The Squirrel Whisperer

Matt's obsession with squirrels started back in college. He and his old roommate Pete turned their back deck into a squirrel hacienda. There was even a contraption that involved an old aquarium and a rope threaded through an upstairs window. Yes, they actually did capture one.  All this was fine and good until the squirrels starting eating the deck.

There was also the trip to Charleston when Matt convinced the squirrels in Battery Park to eat directly out of his hand.

I am sure you are thinking "What an appropriate hobby to pass down to the children!" If those were your thoughts, you are correct!!  A favorite past time in our house now is feeding and watching the squirrels on the back deck. First there was the occasional leftover bread left out for them. Then it was a spare handful of deer corn. All of a sudden there were what seemed like weekly trips to buy bags of corn. Ears were tied to branches, creating The Squirrel Olympics. Next thing I know corn ears are tied to string hanging off of various items. The squirrels quickly realized they can chew through the string and make off with an ear. Nothing is funnier than seeing a squirrel 30 feet in the air on a tree branch with this huge ear of corn.

Now snacks are eaten with the chairs not at the table, but at the back window. Avery thinks it is hilarious when the squirrels start fighting, or "tackling" as she calls it. Will likes to count the seemingly hundreds (okay, not really) squirrels that congregate on our deck. And let me tell you, these are some FAT squirrels.

The worst was one day when a neighborhood cat made it into our back yard and was hunting the squirrels. If I hadn't run outside screaming, Avery would have gotten a very close up and personal National Geographic nature lesson!!!

It could be worse....as long as those bushy rats don't eat the deck, I suppose I can tolerate this!