I'd say this was both a trick and a treat - a trick on me and a treat for a squirrel on a pre-Halloween binge. When I put two pumpkins out by the front door, I knew there was a risk that the critters would go after them but last year they waited until the pumpkins had been sitting around for a few weeks. I hadn't even gotten around to putting out any other Halloween decorations when I discovered the pumpkin carnage shown above. My skeleton is literally still in the closet.
The smaller, undamaged pumpkin has been moved into the house. A clean-up crew arrived to take care of the mess by the front door.
I moved the gutted pumpkin to the backyard, placing it under the bird feeders to allow the backyard inhabitants an opportunity to finish it off. I saw the squirrel return to the scene of the crime this morning.
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| I can almost hear his exultation: "King of the Pumpkin!" |
I hope you get more treats than tricks this Halloween!
All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Love that last pic. No shame is there.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the squirrels believe that anything left outside is fair game.
DeleteThe last photo did make me laugh, I will admit. It's pretty gutsy to literally try to eat something that's bigger than you. Squirrels--rats with tails!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to find the whole pumpkin had been gutted out in a matter of 2 days. It's hard to believe that one squirrel could have done that by itself - there must have been a parade of party-goers.
DeleteFun post. Squirrels are pests.
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed pests, although I expect I brought this result on myself. They probably did most of their work at night but I'm still surprised they had no fear of snacking right next to the front door under the glare of lights.
DeleteSquirrels are so cute! Too bad they're also so destructive! Funny post!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that even I thought the squirrel was cute in that last photo.
DeleteI have lots of squirrels around but they never seem to eat anything-well, unless you count the sunflower hearts in the bird feeder.
ReplyDeleteMy resident squirrels seem to do little but eat, Kathy. They seem more desperate this year. Perhaps the local food supply is low due to the drought.
DeleteOur squirrels are up and down the maples, eating seeds. Others are eating the last apples and burying MANY chestnuts (?). So far, they have left our pumpkins alone but we carved the pumpkins today...so fingers crossed...
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that they made such short work of the pumpkin, Emily. They tunneled right through that thick skin and most of the inside had already been consumed by the time I discovered their intrusion.
DeleteThat last shot is so cute!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could have gotten a better shot if I'd have asked him to pose. I started clicking my camera from my office window as soon as I saw him hanging out next to the pumpkin.
DeleteSlugs have tried to damage my pumpkins, but of course they can't hold a candle to the squirrels. I did see a squirrelly monster attacking an especially pretty pumpkin a few days ago. There might have been a liberal sprinkle of cayenne pepper shortly after.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I have enough cayenne pepper to protect the second pumpkin? I think I'd have to bathe the thing in cayenne sauce.
DeleteGrrrr! One got taken out by a coyote here last week; the head was in the gutter. I cheered.
ReplyDeleteI can't blame the squirrel. They're hungry and the pumpkin was just too tempting. The coyotes here have never left me a present (not that I'm complaining).
ReplyDeleteMy sister once watched a squirrel pull her seedling zinnias out of their pot - through the chicken wire cover she had laid on top! At any rate, you provided a memorable day (night?) for that squirrel... ;-)
ReplyDeletePulled seedlings! I thought only raccoons were capable of such treachery.
DeleteThat last image says it all "thanks for feeding me - oh, it wasn't for me? Oh well never mind, I enjoyed it anyway!"
ReplyDeleteI wondered if he was thinking: "Hey, where's the second pumpkin?"
DeleteHappy Halloween! the trick's on you!
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed. I checked my records from last year and found the squirrels delayed their pumpkin-eating until a few days after Halloween last year. I guess they learned from last year's experience and I didn't.
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