Squirrel mischief
Actually the Red squirrels that I was photographing a couple of different times over the weekend weren’t getting up to too much trouble so the title is a little bit misleading. However, when I watch them tearing up and down trees, leaping between branches, grabbing seeds, etc. they seem mischievous. We had one, in the image below, that found a way into our attic from the outside last year, that crossed from mischief into nuisance but a live trap and rodent proofing measures allowed us to remove it and for it to return to the backyard
(click on any image to open a page with a higher resolution version)
This same squirrel is drawn to the bird feeders I have put out over the years. It successfully pilfered from or destroyed each of them! That has been stopped with the current, rather ugly, feeder which the squirrel can neither knock down nor draw seeds from. Some of the birds that visit, nuthatches in particular, are very picky about the seeds they eat so many seeds drop to the ground which birds and squirrels alike enjoy snacking on.
Nevertheless the squirrel still takes a crack at this feeder every couple of days as seen above. Below, he is perched on the top of the metalwork that holds the feeder as well as flowers in the summer.
Even with seeds scattered on the deck, when I observe the squirrels eating they prefer stripping cones from the tall conifers they run around in all day to get at the seeds within. We seem to have an equilibrium with the squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, birds and voles in the backyard. May it continue to last.
Christopher Martin Photography 
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Beautiful shots!!! So cute!!!
February 5, 2013 at 9:13 pm
One of my favorite creatures. Cheeky, fearless and totally self-absorbed. I once saw a pair copulating in the middle of a heavily travelled trail in Mt Robson park. Everyone has to step around them.
February 5, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Reblogged this on bearspawprint.
February 5, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Beautiful photos. What a treat to see these little guys up close!
February 5, 2013 at 4:35 pm
good shots! Great bokeh.
February 5, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Wonderful photos. They are such cute little fellows.
February 5, 2013 at 11:05 am
Active little creatures
February 5, 2013 at 10:26 am
What wonderful portraits… I love the first one, it’s just beautiful!
February 5, 2013 at 9:55 am