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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Keeping Squirrels Out Of The Bird Feeder


Don't you hate it when you fill the bird feeder and a 
squirrel comes along and gobbles down $5 worth of seed
in 10 minutes?  Or just spills it all over the ground, along with
the feeder?  Linda had told me about adding paprika to my
seed, but my squirrel must like paprika! ha.  So
I tried the hottest spice I own.  Ground Red Pepper.
And...it worked!  The birds don't seem to mind and the
squirrel has not been around!
It's very strong, so just a sprinkle or two in the seed
is all you need.  Then I've been giving a sprinkle to 
the roof tops of the feeders, too.



We had a lovely snowfall!
 I've enjoyed being lazy today and
 watching the huge flakes float to the ground!


It made a crisp, clean back drop for
photographing things like red boots, red birds and red berries. ha.




Looks like sugar on cherries, doesn't it?


31 comments:

  1. I'm first....Yeah. I'm so surprised the birds don't mind the pepper...

    The array of pictures are so beautiful. I tried to do nothing, but it's not in my DNA, so I puttered around and did some cleaning, and putting leftover desserts in the freezer to help me stay out of them.. However, the Berry Cobbler is till on the bottom shelf of the frig...will visit that latter this evening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "later, latter" either way...that leftover Berry Cobbler is a gonner. HaHa

      Delete
    2. I put away some things, too...and cleaning up the remnants of Christmas in the living room...and a little laundry. It's a cheese cake that stayed in the frig here...and it was delicious to visit this evening, too! hahaha.

      Delete
  2. I hope you have better luck with the red pepper than I did; after a while it didn't deter the squirrels any more. Eventually I gave up!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The poor squirrels have to eat too
    Could always task your kitty zoo
    With stopping them though
    Or just throw out some nuts and maybe away he'll go
    Pfff to the snow
    It is all gone at my show
    More to come soon I hear
    But it can come after I'm back home with nowhere to go but until then steer clear

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they have to eat
      but they should dig up the nuts they buried in summer's heat
      or hibernate the winter away
      and leave the sparrows alone at my bay.
      Jack has been seen trying to catch said squirrel
      giving quite a chase, leaving the leaves in a swirl.
      ha.

      Delete
  4. WOW...2 posts in one day!!!
    What a gal...and such lovely photos...
    We have snow coming down for about the past hour...
    Went for a lovely walk...got soaked!!

    Hope to get some nice snowy photos tomorrow...
    Enjoy your evening..
    Did you get your dangly earrings!!??

    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, just one post. The cider appeared last night. haha.

      Yes, got the earrings! Will take a photo soon. :)

      Delete
  5. Beautiful snow! We had about 3 inches.
    Love the cardinal and red boots : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were supposed to get more but it ended before we got that much! It's lovely, though!

      Delete
  6. we got snow and ice today as well...made for lovely driving to the inlaw house...christmas round 3...smiles..hope your birds like it spicy...ha...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. driving was bad here, too.....I even let The Mister take my jeep to work. :)

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. me, too! It even looks better with white! I was happy not to go anywhere in it today, though! Are you buried?

      Delete
    2. not buried but perhaps we will "blow away"? very windy!

      Delete
  8. what lovely snow all look magic and beauty!!!Love your red boots! LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was very lovely falling to the ground! The little kitties watched from the window..their first snow! ha.

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    2. cute!! really is their first snow LOL

      Delete
  9. Merry Christmas! I love lazy snowy days!
    enjoy this time!
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is one great tip to know!! Especially since I have been battling those critters for years. ha
    Your pictures are so pretty. Our snow came during the night, sadly! I love to watch it fall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let me know if it works for you! Kathy says the pain wears off and they come back! I hope not. lol...

      Delete
  11. I got so frustrated with our squirrels, so I bought a feeder that is for the birds. Now the squirrels get the seeds that drop only. Keep trying!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's been quite the winter storm, hasn't it?

    We have a pair of squirrels who frolic about in the Weeping Birch tree outside my kitchen window, but since we haven't really been feeding the birds, they haven't come looking for seeds. Bethany has birds and squirrels. Maybe she needs to know about the hot pepper.

    ReplyDelete
  13. BEAUTIFUL photos, Betsy!! Especially with the snowflakes that you cleverly have flowing across your blog! Good to know about the red pepper! They squirrels can be such piggy-pies with the birdseed! Wishing you and your men the best year ever in 2013! blessings ~ tanna

    ReplyDelete
  14. The red pepper is some good, and inexpensive, advice I will have to try!

    ReplyDelete
  15. My beloved squirrels never bother the bird feeders. They have always had their own feeder with the same seeds. I just can't keep the birds from eating out of the squirrels' feeder!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha...your squirrels are just nicer than mine! ha.

      Delete
    2. My squirrels are very nice and tame and well trained by me! hahaha They truly are though. They are sweet like your kitties!

      Delete

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