Went out to fill the suet feeders this morning and found that *all* my strawberry plants were completely annihilated. Not happy. On the other hand, I did note that the marigolds weren't touched. Stuff up front isn't being bothered, either. Am going to have to think this vegetables vs squirrels thing out a bit more.

Is it something in the water?

The male sparrows are doing their get-a-girl dance in the yew and a pair of squirrels are (ahem) 'wrestling' on a woodpile in the neighbor's yard.

Haven't seen this much action in a l-o-n-g time.

Am currently watching the Alpha Squirrel make light work of a suet cake in the yew tree. He's certainly the biggest one of the bunch who hang around here. Interesting to watch him chase the other, littler ones out of the yew. Seems to have a pretty serious problem with mange, unless squirrels molt in the Springtime like birds or cats.

We're trying to decide whether or not to get any more suet. They've gone through quite a lot over the past week. There's plenty of good stuff in the compost pile and would rather see them go after that, now that it's thawed out.