squirrelled!
By Franl155
9 Aug, 2014
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I had two square bird feeder cages for suet slabs. Notice I use the past tense! I put one on the inverted plant tray on the ground at the foot of the spike it had been hanging on, for ground-feedingbirds. Today I noticed that the tray had been moved and the cage was missing. Completely missing! Not on the bed beside it, not on the grass anywhere. Got the gardener to look, knowing how good I'd be at spotting dark green on green! and he couldn't see it anywhere either.
Must have been squirrels - and they must have dragged it across the bed to the fence, up the fence (wouldn't go thorugh), down the other side and away.
I had something similar happen at the old place, but then I'd hung the feeder on the back fece and they'd just taken it over the top so I had to fish for it with a hook on a bit of string. Thought I'd be safe here! but seems I've got to start nailing feeders down ...
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I didn't see the crime committed, so it may be a bit unfair for me to blame the squirrels without any proof (it may not have been them last time, either) - but a square metal feeder with a full suet bar in must weigh a bit to small animals, it'd take strength, dextyrity and a lot of cunning to realise that hey, we don't have to come and get it a bit at a time, we can nick the whole thing!
Sadly, me and early mornings are total strangers at the moment - trying to work on that, but it's a slow process up a steep hill, i keep slipping back.
lol i really must get a webcam set up, not just to watch the birds from a distance, but to check out burglars!
11 Aug, 2014
I did wonder about rats, Fran, as I know they like to take food back to their nest and they are very intelligent, if unwelcome, garden visitors.
11 Aug, 2014
never thought of that! it could well be - thjere's enough "wild wood" to sustain a colony. So long as they mostly stick to their own side of the fence!
they're a bit like mice - ok in their own environment, not at all welcome in yours!
11 Aug, 2014
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I would keep a watch, early morning and at night, Fran, to see what is taking your goodies. I have never had any trouble with thieving squirrels, they just eat and go!
11 Aug, 2014