Help - stop feeding squirrels humanely

[Trish500]

Hi,

I've come for help. We've been feeding the squirrels, birds, and chipmunks for 3 years. We feed various nuts, seeds, and corn. I've seen at least
22 different squirrels feeding in my yard. I'm sure that most of them are getting their entire food supply from us.

The trouble is I have neighbors who are complaining (and in general are horrible people). I need to stop putting food in the yard ASAP. But I want
to do it as kindly as possible for the animals.

I found an older thread on this board about weening them off the food slowly. Feeding every other day, every third day, etc. But it didn't say how long
to do each step. Plus, it's already the end of July, winter isn't far off.

I will be grateful for any advice. Thanks!

[Rhapsody]

The trouble is I have neighbors who are complaining (and in general are horrible people).
I need to stop putting food in the yard ASAP.
Are you wanting to stop feeding the animals because your neighbor is complaining or
because they are awful people and you fear what they may do to the animals if you
dont stop the feeding and the animals continue to come into the yard?

**If its just the complaining..... I would personally continue feeding. :grin3

[Trish500]

I'm not sure what the neighbors are going to do. My guess is that they are going to complain to the homeowners association. I caught the one lady (who is really off her rocker) taking pictures of my house/property last night. And her husband has been using a flashlight to look into my yard the last few nights.

Initially, they complained about peanut and seed shells being brought into their yard from the squirrels. So I switched to no mess bird seed (which is way more expensive) and no longer put out any nuts that are in the shells. Now they are complaining that I'm bringing skunks and raccoons into the neighborhood. Yes, they are coming and eating in my yard, but our neighborhood is right across the street from a forest preserve. They are in the neighborhood anyways, they might as well get a good meal :-)

Anyhow, if it goes to the board, I'm sure I'll be told to stop feeding immediately and be fined if I don't. They won't care if the animals starve.

I didn't put food out today. There's plenty spilled on the ground and they have stuff buried. I know they are okay for now. It really made me sad to see them climb to the feeders and find them empty though.

[sid'smommy]

My neighbors yard is covered in peanut shells too... he told me the other day that he stepped on one and cut his foot open. Yikes! I apologized, and offered to come clean it up. He just laughed and said no, its fine...my wife and I get a kick outta watching them too :) Im going to do some research on these stupid homeowner associations and their stupid rules. I cant see how they can dictate what you do on your own property .. as far as the neighbor with the flashlight, Im sure there is a LAW regarding trespass. Im not gonna say what I would do... but I will tell you that he would definately need to change his britches when he got back in the house. :grin3:grin3

[island rehabber]

Trish500, I totally hear you and I feel your pain. My life has been, frankly, nearly destroyed by a condo association (Board of 'Managers' :shakehead) over the past 6 years and I've heard it all. My advice? I would keep putting out some food for the squirrels but try not to leave stuff out there overnight. It's the creatures of the night (skunks, raccoon, opossum) who send these condo associations into overdrive: one skunk sighting and they believe they are "infested with vermin!!!" ...want to kill every living thing in sight.

Don't laugh off their warnings and the fact that they are stalking you. If they build a case with pictures, etc., they will have the upper hand. The laws in this country favor these anal retentive, nature-hating neat freaks and punish those of us with heart and compassion for living things. The law is on their side. I was a "cowboy" about it too, at first -- "They're not gonna tell ME I can't rehab/feed birds/feed feral cats/ bla bla bla" -- well guess what, they did and they still are. They can make your life miserable beyond belief.....just a gentle warning. They CAN and WILL tell you what to do on your own property and when you bought/rented in their development, you agreed to it. :(

I will never ever buy property with a condo ASSociation or homeowners ASSociation involved again. :shakehead

[CritterMom]

One of my most miserable experiences was renting my father's condo in Florida - and I was shielded from a lot of it because the owner of the complex was a personal friend. I was hated simply because I wasn't retired. NO parties, NO loud music - nothing - I am a quiet person - but I was hounded constantly. Now, many years later when I am bitching about chipping the ice out of the gutters in the sub zero cold and start thinking that having someone else having to take care of that might be nice, I quickly run in the house, wet a finger and dip it in salt and grind it into my eye as hard as I can - just a little reminder that THAT is better than living with a condo board or HOA...

[beanut]

Hi,

I've come for help. We've been feeding the squirrels, birds, and chipmunks for 3 years. We feed various nuts, seeds, and corn. I've seen at least
22 different squirrels feeding in my yard. I'm sure that most of them are getting their entire food supply from us.

The trouble is I have neighbors who are complaining (and in general are horrible people). I need to stop putting food in the yard ASAP. But I want
to do it as kindly as possible for the animals.

I found an older thread on this board about weening them off the food slowly. Feeding every other day, every third day, etc. But it didn't say how long
to do each step. Plus, it's already the end of July, winter isn't far off.

I will be grateful for any advice. Thanks!



Hi I'm new to the squirrelboard and am currently going through this and need help. Did someone help you ? I have the same questions . But I have like 30 days to wean my squirrels .
I need to wean feeding my squirrels and I want to do it so as not to cause them any harm . I have been feeding them since last November everyday and now I need help in (how to do it safely). different ones come at different times - like 3 will come at 5:30 in the morning then by 8 AM- 6 different squirrels will come and then at noon a different set will come . So my question is (and I hope someone can help) when I am weaning them from eating here at my yard - like one week feed every other day then the next week every 2 days then the next every 3 days then the next every 4 day and so on - and if I do it this way do I put food out 3 different times a day for the different squirrels that come on the days that I put food out ( for the weaning down) it is the end of July now and I need to be done by September 1st - is this enough time to safely wean my little friends? Thanks in advance for any help

[Rocky1]

This may be a little off topic, but I was trying to brainstorm a present you could leave behind when it comes time to move. Maybe some cement on the ground somewhere roughly in the shape of an ice cube tray so that it catches rain water and has enough indentations that all the squirrels wouldn't be drinking from the same "cup" so to say. A tiny hole in the bottom of each indentation would allow it to drain but not too quickly, thus prohibiting mosquitoes and stuff that grows in standing water. Or maybe plant an extra nut tree to grow.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Hi I'm new to the squirrelboard and am currently going through this and need help. Did someone help you ? I have the same questions . But I have like 30 days to wean my squirrels .
I need to wean feeding my squirrels and I want to do it so as not to cause them any harm . I have been feeding them since last November everyday and now I need help in (how to do it safely). different ones come at different times - like 3 will come at 5:30 in the morning then by 8 AM- 6 different squirrels will come and then at noon a different set will come . So my question is (and I hope someone can help) when I am weaning them from eating here at my yard - like one week feed every other day then the next week every 2 days then the next every 3 days then the next every 4 day and so on - and if I do it this way do I put food out 3 different times a day for the different squirrels that come on the days that I put food out ( for the weaning down) it is the end of July now and I need to be done by September 1st - is this enough time to safely wean my little friends? Thanks in advance for any help
Beanut :Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

I understand your situation. You're just going to have to work out the taper off of your food offerings. I would do it in such a way as to minimize the fighting/competition for the dwindling food supply.

The reason I wanted to post is to let you know that IMO the timing for this 'taper off' is pretty good. Last week, we had a large oak limb come down on my mom's wrought iron gate. It was quite a mess. The limb was huge and required chain saws and a tractor to clean up. I was VERY surprised to see that the oak limb was loaded with half developed acorns. They were actually pretty large by FL standards. Keep in mind that I am in FL in the dead of summer. That tells me that the fall crop of acorns are well on their way. If our acorns are that developed, I would think that the acorns in Nebraska would be even further along. I've never been to Nebraska so I have no idea what type of trees you have. I've also noticed that our wild squirrels are enjoying the fresh pine cones right now.

You have created an artificial environment for your squirrels but keep in mind that they ARE squirrels and they have not lost their natural instincts. Squirrels eat bark, roots, leaves, acorns, insects, native nuts, etc. When it's all said and done, they do know how to feed themselves and they will find food. Those acorns I mentioned will be a big part of that. So, you see, the timing is good in that the acorn crop is on the trees now. I think you will notice that the numbers of squirrels will start to decrease as they disperse.

I, too, feed the wilds and my releases in my yard. I have noticed that as the supply of acorns increase, they are less interested in my offerings (except nuts of course). :tilt

[beanut]

Beanut :Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

I understand your situation. You're just going to have to work out the taper off of your food offerings. I would do it in such a way as to minimize the fighting/competition for the dwindling food supply.

The reason I wanted to post is to let you know that IMO the timing for this 'taper off' is pretty good. Last week, we had a large oak limb come down on my mom's wrought iron gate. It was quite a mess. The limb was huge and required chain saws and a tractor to clean up. I was VERY surprised to see that the oak limb was loaded with half developed acorns. They were actually pretty large by FL standards. Keep in mind that I am in FL in the dead of summer. That tells me that the fall crop of acorns are well on their way. If our acorns are that developed, I would think that the acorns in Nebraska would be even further along. I've never been to Nebraska so I have no idea what type of trees you have. I've also noticed that our wild squirrels are enjoying the fresh pine cones right now.

You have created an artificial environment for your squirrels but keep in mind that they ARE squirrels and they have not lost their natural instincts. Squirrels eat bark, roots, leaves, acorns, insects, native nuts, etc. When it's all said and done, they do know how to feed themselves and they will find food. Those acorns I mentioned will be a big part of that. So, you see, the timing is good in that the acorn crop is on the trees now. I think you will notice that the numbers of squirrels will start to decrease as they disperse.

I, too, feed the wilds and my releases in my yard. I have noticed that as the supply of acorns increase, they are less interested in my offerings (except nuts of course). :tilt

Thank you so much for your helpful words and kindness !

[Delo729]

Since you're right across from a forest preserve I don't think they can really complain all that much unless they have proof you are the one feeding them. Maybe move your feeding stations/areas a little further away or out of sight of your neighbors so that your neighbors couldn't possibly prove you are the one feeding them but your critter friends still get yummies?