Now, I've seen those fancy birdfeeders that try to outsmart fuzzy creatures... but in all honesty, the fuzzies can be quite intelligent when they want to be. Here is my favorite way to ensure I'm not putting out birdseed that will be decemated by one greedy chipmunk who is just going to bury the seed in my garden!

One of my favorite plants to grow is hot peppers - so beautiful with all their colors. But like zucchini, they produce far more than you and your neighbourhood can eat. I like to dry my peppers and drop them into the bird seed. Birds adore the hot stuff! To give the fuzzies a hint of the danger, I usually coat the bird feeder pole with a little lard (for slipperiness) and crumbled hot peppers. The fuzzies get the hot stuff on their paws and then on their face - not what they had in mind. It doesn't take them long to realize the smell of hot peppers means hot paws and itchy eyes. Then the fuzzies will head over to your neighbour's house. ::winks::