Saturday, April 17, 2010

Squirrel Home

We've been having a household debate regarding the new inhabitant in the backyard birdhouse. In the three years we've had that birdhouse, no bird has ever shown any interest in taking up residence. I imagine the birds don't appreciate that the birdhouse sits on the dog fence (and our dog eats birds).

Today, we noticed a squirrel in the birdhouse, with its head half-way poking out the door. It has been like this all day. I am concerned that it might be stuck in there, especially since it doesn't move when you walk near the birdhouse to look at it. Resident-lawnmower-man maintains that since it got in there, it can get back out. Then he admits, "but if there's a bad smell coming from it in a few days, then it wasn't able to get out". Besides, he says he wouldn't rescue the squirrel anyways, because "those things bite".

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

...but then you'd have a dead squirrel feeder. Ew!! My vote is to poke it gently with a stick!!

Very cute!!
~Kandace

Northern Shade said...

He looks like a pioneer squirrel who just upgraded from a sod house to a log cabin.

lifeshighway said...

I would love you to post this picture on our little blog: Cheep Rooms on Thursday. Great picture and cute log cabin birdhouse.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Well, it's a darling picture. I hope he has decided this is a nice new home.

Perhaps if he is stuck you could lift the roof off the house and help him out?

Gardenista said...

I'm happy to say that we've now seen the squirrel going in and out of the house. We think that this may be the house of choice for raising baby squirrels. Time will tell!

Signe said...

Good to know that he wasnt stucked in the birdhouse. Nice guest you got there.

Unknown said...

What a cute photo. Hope the family enjoys it. Found you from the CheepRooms blog.

Linda said...

What a great capture. It will be interesting to see if the squirrel nests in there.

maggie said...

Just came in to your blog after searching for info on lingonberries. I can tell you, judging by that damage squirrels have done to my shed in a very short time, that no wooden box will keep a determined squirrel in for long! :)

Also, the birds may have decided the opening was too large. I once read that birds look for houses with entries just big enough for them to get in and out, in order to try to protect their nest from all manner of critters that might like to steal their spot, eat their eggs, etc. From what I read, it is helpful to determine what kind of local bird you hope to attract and then supply a house with an appropriately sized opening (there are lists online).

Loved the bush photos in the post I came in on!