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By Jim Bywaters
Rappahannock News Writer
Squirrels are cute and cuddly, but once they've found your bird feeder and take over, many of us change our minds about them. The next time you watch a squirrel empty your bird feeder, keep in mind that squirrels are responsible for planting many of the trees you now enjoy.
Their instinctual habit of gathering nuts and burying them for the winter is actually to our benefit. They do not always remember or recover all their buried treasure, so we benefit when a new tree has been planted.
Entice the squirrels to their own feeding stations and keep them off your bird feeders. If you have squirrels in your area they will assume the bird feed you put out is for them. They do not know the difference between your bird feeder and the feeder you want them to use.
Squirrels will choose to feed where their favorite food is or on the feeder that is most comfortable for them.
Their favorite foods are whole raw peanuts, sunflower seed or whole or cracked com, in that order. Don't expect them to eat com if you have some peanuts or sunflower seeds lying around. Put these favorite foods into a hanging feeder or a platform feeder at ground level.
I think a platform feeder works best because it allows plenty of room for the squirrel to sit and eat.
Hopefully, if the squirrel has a feeder that it is comfortable using and can count on finding it filled with its favorite treats, it may be content and qot raid your bird feeders. If this does not work and you want to prevent squirrels from eating at your bird feeders there are a number of things that can be attempted.
People have tried dozens of things to try to prevent local squirrels from raiding their bird feeders. Most try making things slippery for the squirrels, one way is by spraying the pole your feeder is on with Pam cooking spray.
Bird feeder poles have been coated with everything from automotive grease to Vaseline, it is amusing to watch the squirrel slipping and sliding but eventually it gets to the food and makes a mess in the process. Since the days when these methods were popular we have learned ways to provide for the birds and accommodate squirrels.
Before you try squirrel-proofing your bird feeders you will need to know a few facts. Squirrels can jump great distances. They can jump five to six feet straight up from the ground, or from any surrounding
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