GUESS WHO CAME TO DINNER ....

[ThatGuyRick]

When I was a young man living in my first apartment I used to feed the birds from my balcony on the third floor. I put out sunflower seeds and peanuts. The peanuts were quite popular with the Blue Jays and squirrels. The squirrels, and to a lesser extent the Blue Jays, became quite tame and would come to the balcony whenever they would see me putting out food. One time (I was young and dumb then) I left the balcony sliding door open and tried to lure the squirrels into my house to get a peanut. Well, it didn't take long for the squirrels to learn to come into the house, take a peanut from my outstretched hand, and run back out to the balcony and eat the peanut. I loved feeding them that way. 

One day I put the nuts on the balcony and left the sliding door open a bit in case the squirrels wanted to come in and get more peanuts. I relaxed on the sofa to watch some TV and soon fell asleep. When I woke up there were two squirrels in my living room, one on top of the TV and one in the bag of peanuts I had in the hallway, and two Blue Jays sitting on the backs of my dining room chairs. Still groggy from the nap, I wasn't sure whether I was seeing things or not. In a split second I realized that they were definitely there, two squirrels and two Blue Jays came to dinner. I chased them out of the house and was more careful from then on about leaving the balcony door open. 

That was more than 40 years ago but somehow I still think it might be cool to have a squirrel come into my house for a peanut, or maybe not. - Rick -

[Kathy_SD]

That is a great story Rick, I enjoyed it. 

I wouldn't want a squirrel in my house because I am not fond of rats or tree rats but I would love to have a blue jay over for dinner since they are one of my favorite birds. 

[Ladybird]

What a great story. You have me cracking up

[carross]

Cute story, We had a pet squirrel many years ago, son would feed it from a tray and then from his hand will a glove on
. It was very young when it first came to the feeder and DH said try feeding it. Finally in the end we had to take it way out in the woods, as it was becoming too tame.


Thanks for sharing  

[maryinmichigan]

Funny story Rick. I would not want them in my house tho because I have some cafe style lace curtains. They might get shredded.
Cute story tho.

[plantdoctor]

Funny story, Rick!  About 20 years ago I woke up one morning to a terrible sound in our son's room.  He had already left for work, so I went in to check it out.  There were 3 baby (more like teenager) squirrels destroying his bedroom.  They had chewed a hole in the screen door to get in.  By time we got them out, they had shredded the curtains at his windows and also destroyed his bed spread.  Thank God they have never done that since.  Charlene

[Stella]

I enjoyed your definition of more or less 'unwanted guests for dinner'....lol.

Oh yes, one can experience surprises...that's for sure.  I've had birds fly into the
house, squirrels up the chimney in the slow combustion stove, and recently a
BAT that flew and almost drove me crazy.  From now on, I will be more careful
with my patio door.

My next door neighbor has a permanent feeding dish with sunflower seeds for
the squirrels.  She had a resident one come every day into the house.  Then
the very same squirrel had young ones.  The mom passed away, and her
daughter is the new visitor.  Strange, but all these squirrels seem to find their
way to my bird feeders as well.  I do not appreciate that.  Still.....they are
living things so what is one supposed to do.....

[Donna-Z5]

Rick, it sounds like you had a lot of fun when you were young. My Mom tamed a squirrel when we were young and it would sit at the door every day waiting for someone to feed him. Mom named him Petey.

Thanks for sharing your fun times with us. :)

[Gayle]

A cute story Rick.  My DH used to feed them peanuts from the end of kitchen tongs.  He didn't quite trust them enough not to bite.

[pippin3]

Stelios...our little birds would starve if we didn't have our Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder...they don't harm them, just cut off the food because of their weight. Got ours at Duncraft years ago and the squirrels now just eat the pecans in the trees. Plenty of those for them!

[bwatcher]

I enjoyed reading your story and as I was reading it there was a part of The Griswald Family's Christmas Vacation that came to mind. They brought the tree in along with a squirrel and the chaos that ensued afterwards. I had to watch this clip again. I laughed all over again. In three years of trapping I've removed 49 from my backyard. I removed 10 this spring.

Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase

[sweetgum52]

(rofl)

[luvmyb_b]

That is one heck of a story, Rick!  I have often worried about a hummingbird coming in the house when I was bringing the feeder in to change the syrup.  At one time the feeder hung on the patio window right next to the direction the door opened.  Thankfully one never came in the house with me as it followed the feeder, but I sure did wonder about it.  I ended up moving the feeder to the opposite side of the door, but the darn thing fell off the window and the hanger broke.  Now that the replacement feeder hangs on a shepherd's hook away from the door, I don't worry about that so much. 

Every great once in a while, a squirrel will come around here that is not the least bit people shy.  I'm guessing they have made friends with a human somewhere along the way. I don't see a lot of blue jays around here.  One year I did see them hanging around, though, so I put peanuts in a window sill or on a patio table and they did come over to get them.  That was fun!  

[mnwildflowers]

Aug 29, 2016 14:56:40 GMT -5 bwatcher said:

I enjoyed reading your story and as I was reading it there was a part of The Griswald Family's Christmas Vacation that came to mind. They brought the tree in along with a squirrel and the chaos that ensued afterwards. I had to watch this clip again. I laughed all over again. In three years of trapping I've removed 49 from my backyard. I removed 10 this spring.

Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase

Very cute story Rick.  I do love the squirrel scene from that movie Mary.  Cracks me up every time.  When the grandpa yells "SQUIRREL" while its on Chevys back always bust me up.  We used to have a dog that we would say squirrel that way and he could be in a dead sleep and would be at the window in an instant!! lol

[iliz9]

Rick you are a good story teller....I read it to DH, both laughed hard...it is just funny when our dog sneaks in the house without us noticing...then we find him happily napping by the kitchen door, his favorite spot