Birds & Blooms - USA (2021-02)

52 birdsandblooms.com FEBRUARY I MARCH 2021

How t o Ho s t

Squirrels

FIELD GUIDE

eeping squirrels out

of your bird feeders or

gardens can seem like

a losing battle—and it

probably is. Urban

tree squirrels live and look for food

almost every where. So instead

of waging a war you will not win,

perhaps it’s time to live peacefully

alongside the furry creatures.

“Squirrels are among the most

commonly observed backyard

mammals,” says Nichole Bjornlie,

a nongame mammal biologist who

is based out of Wyoming. “And they

can be quite entertaining.”

Both Nichole and Tammi

Hartung, co-owner of Desert

Canyon Farm in Colorado, say

you can be a good squirrel host

while still preserving your gardens

and bird feeders. Here are their

hard-earned tips for a successful

squirrel coexistence.

Create a Space

One of the best ways to keep

squirrels (and other wild critters)

away from your gardens and

feeders is to establish a feeding

space just for them. Tammi places

spoiled apples, corncobs and other

unprocessed foods underneath a

pear tree. Then instead of raiding

all her trees, the hungry mammals

tend to stick to one spot.

Grab the Cobs

Consider placing corncobs or

entire ears of corn on a platform.

Squirrels will happily spend hours

munching on the cobs, which

not only keeps them out of your

garden but also provides you with

endless entertainment. Birds also

appreciate the snack.

Offer Nuts

The stereotypes are indeed

true—squirrels love nuts. They

enjoy most nuts, but Nichole

recommends large varieties.

K

Seven steps to keep peace with furry

backyard critters. BY CHRISTINE PETERSON S

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Set out large nuts

for squirrels.