Archives

BACKYARD SECRET: DEALING WITH SQUIRRELS EATING SUET AT FEEDERS

Feb22

          If you are having a problem with gray squirrels eating more than their share of suet, here is something you might want to try.  Typically, squirrels prefer eating suet laced with peanut butter and peanuts.  If this is the case in your backyard, simply replace the peanut butter suet with plain suet. While birds will eat it, it seems that bushytails are not particularly fond of plain suet.  While this solution might not work in all backyards, this simple, inexpensive approach to this problem just might work for you.

THE 5-7-9 RULE DOESN’T WORK FOR BLOGGER

Jan4

      In my last blog for 2025, I wrote about the 5-7-9 rule.  These recommendations relate to the ideal location for a bird feeder.  The rule simply states that feeders should placed 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet away from structures such as fences, shrubs and trees, and in a spot 9 feet below an overhanging limb.  In the posting, I asked for feedback from anyone that has erected a feeder following these parameters.

       To date, only one individual has been kind enough to share his experiences.  Here is what John Kelly says about what happened when he place a feeder in his yard following the rule, “I have a feeder that met all of those criteria, but squirrels didn’t have any problem dropping 10 feet from an overhanging limb and landing on the feeder.  They could easily grab onto the rough wood top.  So, I covered the top with smooth metal, painted it with slippery paint, and waxed it.  It was hilarious to watch them hit the top and slide right off.”

       I want to thank John for sharing his experiences with us.  If you have experimented with placing feeder in your yard using the 5-7-9 rule, please share your findings with us.

BACKYARD SECRET – ARMADILLOS DON’T HIBERNATE

Dec21

        Since armadillos are rarely, if ever, seen scampering around our yards when it is cold, it is easy to assume they hibernate. In truth, they do not hibernate. 

       Since they are essentially hairless, they have a rough time keeping their bodies warm during frigid weather. Consequently, the only way they can keep warm on cold winter days is to retreat to burrows dug in the ground.  Once the air temperature rises, these odd mammals leave their warm hideaways and resume searching for insects and worms.

BACKYARD SECRET – FROGS CANNOT VOMIT

Sep17

        When we eat something that does not agree with us, our bodies often cause us to vomit up the food that is causing us problems.  Once the foul food is expelled from our bodies, we are well on the way to feeling much better.  Such is not the case with frogs—they cannot vomit.

       When a frog consumes a moth, beetle or other critter that causes it to suffer from gastric they use a far more bizarre technique to alleviate its problem. Believe it or not, they actually expel their entire stomach through their mouth. This behavior is called gastric inversion.  Once the stomach is outside the frog’s body, the frog uses its forelegs to clean out whatever caused its stomach distress.  When the unwanted material is removed and the frog retracts its stomach it goes on its way.

       As much as I dislike vomiting, I am certain I prefer it to gastric inversion.

BACKYARD SECRET – HEADBOBBING HELPS GREEN ANOLES SELECT MATES

Aug17

        In the natural world, females select their mates in many ways. Interestingly, in the world of the green anole, the males that bob their heads the most often are the ones that are most likely to get a chance to breed with females.

OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL COCKROACH

Jun23

           If there was ever a contest to crown Georgia’s most beautiful cockroach, I am certain that the winner would be the pale-bordered field cockroach (Pseudomops septentrionalis).  I never thought that it is impossible to describe a cockroach is being beautiful.  Then a few days ago, I just happened to find a pale-bordered field cockroach.  When I first looked at it, it appeared to be a bauble that had fallen of a necklace or bracelet.  Upon closer examination, I saw the object had six legs and was adorned with a distinctive pattern that was far different from any cockroach I have ever seen.

            This cockroach is small (1/2 to 5/8 inches long).  Unlike the cockroaches we are familiar with,  it rarely ventures into our homes.  Instead, it remains outside living its life in the thick cover found in our backyards, gardens, and natural areas.  It is particularly fond of mulch, and woodpiles.  It is a scavenger that spends the daylight hours feeding on the juices of low-growing plants and flowers.  Fortunately, it does not damage plants nor is a garden pest.  In addition, unlike other cockroaches, they are not known to carry any diseases that can infect humans.

            This insect is not native to the United States.  Instead, its home range includes Mexico and Costa Rica.  Interestingly, some experts believe it was accidentally brought here in shipments of bananas.

            If you spot a pale-bordered field cockroach in your backyard, I suspect that you might exclaim, “It is the most beautiful cockroach I have ever seen!”  

 

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A GREEN ANOLE RUN FASTER?

Jun15

        A common resident in my backyard is the green anole.  I particularly enjoy watching them stalking insects among the stems and foliage of the plants growing in containers on my deck or basking on a plant or deck rail.   Whenever I get too close to them, they quickly run away.

       This prompted me to wonder how fast a green anole can move. It seems that while green anoles are able scamper away at a seemingly fast pace, when compared to humans, they cannot run very fast at all.  The truth of the matter is the fastest a green anole can run is a little over 10 mph. In comparison, the fastest humans can sprint at speeds of more than 27 mph.

       I have heard people say that green anoles will run faster if you scream at them. When I first heard this claim, I found it hard to believe.  Much to my surprise, when I did some research on the subject, I found that the claim may be valid.

       The reason I say this is in laboratory settings scientists have found that green anoles do indeed run faster in response to repeated loud noises.  Could screaming prompt the small lizards to scamper away faster than normal?  It does seem possible.

       The next time you spot a green anole, yell at it and see if the lizard does scamper off quicker than you expected.  If you do so, make sure your neighbor is not nearby.  If you do not heed my advice, you may have a difficult time explaining why you are yelling at lizards.

BARKYARD SECRET – SQUIRREL TEETH NEVER STOP GROWING

May25

         Thank goodness, our incisor teeth are far different from those of squirrels.  While our teeth reach a certain length and do not grow any longer, such is not the case with squirrels.

       Take the gray squirrel, for example, its incisors grow roughly six inches per year.  This necessitates their having to wear them down.  They accomplish this task by gnawing on hard objects such as bark, wood, and nuts.  If they are unable to do so, the incisors get longer and longer and being to curl.  When this happens, the teeth eventually curl.  A squirrel with is malady can starve.  In some cases, the teeth can also grow into the animal’s mouth.  In extreme cases, the teeth will actually grow into the hapless creature’s brain!

BACKYARD SECRET – GRAY SQUIRRELS CAN BE LEFT OR RIGHT-HANDED

Jan13

        I am willing to bet you have never wondered whether gray squirrels can be ambidextrous, right, or left-handed.  I know I didn’t.  However, research conducted by scientists at the University of Exeter found that gray squirrels can indeed be ambidextrous, right, or left-handed.

       Interestingly, those squirrels that show a paw preference are not as adept at learning tasks as those that are ambidextrous.

       Since the gray squirrels that call my backyard home have no problem quickly figuring out how to raid any new feeder I put out, they must be ambidextrous!

LOOK FOR SNAKE SKINS WHEN CHECKING NEST BOXES

Nov10

       Since it is November, it is time to begin checking, cleaning, and repairing nesting boxes.  Since you never know what you will find when you open a nesting box, I find the task exciting. When I peek into a box and spot a shed snakeskin, I consider it a real prize, since in most cases it means a bird brought the skin to its nest.

       The chances of you finding a snakeskin in bluebird nesting box are slim unless a squirrel has enlarged the entrance hole. However, if the whole is at least 2 inches in diameter, the presence of snakeskin means a great crested flycatcher nested there.

       The only other cavity nesting bird in our neck of the woods that brings a snakeskin to its nest is the tufted titmouse, however they only do so occasionally.

       The only other bird that regularly includes a snakeskin its nest is the blue grosbeak.  Since the does not nest in a cavity, look for its nest in low trees in shrubs along the edges of fields.

       The birds supposedly adorn their nests with the skins and even drape them over nesting boxes in an attempt to deter animals such as flying squirrels from entering the cavity and devouring the eggs.

       At times, pieces of plastic bags are incorporated in nests. Are they substitutes for snakeskins? Who knows?