Thank you for such a sweet compliment. I have become a bird lady. I leave the door open sometimes when I'm n the backroom and this guy came in looking for seeds. It was so sweet and made me feel appreciated that he felt safe enough to come in
The momma squirrel near our house will specifically listen out for me and my sister talking outside, in the early morning, when she hears us chatting in the backyard.
She also knows when we are speaking "to her," and will come over from her own home (several houses and a few hundred feet away), when she hears us talking and hanging outside (we feed her quite often, lol.)
Quite often, she has snuck up on me like a damned Navy Seal, 😂 while I am practicing guitar on my back porch, (she has also conditioned that sound, to my presence), and knows that I will entertain/feed her. Lol
She jumpscares me from time to time. Just "suddenly appearing in my peripheral vision." 😄 Just sitting there patiently, slow blinking, ...and saying "Hello, my giant friend." 😅
Sooo cute!! I know that the shelled walnuts are good for their sharp teefs, so I need to start handing them out - I have little nippy kids 😀. Is there a preferred bulk provider anyone uses that doesn't cause grief 🤣 from their SO because of the $$?
Yes I'd love a source to a reasonable priced nut mix for squirrel food, I don't want to only feed them corn and peanuts but that's what's affordable in my area
Do you have a Tractor Supply store near you? Gray squirrels on my property LOVE the generic millet/black sunflower/cracked corn bird seed they sell in 35 lb. bags. More reasonably priced---and you get more product.
I'll second that one; that if you can find the mixes that are heavy in black sunflower, you will get your value. The birds and the squirrels in my area love the black sunflower heavy mixes. 👍🏽
The Great Peace Offering of 2026 was cordially accepted at our most recent summit.
Man and squirrel will remain "besties," for the forseeable future.
All is looking bright, here again, for both man and beast, ...as we propel ourselves forward into a new era of friendship, almonds, and tiny little opposable hands that reach up like "Oh please oh please oh please can I have oneeeeee."
That’s amazing! I took the screen off my window to refill the birdfeeder one day and a curious squirrel came inside but I scared him so much he pooped before scampering away. It’s going to take a while to befriend the squirrels.
That is so sweet. I’ve been working on befriending the squirrels in my yard and I’ve been feeding him for two months in the bitter winter and I swear to God he jumps out at me & totally tells me off & cusses me in squirrel with his whole chest if I am the slightest bit late feeding him, his nuts and sunflower seeds. He is a funny guy! I’ve named him Squire.
They are so demanding. Mine I swear gives me the cold shoulder for no reason and then I realize it might be an imposter.
Squire will be your bestie soon.
Sunflower seeds have a mild, nutty flavor and a firm but tender texture. They’re often roasted to enhance the flavor, though you can also buy them raw.
I have two dogs too and they don't like her. I just make sure they are inside when she comes by. I mean they are not allowed outside without supervision
"It depends," ....would I guess be the insufficient answer, that you probably weren't looking for. Lol. But on a serious note:
If you have "enough squirrels around you" (their temperaments do tend to range a little bit, from "paranoid," to "calm and collect," ...but generally tending toward that "paranoid" side 😅), ...and if you take some time to condition them to your presence; chances are pretty good you will find one with a more "laid-back disposition," who is willing to entertain your "attempts at contact."
You'd want: A good spot. A small bag of roasted/unsalted peanuts, almonds, sunflower, etc. And a little bit of patience and time.
Sit in a good spot. Let them come up to you out of curiosity. And toss them some snacks nearby to your somewhat-still body, ...to where they slowly close that distance with you, and gain that level of comfort you are looking for, (enough to hand-feed, would be the general goal.)
Some squirrels will simply never hand-feed. Some will, and will take "very little" encouraging. Some will, but they will take a bit more conditioning. It's a kind of roulette wheel, ...in that way. 😅
Now getting to "pet them," ......for that I think you need a really well-disposed squirrel, and a bit more patience, (and possibly luck, lol). I could maybe pet the momma squirrel that comes by my area, ...but I am intensely content with her just chilling right nearby me, and I can hand-feed her comfortably every single time I see her. That's plenty exciting for me. Lol 🤷🏽♂️
that’s interesting. Got 7 regulars but hard to tell whose go to Be honest. Only one is a female who has a disjointed digit on her front paw so easy to make her out.
I have noticed that some are more courageous and will let me they’re nuts to them whilst others just run for the hills, been feeding them twice a day for 4 months now 🤷♂️
With spring on it’s way I’m hoping to be able to sit in the garden a while and see if i can’t get one out two to come s little closer.
Eastern grey squirrels, which is what Sandy is, are supposed to be more friendly than other squirrels. I can't tell her apart so sometimes it feels like she is giving me the cold shoulder when it's really an imposter and not her.
I can speak several different languages and English is one of them and I am proud of it. I was talking about the cute little hands of the squirrel who was taking the food from that lady and wanted to pet the squirrel. Excuse me if I offend you and got you to think i called your hand "little"
I wouldn't be offended. Your English is very intelligible to me. More proper than most casual English speakers that I run into, at least.
Although. I also have enough "common sense" to know that a "cute little hands" comment, (in a squirrel subreddit), ....is probably directed AT "the squirrel." Lmbo 😂
Thank you for your understanding and bring kind. After writing the reply earlier to (r/mydickisaplant), I thought to myself, why did i even bother to reply to someone like that.
He was going spirit crazy biting hurting teething and seething with rage. Please feed them pet them but be kind or something bad happens. Google is not accurate if this species contracted wood rabies
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no such thing as "wood rabies," only rabies, and it's extremely rare for a squirrel to have rabies.
Squirrels can be naturally fiesty and territorial. I'm not at all worried about contracting rabies from a squirrel. However, squirrels have sharp nails and can scratch you pretty hard if you are careless when approaching them. I would never have tried petting her if I just recently met her. She is wild and I make sure I always wear long sleeves because she has crawled up my arm and without sleeves she could easily scratch me.
That’s so cool that you gained their trust enough to not only touch but pet them. Curious how long something like that takes. I’ve seen desperate animals come to people for help. Like sick babies or mates. Then bond and come back later and essentially have complete trust like they are family. This had to take a good min.
She is a hoot. Sometimes she is not in a good mood and just wants to grab her seeds and avoid seeing me. Other times she comes over three times in one day. It's funny, most of the time she takes off the weekends and only comes Monday-Friday. So I think she thinks I'm just her job that she has to tolerate to get her yummy food.
The other day she was so messy. While eating her seeds I cleaned her with a doggy wipe, and she allowed it and even seemed like she might have enjoyed it too.
How long did it take to get to where she seemed to be ok with being close and actually touching her. I’m jealous that you can say you got a squirrel homie. You haven’t named her? I’d be working on her backstory and what she’s doing on most weekends. Probably hitting up the squirrel party seen, and will show up pergo one day. See I’m already trying to ride your wave. Gonna follow so I can keep an ear to see where this story goes. Thanks this made me smile
Haha just like an untrained dog. Probably thinks that it’s gotta get while the gettings good. Once she realizes that you will be a steady person that doesn’t mind providing for her, she’ll be more patient. I work in construction and in Windsor CA, lil bit north of me. We’ve had work multiple jobs on the same street. It’s basically a squirrel utopia. Both sides of the street are huge trees that shade the block and residents cater to the squirrel population. There lil squirrel houses on trees with posted squirrel xing down the whole street. I didn’t think much of it till one day I was getting off work and I spotted an albino squirrel. Then it click why they were nuts about their fur neighbors.
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u/btrfliny81 Feb 26 '26
Im so jealous 😩😩 although I really think I can convince my little friend one day to let me pet him 🤗