SNAKES TO FRIGHTEN SQUIRRELS

[PLUMPUDDING]

After reading in KG Mag. about the man who put blow up snakes in his nut trees to keep the squirrels away I thought I would try it.

I hadn't got a blow up snake, but found a couple of old rubber ones my sons used to play with (stored with tons of other stuff which might come in handy in the loft!)

I tied them on strings and hung them from the hazel nut tree and hoped for the best.

They did scare the chickens, so I was quite hopeful.

We've been on holiday and I've just checked the tree and all the nuts are still there. It might just be a coincidence, but we went away in September last year and I returned to find the empty nut shells in a neat little pile under the tree. There are squirrels around as they raid the bird feeders in the mornings, but they've left the nuts alone this year.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Plumpudding, i was just wondering if the squirrels maybe suffering from concussion, where they had fell out of the trees laughing.

Sorry, but you know what i'm like.

[PLUMPUDDING]

Hi, O.H.,

Whether they are scared, or have fallen out of the tree laughing, the nuts are still there. They do look rather scary, and I must say they made me jump when I walked into one the other morning when I'd forgotten about them.

The hens have got used to them though, so I suppose the squirrels will too, I just hope I get some ripe nuts before they do.

I must say I laughed when I read it, but it does seem to work. It is nice when some of the junk comes in handy too. I was amazed that I could actually remember where I'd stored them.

[oldherbaceous]

Despite all my nonsense Plumpudding, i am pleased they are working.