a short video introduction to one of my outdoor "pets"

[fizzgig]

he's one of my buddies who frequents the critter cafe and, seeing as i have nothing else to do with my day, i decided to get this. i get a lot of entertainment watching the squirrels, jays and sparrows hang out here.

he was quite bummed out this morning when i had no peanuts for him and finally resigned himself to the critter corn. he even came down onto the patio table to give me the stink eye. i could feed him out of my hand, but that's about where i draw the line.

[shenmue]

1. Nom nom nom

I can has napkin?

[Curmudgeoness]

2. What! No peanuts!

How horrible!

He is a cute little bugger. I have too many of those cuties eating at my "bird" feeders to truly appreciate this.

[fizzgig]

3. they're the reason i don't put out bird seed

i have nowhere for a squirrel-proof bird feeder and, between them and the jays, i don't think the little guys would get much. but the blackbirds and sparrows seem happy with what the bigger critters leave behind and the raccoons are known to join the party. i didn't even know jays ate peanuts until this summer.

we're right on the corner of a busy intersection and my little urban zoo is my respite.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I am just resigned to feed them all.

Or at least all who get there in time. And I am surprised at how many birds also are able to get in on the feast. Nuthatches, goldfinches, cardinals, titmouses, woodpeckers.....they all find a way to get some before the squirrels get it all. I put it out in the morning, and by the time the raccoons and opossums show up at night, there is nothing left.

[TorchTheWitch]

5. stinking tree rates ate my patio furniture

less than 24 hours after I got it and put it out on the front porch. They totally annihilated the seats by tearing them to shreds. They open the lid to my mailbox and drop food they're saving for later inside like the tomatoes they steel from my neighbor's garden, apple cores, bits of stinky unidentifiable crap they tear out of peoples' garbage when it's put out on the curb for pick up, and especially the remains of someone's corn on the cob they've eaten and thrown the cob away. in the trash with no damn LID etc.

They've decided they own my front porch (though I don't like sitting out there this time of year anyway since it's also where the mosquitoes lie in wait for me) and refuse to be shooed off the porch though they will grudgingly share it with me as long as the dog stays in the house, and I make no complaint over whatever mess they're making, and they get to chitter at me as loud as they like and for as long as they want.

Last spring I once opened the front door to go get my mail and one the jerks was waiting at my door, and tried to run into my house. Even with Yoshi standing right there! It tried to scoot past him under his legs which freaked Yoshi out which made him dance around freaking out the tree rat so it ran back out on the porch, turned around and glared at him chittering obscenities for not letting him come inside.

Though they're cuter than rats they're still just as much vermin and carry all kinds of parasites and diseases. I wouldn't be hand feeding one.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. I know it isn't funny,

but your post made me laugh. Especially the mail box storage unit. But I am sorry that the patio furniture was destroyed...that would really tick me off.