I know if you feed them by hand they will do this.
I was worried about this squirrel because she had NOT fed it by hand and it was so unafraid.
Perhaps enough other humans have "tamed" it, it is not afraid of any of us.

At least it only goes to the feeder, not otherwise coming up to me. I just wish it would understand that it's a BIRD feeder and not monopolize it so much!

I have a separate feeder mainly for the squirrel on his favorite tree, that frees up the other feeders for the birds. I gave him some cotton balls for his nest that he was making in the woodpile.

LindaTX8 said:At least it only goes to the feeder, not otherwise coming up to me. I just wish it would understand that it's a BIRD feeder and not monopolize it so much!

Good luck with THAT!!!!
They are such little thieves!
I was just concerned because it showed no fear.

mcash70 said:I have a separate feeder mainly for the squirrel on his favorite tree, that frees up the other feeders for the birds. I gave him some cotton balls for his nest that he was making in the woodpile.

I was thinking of suggesting that.
Thanks for wording it for me!

Margaret, great picture of your cute squirrel friend. You must have a really, really large woodpile if it's big enough for a squirrell to make his home.

Well it's not overly huge, it's our summer camping wood. Here's a photo of him a little later with a cotton ball in his paws, he'd roll it into a tight little ball put it in his mouth and take it into the wood pile..

Smart squirrel to make himself such a nice home.

I know lots of people get frustrated wuth the squirrels but I don't mind them. I just scatter my bird seed on the ground, on the driveway actually so that there is plenty of room for the squirrels and birds both to get to eat.

That's the thing, as long as you have enough feeders and food it's fine, he can't chase all of the birds all of the time, he just gets tired.

He's adorable Margaret. Or should we say she?

Ann, I think that one was a he, they need warm homes too.

Oh, DUH. I was thinking nest as in nest for babies not nest as in warm place to pass the cold Canadian winter.

They built very big plush nests, they use plant silk, dried grass, tissues, rags, anything they can get their little paws on.

I never knew that. I mean, I know they build big nests b/c they do that here & I have seen many in the trees --- BIG nests but here, I have always seen them built of leaves & pine needles. Many finally fall to the ground & I have examined them but only found plant matter. I guess if one put out rags, cotton & whatnot then I would have found those in the nests. Interesting. Thanks for the info.!

Around here I have not only seen the squirrels nest in hollow trees like they do but they also build nest of stricks and twigs and whatever that look like giant footballs on and in amoung the tree limbs. I guess there are not enough tree hollows for all of them.

The year before last one was built in the spruce tree in the back yard, we had a big wind in the spring and it blew down, lots of interesting stuff in it..

A few years ago when DH was getting wood for camping he found a nest with a dead squirrel in it, I guess it died during the winter, probably an old one, I got a photo if you want to see it!

Cute pics Linda and Margaret!

We get a lot of gray ones here, but love to see the reddish brown ones the best!

Thanks Marilyn, no grays here, at least so far, I do love to see the little critters even if they dig in my containers to hide their peanuts.

mcash70 said:Thanks Marilyn, no grays here, at least so far, I do love to see the little critters even if they dig in my containers to hide their peanuts.

Same here. They put all kinds of nuts in my containers.

They even jump up to our birdbath to get drinks of water.

One good thing, they are very territorial so we only have one at a time. They drink from our bird bath also. When we first moved here we didn't realize how small an opening those critters can get through, DH had our fishing waders hanging in the garage, in the spring when he took them down to go fishing he found the feet had been filled with peanuts.