This weekend we bought a large cake of suet for a feeder for our backyard. It was for critters and not so much the birds. Turns out it was too big for our feeder so I put the brick of it on our deck and watched all the critters come out and go to town, gorging themselves on the corn, seeds and peanuts. We had the usual squirrels, and a new chipmunk and even a raccoon at night. We learned that we have to take it in at night or it would be gone in the morning.
I also wondered if the animals would organize and take the brick of food off the deck and into the woods. I wondered if we would come home to a little army of animals working together with a stick lever and saying "Heave ho!" They actually eventually did lift it and carry it away. It kept moving away from the house and my daughter saw a squirrel throw it down the steps and then off of the deck. The fun lasted 2 days. I got some great shots and we got to enjoy the wildlife up close. Well worth the $5 suet, I think:)!
This little guy was sooo small and sweet, but just look at those chubby cheeks. He was really stuffing his face like a little chipmunk vacuum. I was a chipmunk in my first school play in second grade so I have a love for them.
Thanks for all of your sweet comments from yesterday and for your laughs for the silly Dopey image. You all are so kind!
Little devils, but cute. One thing, if you are not used to feeding birds/squirrels, etc. It's good to keep it off the house or deck sometimes as they figure out that "inside" is where it's all kept. They then start making more jumps to the attic or get into spaces that are hard to get them out, so feeders are best hung out in the yard and not next to a window or food on a deck. I hope you don't mind me telling you this--maybe you already know. We've had three neighbors have squirrel invasions (costly ones) and the people catching and mending house stuff told them to get there feeders away from the homes.
He is so adorable and I love those cheeks. Are you naming him Alvin? I name all my regular birds. We have a pesky raccoon who robs our bird feeders and suet cakes. I usually forget to bring them in at night. Would you believe I've never seen a chipmunk? But we do have lots of squirrels.
Those cheeks are amazing! Love imagining all the little woodland critters working together on a suet-moving mission ... think maybe we've both watched too much Disney!
One of the cuter chipmunk photos I've seen. What a fun idea to make them work for dinner. I have a suggestion for the next time you try this. Can you scatter some more natural looking stuff around, like small logs, leaves, pine needles, etc? Natural surroundings would make a better photo.
@quietpurplehaze Thanks so much, Hazel!!
@bristolrose They aren't everywhere like squirrels are, and man are they fast. The food helps keep him around for photos. Thanks!
@smellychelli Yes, I'm sure. Felt good to give them a little treat:)! thanks, lady!