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I never paid much attention to squirrels because they’re so ubiquitous. I mean, they’re everywhere, especially around bird feeders! But I’ve gotten to know one little guy (gal?) whom I’ve named “L’il Bugger” and the critter is worming its way into my heart.

My Original Plan

It was simple. Since I was surrounded by woods, I wanted to feed the birds from my deck. I envisioned myself sipping coffee outside while my feathered friends stopped by for dinner. Armed with my Merlin Bird App, I hoped to educate myself about the local avian population. Was that too much to ask?

My son gave me two bird feeders. One was round with a base surrounded by a curved hard plastic net with tiny holes. It hung close to the deck railing. The other was a long cylinder with two openings at the bottom for access to the food. This one I placed high above the ground and away from the deck itself.

Battle of Wills

Before the word got out among my feathered friends, L’il Bugger turned up. After scampering along the deck railing, he stopped short at the round feeder. He tapped it with his paw, knocked it around a few times, and butted his nose against the plastic barrier. After staring at it, he batted it around a few more times to get at the sunflower seeds (which, as seeds go, are pretty large). The next thing I knew, L’il Bugger was chowing down from his comfy deck perch. I don’t know how he got his snout close enough to get to those seeds, but he did. I had to admire his problem-solving skills, agility, and perseverance. At least, the other feeder was too high, too far from the deck, and there’s nothing to perch on to get to it. My human brain had it all figured out. I would compromise. He could enjoy the round feeder and the other feeder would be strictly for the birds. Everyone will be happy.

Squirrel Brain Gymnastics

It didn’t take L’il Bugger long to scamper up the shepherd’s hook that held the cylindrical feeder high above the ground. He paused for a mere second to figure out how to get his snout into the feeder openings at the bottom of the cylinder. No problem. Just hang upside down, with little claws somehow clinging to the plastic sides.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. With the woods’ leafless trees to observe, I’ve noticed the squirrels scampering to the tops of trees and running down the trunks just as fast. They leap from branch to branch in seconds. Nothing stops these little gymnasts, and they never fall.

I’ve come to the sad conclusion that L’il Bugger’s problem-solving skills outmatch my human ones, and as for agility, well, forget it. Won’t even go there.

So, if you tell me I’m “Squirrely,” I’ll thank you for the compliment.