Why squirrels will never get to my bird seed. (tree, spring, plants)
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Good point above ^. Just about every other kind of animal eats birds, even deer eat birds. Attracting birds to a feeder is setting up the unsuspecting hapless birds as live bait to attract all other predators in the neighbourhood. Rats, mice, squirrels, snakes, big lizards, dogs, cats, raccoons, possums, skunks, weasels, foxes, coyotes, deer, bears, crows, hawks, owls - they all eat birds and they're all keeping an eye on the bird feeders to try to score a few easy pickings of live bait birds to chow down on.
Good point above ^. Just about every other kind of animal eats birds, even deer eat birds. Attracting birds to a feeder is setting up the unsuspecting hapless birds as live bait to attract all other predators in the neighbourhood. Rats, mice, squirrels, snakes, big lizards, dogs, cats, raccoons, possums, skunks, weasels, foxes, coyotes, deer, bears, crows, hawks, owls - they all eat birds and they're all keeping an eye on the bird feeders to try to score a few easy pickings of live bait birds to chow down on.
You are right about attracting predators to a central location. The cats can be relentless and many 'animal lovers' will harbor every stray cat in the neighborhood - then let them outside to munch on the birds at their bird feeders or just feed the feral cats as well as the birds (a losing combination for the birds). If a hunter would shoot an endangered bird there would be steep fines and maybe jail time. However society turns a blind eye to what animal lovers do with birdseed and cat food.
Here is an UK article about how half the birdseed is fed to their squirrels: https://www.theguardian.com/environm...rd-seed-a-year. One thing that is also overlooked is nature as many feed 'their' birds and squirrels. Nature abhors a vacuum. If you bring squirrels into your backyard and feed them; they will multiply. Of course many humans do not see that as a problem and simply put out more birdseed - but then they have a bigger problem. Their neighbors also share this problem which makes it difficult to garden.
Even if bird feeders are totally squirrel proof; squirrels still reap some of the benefits. Birdseed still get's knocked to the ground and the squirrels still hang around waiting and testing the squirrel safeguards. Unless you are feeding with the birdseeds squirrels don't eat; you will still have problems.
.....So yes, squirrels are cute, and fun to have around just like birds, as they are otherwise harmless, and it's fun to watch them interact with each other, but they can be pests also.
Its sad most wildlife is scared of humans.... I think it would be beautiful if you could pet Squirrels,etc......... I love Nature and its kinda sad seeing them run away when you go near them but I guess its understandable....
"I think it would be beautiful if you could pet Squirrels" I was lucky enough to have one as a pet after he befriended us as a very young pup, raised him with a bottle and goats milk. He hung around for a year, came morning and night for his ration of pecans...until the neighbor shot him. Had more fun and got more enjoyment with him than any dog I've ever had.
Even in nature, some bad habits interfere. Some squirrels pulled wires and nested in my car engine during the winter. It was not fun or 'cute' to replace the wirs and clean out the nest spots in the engine.
There are plenty of oak trees ..so no I don't make them dependent on food by feeding them.
I'm actually concerned as this is the first year that no butterflies have been near the garden. Just as bees are scarce and needed in plant life...so too are butterflies...
Plant some milkweed and you will have monarch butterflies.
Good point above ^. Just about every other kind of animal eats birds, even deer eat birds. Attracting birds to a feeder is setting up the unsuspecting hapless birds as live bait to attract all other predators in the neighbourhood. Rats, mice, squirrels, snakes, big lizards, dogs, cats, raccoons, possums, skunks, weasels, foxes, coyotes, deer, bears, crows, hawks, owls - they all eat birds and they're all keeping an eye on the bird feeders to try to score a few easy pickings of live bait birds to chow down on.
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Hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. A friend had a squirrel feeder in her yard. Hawks would sit and wait for them to show up, and no more Mr. Squirrel. She took it down because she felt like she was 'leading them to the slaughter.'
I like to feed the squirrels and birds, but I didn't use a feeder, just because it was more fun that way to me. I would buy a big bag of unsalted peanuts and toss them. Squirrels of course will take a whole peanut away (some squirrels will take two at a time). Towhees will take a whole peanut. For smaller birds such as chickadees you have to break open the peanut and toss them a half-kernel.
I don't dislike squirrels. I simply like birds better. And I don't like them eating the expensive seed I buy for the birds. But they are welcome in my yard and get plenty to eat from what the birds spill out on the ground. Some seed to be extra picky and pull a seed out and then spit it out. I think they all are getting along fine. My cats are inside only so they like watching the action too. Everybody is good.
I never understood why people think it's so great to feed birds that are perfectly capable of feeding themselves without someone putting food out for them, and then act like any other animal looking for food is somehow a nuisance and a squatter. Squirrels and other animals like to eat as much as birds do.
I don't like the squirrels because they will dig through the feeder looking for the sunflower seeds. They can empty a feeder pretty quickly.
I have watched the squirrels try many ways to get to the seed, but they almost always fail.
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