I didn't realize they could be that aggressive. We have a lot, but we co-exist peacefully. We have several black walnut trees. That occupies a lot of their time.

Poor sparrows...looks like you'll need to add a metal ring around the entrance. Squirrels are awfully fierce, especially when they're nesting.

We had a terrible time with them getting into our attic until we replaced our old wood siding with the cement based stuff. Maybe if you throw out cob corn it will distract them from the TV cable!

You could also get a live trap, and relocate them to a bush, at least 15 miles from home. Or, I could lend you Nicademus, my big tom, who loves to hunt cocky teenage squirrels!!! They are an absolute pest!!! What colour are they?? The red ones are the worst - they have no fear!!

Nancy.

We have a terrible time with those bushy tailed rodents. They take over our bird feeders and chew holes in them, chasing off the birds. The only thing we've found that helps is to sprinkle the bird feeders with a thick layer of cayenne (red) pepper. I spritz the feeder with cooking spray first so that the pepper will stick. Birds are not bothered by the pepper, but the squirrels will not come near once they get a whiff of it. Of course the rain eventually washes it all off and you have to re-apply, but it is satisfying to stop the little monsters at least temporarily. They are indeed aggressive and can be destructive too.

They have chewed the tops off my plastic feeders so that I couldn't use them anymore. Thanks for the tip, vicki.

Here is one of the little varmints in my yard.

{{gwi:679763}}

Owls. I had one last fall. Two earlier in the spring. Last night I heard three of them in the woods out back. Saw one swoop through the yard this morning around 7am. It was carrying something that was kicking and squealing. I hope it was the squirrel that ate my crocus bulbs.

I'm still amazed that the squirrels haven't done much damage to my garden (so far, knock wood!), considering that our subdivision is pretty much a squirrel playground. I don't know if they are simply happy eating everyone else's birdfood, but all I see them doing in my yard is run up and down the trees. I haven't been brave enough to plant crocuses, but they haven't bothered my tulips (planted by the previous owners) and I see crocuses in other yards nearby.

I did wave hello to the red fox running through my yard this morning, thanking him for keeping down the rabbit population in the area, lol. He was quite well-mannered, too - even ran through the arbor rather than the beds!

We have two red-tailed hawks nesting in a huge hawthorn that catch a lot of squirrels. Also, my dogs are pretty fast and territorial. They keep the squirrels and bunnies on their toes. (The only issue is when the hawks drop the squirrel remains in the yard and the dogs roll around in it--they reek of Eau de Dead Squirrel).

When I was a kid we used slingshots to keep them out of the gardens and birdfeeders. I don't know that we ever hit one, but we made them think twice! Then we got three cats that were indoor/outdoor cats. They just loved the taste of squirrel and would hunt together to catch one.

Hee-hee- you have red squirrels - isn't it fun to find out that they have more predators than you!!!! Way too funny.

Squirrels will stay away from daffs, in a mixture - they're poisonous, there you go.

Nancy.

You guys have some pretty nasty squirrels! Mine are Beatrix Potter like in comparison to yours! Ours are very friendly, and will even come up to the door for food. There are at least three of them, Nutmeg (the female, and the sweetest), Chippy, and Weasel. Nutmeg will take food out of your hand if you let her (which I don't). When I am walking in the park I will pick up acorns for them. I also give them a handfull of nuts when I have them. And, for a treat, a slice of peanut-buttered bread. It is so cute to hear them smack their lips and rub the PB off their wiskers!
They have never dug up a bulb. Maybe it is because I feed them. The cats do more damage to bulbs/plants than the squirrels.

Here is a pic of Nutmeg.
{{gwi:679764}}
CMK

You need to make that birdhouse opening smaller.

I have a squirrel trying to get to the feeder which is dangling from a sheppherd's hook. I had issues with raccoons too trying to get to the seeds, so in frustration I coated the pole with petroleum jelly. You should see the markings these creatures made attempting to climb up the pole. They kept sliding off like firemen coming down a pole... hilarious!

I spoke too soon about the rabbits, lol. Last night, I was in the garden, and spotted a rabbit in the back corner of the garden. But, it didn't look like the typical beige rabbits we saw at the old house. It was white and black, and didn't seem terribly afraid of me. Turns out, it belongs to a neighbor 2 doors down, and had escaped the bunny hutch in the backyard! My next door neighbor (who recognized it) and I managed to shoo it back to the gate and it snuck back under - apparently the same way it had gotten out. (The rabbit's owner wasn't home at the time). Fortunately, while it wandered around most of my garden, it didn't seem to notice my nice young lettuce or other tiny vulnerable plants. Dh did mention that he immediately knew it wasn't wild because it was too plump (he was watching out the window), so maybe that's why it wasn't bothering my veggies. I just hope it doesn't come back!