Squirrel bait
March 12, 2008I have resorted to paying protection to the Squirrel Mafia.
Dried corn on the cob seems to be the preferred rodential snack. You can get it for about 6 dollars per 10 pound sack, I think it was I paid. Throwing out a cob or two in a corner of the yard away from the bird feeders and the deck seems to keep the street-level workers occupied, and I’m supposing they pay their own tribute to the Don. I prefer to keep my distance from the upper echelons if I can. Let them handle that particular piece of the business. From some dreams I had as a child, I suspect I do Not want to meet the Squirrel Boss or his enforcers personally. Ask my mom. They all have rabies, so she has maintained, since the very first time I tried to tame one of the backyard tail-frisking beggars/ bandits/ strong-arm artists. Go ahead, just ask her.
Experimentally, it does seem to keep their bushy tails and gnawing teeth occupied, someplace other than on my roof, hanging from my gutters headfirst, or doing a balancing act off the branches nearest the spring-loaded tube feeder. Which means the poor little birdies just might get a chance to eat some of what I put out for them their own selves.
It’s humiliating, but it keeps the peace in the neighborhood.
The only way to solve the problem is to get two rival squirrel gangs to eliminate each other…and that only works until another tree-rat sets himself up as the Godsquirrel.