Three seems to be the magic number

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We have plenty of grey squirrels around here – the invasive ones some short-sighted people imported from America and released almost 150 years ago. They have carried a deadly disease to the native red squirrels and they cause a lot of damage to woodlands as well. So when I put out food for the birds I get annoyed by the squirrels stealing it – not only because I didn’t buy it for them, and they deprive the birds of their chance to feed, and damage the feeders too, but because I don’t want to be giving them a helping hand! This means that every time I spot one approaching the feeders I have to open the window or door (depending which side of the house it’s on) and shout, wave, bang things, clap my hands etc. Some of the squirrels just give me a cocky look; others are more jittery. But opening and closing a brightly-coloured umbrella seems to scare them off, for a few minutes at least. Of course I have lots of other things taking up my time while they have nothing better to do than wait for me to go away and then come sneaking back. But I have found that if I scare the same squirrel away three times in quick succession it generally gives up at that point and goes elsewhere. All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2024.