have a plague of squirrels (is that the correct collective noun, I wonder?)/QUOTE]

[Gill Catton]

Oh no!!! Fab pictures though!!

[jennyb]

I've just looked it up...

dray of squirrels
or
scurry of squirrels

Not good enough in my opinion.

Jenny

[Gill Catton]

well they are American so what about an illegal occupation of squirrels.....

(only joking )

is your garden part of any kind of axis of evil that you're aware of?

[G0NYM]

Hi
sorry I cant, help with the squirrels
the pics are excellent

[Pete W]

That last pic is awesome.....

The answer you are looking for is put out twice as much food and don't be a meanie

[jennyb]

If I decide to put out a separate ground feeder for the squirrels, what do they like best? Nothing too expensive, please!

Jenny

[mrs fish]

That last pic is fantastic, he looks like he is trying hard to be a native

You need a large bird of prey, hope this helps

[Pete W]

Originally Posted by jennyb

If I decide to put out a separate ground feeder for the squirrels, what do they like best? Nothing too expensive, please!

Jenny

NUTS

[Hez]

Superb photos! As your squirrel has taken the trouble to dress for dinner, you might try giving some Ritz crackers as a treat! They love them, eat half and bury half in the lawn. The giggle comes when they try to find the buried ones...tee!hee! Corn on the cob should be fun too

[Ukwildlifeo]

One collective noun for that many squirrels is 'a fur coat' lol

[Pete W]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

One collective noun for that many squirrels is 'a fur coat' lol

Very good

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Hez

Superb photos! As your squirrel has taken the trouble to dress for dinner, you might try giving some Ritz crackers as a treat! They love them, eat half and bury half in the lawn. The giggle comes when they try to find the buried ones...tee!hee! Corn on the cob should be fun too

Caution: Ritz crackers planted in the ground grow into Holiday Inns

[Tobyh]

Lovely pics.

I know how you feel, not quite so overrun but have up to 4 in the garden at any time...the birds don't stand a chance of getting the food before the squirrels.

[jennyb]

There are some great ideas here. I like the fur coat one best Maybe I should start up a new business

They are really entertaining, but I don't want to spends lots of money on feeding them. They are just sooo greedy.

The squirrels this year are not so smart as one that we had last year. I don't know what happened to him, but he was completely fearless. He tried everything to get past the baffle. He squeezed up between the pole and the hole cut in the baffle to fit on the pole. He got around the baffle (it tips, unfortunately) and he would leap from anything close by. One time he even started eating the baffle!

Once he got up there, he decided it was easier to lift off the fat ball feeder and throw it to the ground rather than have to climb up again after I chased him off!

He was a real little character.

Anyway, I am hoping that all will go back to normal again when the acorns start falling.

Jenny

[Hez]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Caution: Ritz crackers planted in the ground grow into Holiday Inns

lol! I've had a lucky escape then probably thanks to Hedgehogs and crows finding them first!

[smartie]

In my experience what they like is sunflower hearts. I put special squirrel food and nuts out for them in a feeder of their very own last winter and they just ignored it and kept raiding the feeders.

Here is one of this year's young. He/she hasn't quite got the hang of the feeder yet - sorry about the anthropomorphism, but it should be captioned: "Help! My periscope is upside down!"



The string (now replaced with wire) is to stop them pushing the bottom off the feeder.

[vin_ie]

are they all Red Squirrels?? Wow!!
Thought they were near extinction...

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by vin_ie

are they all Red Squirrels?? Wow!!
Thought they were near extinction...

No these are grey squirrels, the ones that have been introduced and pushing out the native red squirrerls

[ColonelBlimp]

I know this is a really old thread but feeding the greys is a mega terrible idea, them being an invasive species and all.

The "fur coat" is a much better idea!

[The Woodman]

If I lived nearer to Berkshire, I'd offer to trap them for you Jenny.

[tufftie]

i ain't getting into this one other than to say they are great photos and to recommend a David Attenborough video / dvd Squirrels: Are They Tough Enough? A good make of bird feeder to use is the yankee Droll ones - had them up for a year and they've not got into them yet They are a bit expensive but have a lifetime guaruntee - even against squirrel attack. Mine squirrels (in non red area) all have names and special hoppers for nuts!
and i'm not getting baited into other discussions!

[demicav]

Must have missed this thread. They do look a bit red but are missing the ear tufts. These Grey squirrels know when they are onto a good thing. Great photos though, especially the last one, super poser.

[coasty]

Collective noun for squirrels?,,,, a Nutkin??