Just a couple of softies....

If you've been reading my blog since the beginning, you know that the Englishman and I have been doing battle with the resident squirrels in our yard in an effort to keep them from consuming all the bird seed we have put out.  We've tried a couple of different feeders and varying positions in the yard.  So far, it appears it's:  Squirrels - 1, Humans - 0

So yesterday the Englishman and I went off in "Big Red", his truck aptly nicknamed by my mother, and battled the holiday traffic to do a little shopping.  We went to the bird store and picked up a specially designed chain and corn cobs specifically for the squirrels.  Something about, if you can't beat them....

The Englishman set up the aforementioned contraption and here is the result:

At first, the little furry guy was a little skeptical.  He wasn't sure if he was being set-up, possibly for capture or a basset hound snack.  But after a couple of stare-downs thru the kitchen window,  which I won, he quickly got the hang of it as you can see.  He even has some competition from a fellow rodent who liked the look of this enticing treat.

I know, I know.  It seems crazy to be spending money on feeding these often annoying, and sometimes destructive creatures.  But hence, the name of this post.  The Englishman says we are just a couple of softies, feeling bad for any living creatures in need of food.  (Insects are the exception.  I have no interest in prolonging their lives.  Or snakes.)  So we will continue to feed the little guys, at least thru the winter.

The goal, with our change in battle plan, is that they will now leave the seed alone for the increasing number of birds flocking to our backyard.  Perhaps we will finally be able to even the score.  One can only hope.  Will keep you posted.