Squirrel woes

[kathyh]

Squirrels are evil little monsters. So far this year they have eaten half our tulip bulbs (and I'm sure they've got their eyes on the rest), probably all of the crocuses and dug holes in our newly laid lawn. Last year I stopped them by putting down some chicken wire but this year we were in a rush to plant the bulbs as the garden refurbishment had

Comments

[kazzy_cee]

I stopped squirrels eating out camellia buds this year by giving them peanuts. Maybe that might help?

[kathyh]

Hmm... I'm a bit reluctant to feed them on the grounds that I think it was burying things that led them to dig up the lawn. Apparently it is a bad year for squirrels this year due to a glut of acorns in autumn 2020 which means there are more of them about now and they are hungry.

[brunettepet]

I had no idea squirrels ate bulbs! We have tons of the furry jerks but they've never gone after our daffodils or crocuses.

[kathyh]

I'm afraid they love tulip and crocus bulbs but are less keen on daffodils. If I hadn't been so furious I would have taken a photo of a squirrel brazenly tucking in to one of our crocus bulbs in full view of us!

[archaeologist_d]

I like squirrels because they are so ridiculous. We don't have them eating tulips or other bulb plants but we have loads of deer that do so it's wire over what we can.

Good luck with D. I hope things go well.

[kathyh]

Thank you. D seems to be coping very well and it is his partner we are actually more worried about, which seems a bit bizarre.

We should have put wire over the bulbs but we can't do it over the lawn. I used to like squirrels!

[geekslave]

Sorry about the squirrels!

I hope you can cheer your friend up.

Stacey

[kathyh]

Our friend seems quite calm about the whole process. Weirdly it is his partner we are more worried about as he doesn't seem to be coping with the stress very well.

The squirrels are a menace!

[scotscookie]

I hadn't seen any squirrels round me for years but since I retired and feed the birds regularly, two have turned up. One of them is the fattest squirrel I have ever seen in my life - possibly because he's eating the sunflower hearts... I have to admit, it is rather funny to watch him hanging upside down from the top of the feed station, hugging the actual feeder as he munches. I laugh - then I chase him (not that it does much good!). I am mollified by the number and variety of birds that are turning up - it's a delight to see them.

[kathyh]

We've been plagued by squirrels for the past couple of years. There were two big trees in the alleyway behind our garden and when they were taken down the squirrels lost their habitat so have been taking their revenge. I did start putting out food for the birds in a "squirrel proof" feeder during the first lockdown and we were getting a nice variety of birds until the squirrels discovered how to get at the feeder. Their acrobatics were funny but they ate everything so I gave up. I may have to start again just to distract them from the bulbs!

We repaired our lawn this morning. Less than an hour later a squirrel was trying to dig it up again. Luckily I spotted him and rushed out yelling murderous threats. You have to admire their persistence :)