Not everyone appreciates having squirrels in their bird feeders. Squirrels can be aggressive toward each other while feeding, they chase away birds, and they eat huge amounts of food purchased specifically with birds in mind. Manufacturers of birdfeeders have gone so far as to design special birdfeeders that are suppose to be squirrel-proof, but I’ve taken a different approach to feeding backyard wildlife. I don’t mind providing food for the squirrels that visit my backyard, and I don’t try to discourage them from feeding. Matter of fact I provide a feeder especially for feeding the squirrels, and since I nailed a squirrel feeder to my backyard fencepost, I have yet to see a single squirrel raiding my birdfeeder.
My Backyard Squirrels
In previous years I’ve lived in areas without trees, and unlike those who want squirrels out of their feeders at all cost, I would have loved to see a few squirrels. I missed having squirrels and other four-legged critters visiting and feeding in my backyard. I now live in an area with lots of big oak trees, and the squirrels are plentiful. Instead of putting my energy into keeping squirrels away, I welcome them to my backyard. I’ve started recognizing individual squirrels, I enjoy their daily antics, and I also enjoy feeding them.
One squirrel that visits my feeder is quite large compared to the rest that regularly stop by for a meal, and he’s mostly gray. His tail is unusually broad from the base to the tip, and my daughter and I have affectionately named him Bubbles. Another squirrel that’s clearly a rival of Bubbles has a reddish coat and a gray tail. He looks like he part gray and part fox squirrel, and we’ve named him Red.
While Bubbles is feeding, Red is forced to eat the castoff food on the ground. I’ve witnessed few run-ins since we began feeding these rival squirrels, and their frolicking is very entertaining. When Bubbles begins whipping his tail it’s clear he’s angry, and it’s usually because Red is right around the corner, and he wants to protect his feeding area.
Squirrel Feeders
If you want to keep the squirrels out of your birdfeeders, move the birdfeeders away from wooden fences and trees, and provide the squirrels with an open feeder. My dad constructed a wooden box approximately 4 inches wide by 12 inches in length, and he drilled several holes in the bottom for drainage. The feeder is mounted on one of the wooden fence posts, and it’s perfect for feeding squirrels, chipmunks, and even the birds.
You don’t need a handmade wooden box or an expensive store-bought squirrel feeder. I’ve noticed inexpensive squirrel feeders at Wal-Mart, and they’re designed to hold single ears of dried corn, but all you really need is a small piece of wood with a screw driven through the base. Attach it to a tree or fence and you have an inexpensive squirrel feeder that will keep the local squirrels well fed, and for the most part, out of your bird feeders.
Food for Squirrels
If you’re feeding the squirrels dried corn, don’t assume they aren’t eating it when you find the kernels on the ground or still in the feeder. They don’t usually consume the entire kernel. While feeding on corn, they generally eat the soft white pulp from the base and the interior of the kernel, and they cast the bright yellow shells aside.
I purchased a 20 pound bag of squirrel feed from my local Wal-Mart store, and I paid about $10.00. It’s a mixture comprised primarily of corn, and it also includes small black sunflower seeds, and a small percentage of peanuts in the shell. The squirrels absolutely love this mixture, and they always go for the peanuts first. Too bad there are only about a dozen peanuts in the entire bag.
Instead of buying mixtures of prepackaged feed, I’ve decided to begin mixing my own for feeding the backyard critters. My husband recently purchased 50 pounds of dried corn for a $6.00, and I can buy a small bag of sunflower seeds and a bag of peanuts to add to the mix. With the large number of squirrels feeding on a daily basis, they’re sure to go through a lot of food, especially during the long months of winter. I intend on feeding the squirrels and providing water as long as they’re around.
