Sneaky Little Fluffbum!

  The squirrels and I continue our battle over the garden plots.  They are determined to eat us out of house and home and I am equally determined to salvage what I can.  This war has waged on ever since my "Big Mama" rat snake has either gone on to other areas or has met her untimely demise.  She kept things in check and I fully appreciated her efforts.  Of course, her hiding spot of the rose arbors has been demolished so perhaps she felt uncomfortable being so exposed. Whatever the cause, I miss her dearly.  The snake had become "one of the family" and fully did her part to help out around here.  Now, the squirrels have free rein to do as they please and that usually means raiding the garden.

  Recently, I decided that perhaps plying the fluffy rodents with an alternate source of food would deter them.  It has somewhat but they still steal figs and tomatoes occasionally.  The free food in the bird feeders has only made the squirrels bolder.  Now, they have no qualms about visiting even when I am in the gardens.  This was not the idea I had in mind as I have birdseed far down the hill where they can eat in peace and leave my garden in peace.  Nope, one glorified rat insists on eating out of the makeshift feeder at the front door. This is an overturned glass tabletop that works well at keeping the seeds from spilling on the ground.  One rascal will come down the oak tree next to the house and sneak to the feeder.  If he fills his belly, he will promptly lie down and take a snooze...ON THE FEEDER!   He keeps birds from eating all of the seeds by covering it with his sprawled out body! Smart but aggravating.

  This afternoon, I was sitting in a chair next to his usual route of the oak tree.  Even before I could see the squirrel, his little feet could be heard scritching along the bark.  The critter did not stop descending the tree until he was just three feet from me.  Then, he sat, looked at me and went no further.  After ten minutes of waiting for me to leave, the fluffbum decided that I needed scolding.  He did!  That did it!  I stood up and shooed the squirrel back up the tree with the water hose!  Silly critter!  I guess until another rat snake takes up residence in the garden, my war shall continue even though this is one cute villain!