The Time for Squirrels

The squirrels have not been at all interested in the garden this year, until I put the bird feeders out in early November. I used to have to put a special feeder out with peanuts for the squirrels to keep them out of the other feeders because they would polish off all the bird foods leaving nothing for the birds. But now there are feeders that they can't get at. It is fascinating watching them trying. 

Grey squirrel on a branch

The squirrels are very busy and very bold. They make their nests in the trees round the garden, of which there are many. A squirrel's nest is called a drey. They are messy-looking, nest-like structures, typically found in forks between branches about 6  metres from the ground.  

Grey squirrel making for the bird feeder

Getting rid of squirrels is probably impossible but you can keep them from getting too bold by adding a liberal scattering of chilli round  your special plants or lots of pots of mint round the garden. Both scents are too strong for their comfort. I haven't tried this yet because I haven't had the problem too badly.  I protect my bulbs by covering the pots with wire netting until the bulbs are ready to flower. This works really well.

                                                                      Squirrel on the feeder

In spring, the early flowering bulbs get eaten to destruction by squirrels. For early primroses, there's nothing much you can do. They will get eaten, but as other things come out the problem goes away. Perhaps I'll try the chilli. 

Squirrel and pigeon after the bits