I got up the other morning and went out to the back deck. The sun was shining, the trees were swaying with a gentle breeze, and the temperature was perfect. I looked around, and suddenly there it was, a rude day spoiler. I had left a birdseed jug on the patio table. The cap was gone. A hole the size of a saucer stared back at me. They got me again, those villains― and I was not thinking raccoons and opossums were the culprits this time. No, it was surely devilish squirrels that had ventured right up to the door to plunder my birdseed container. Love them or hate them, when I hear folks tell me they have no squirrels in their yard, I am jealous.

I have focused on squirrels in my yard in past articles, the small, puny ones that eat anything in sight and nibble through any surface, and the fox squirrels that jump on my feeders or tunnel into a pumpkin to get to the tender, moist pumpkin seeds. These critters are in my yard to stay because the landscape is very heavily wooded. Our bird feeders are another irresistible attraction. Through the years I have had to come terms with the rascals. Nevertheless, I have to keep looking for redeeming qualities, and so I remind myself of factoids once again:

• "Rodentia" is the squirrels' biological order, and this order makes up 40% of all mammals today.
• Squirrels can be classified as tree, ground, or flying squirrels.
• It seems that squirrels multiply like rabbits. They can have two litters a season and have up to four offspring per litter. Yikes!
• The first young of the year can also produce litters. No wonder we seem to be overrun.
• Squirrels can live up to six years.
• I don't know anything they won't eat. They love the nuts and berries from my trees and can't get enough of my sunflowers and peanut feeder contents.
• Squirrels can jump distances of 10 feet or greater. If your feeder is hung off a branch or near a tree, it is fair game.
• Squirrels like to sharpen their teeth of tree branches and wires. They also will strip bark off trees to mine for sodium and sap.
• An average adult squirrel will devour about a pound of food a week. See why they rob our feeders?
• The squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut. So how is it they can keep outsmarting us?

Squirrel stories can be on par with fish stories. They usually are humorous or disastrous. Everyone seems to have a lively encounter of these wily rodents.

To control these critters, try any of the following: squirrel resistant feeders, baffles to thwart them, spicy pepper food, or as a last resort, safflower, a seed they usually won't eat. There are ways to keep them at bay. If you are game with encouraging their antics, put out corn and sunflowers. There are feeders for specifically for squirrels: boxes they have to open, bunge cords they have to maneuver; teeter totters they sit on, and wood arms that swing them around. If you're so inclined, you can create a squirrel playground. Just remember, they are wild animals from which you should keep your distance. Forget attempts to tame them. I hope my experience of having left a birdseed jug out in temptation's way is a reminder to all to be on guard against squirrel thievery.