>  CS> I have glossy coated squirrels.  Do you?  If not, squirrel lovers will
 >  CS> cal you a meamie and turn you in to the local SPCA for squirrel abuse!
 > 
 > Some years ago we had a colony of ground squirrels in the field in back of
 > our house, but I haven't spotted one in the last few years now.  Big field
 > and lots of stuff for them to eat, but I guess they just died off?

That or moved on, if the lot got smaller.  Takes a fair amount of land for
that type of critter.  They live in colonies and once the colony gets too
small due to encrochment on the sides, they move on.

Tree fluffy squirrels here and they are happy.  Earlier today I walked out to
grease the pole (beef fat from a roast, rendered down as we cooked it but had
too much and it doesnt keep well nor should we be eating too much of that). 
That and refill the feeder.  2 squirrels came down to the wood pile and were
chittering at me as if to say 'hurry up'.

So, I greased the pole well and filled the feeder, and wasnt even in the door
before i heard them taking turns making fat 'plump' sounds behind me.  They
never get at the birdseed but they sometimes make it sway enough that a
little falls out.  They want the grease ;-)

There is a fine art to it too.  Fresh grease and you make a running jump at
the pole, slide down, and lick your belly and paws.  Later, when enough has
come off, sit on the ground and lick the pole then inch up, licking as you
go.

Drives the cat insane ;-)

 >  CS> A few weeks ago I was typing on COOKING echo and heard the distinct
 >  CS> 'plump' as a fat assed squirrel failed to climb the pole.  Cat and dog
 >  CS> going nuts watching.  Squirrel just looking over and going 'them again,
 >  CS> glass door between us' as he licked his paws of that chicken fat.
 > 
 > Maybe that's all he needs?  :)

Naw, they also like the nuts that drop from the backyard neighbor's tree and
the acorns from the one in front.
             xxcarol
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