East Coast Fools, part 16 - Suet Fishing

We've seen some very unusual birds here, so I decided I'd get some bird seed to attract more birds to the backyard. Walmart had a wide selection of bird feed including a suet cake and a metal suet cake holder. Thinking suet would be a nice treat instead of just seed, I added that to my cart. This weekend, with Robert teeter-tottering on the ladder, we managed to hook the suet cake holder on a plant hanger high on an outside wall.

I should mention here that throughout this bird feeder hanging activity, Robert wondered if bird seed/suet would attract bears. I replied of course not. Bears don't eat suet. But, in the back of my mind, I wondered if they did... So, a few hours after the suet cake was hung (including a gerry-rigged dustpan awning to protect it from getting wet) I Googled, "Do bears like bird suet?"

What came back was not good. Not only do bears like suet, they will break down anything in their way to get to it. I knew I had to get the suet cake down immediately. So instead of bothering Robert, I got Gates to help. We dragged out the ladder (it was dark and pouring rain by this time) and tried to reach it which we couldn't. Then we got a rake and were able to poke it off the hanger. Except that the suet cake holder plunged to the ground and slid down a narrow opening between the house and the deck.

This East Coast fool, feeling especially foolish for hanging up a bear hors d'oeuvre, knew she had to get that cake immediately, or a bear could come along and rip up the deck boards to get it. I stuck a stick down the crevice trying to catch hold of it with the end. No good. Then Gates suggested a hook. We got a bungee cord and swung that down the hole.

Some people in Alaska fish for salmon. This East Coast Fool fishes for suet.

Eventually, we nabbed our prize which was placed right where it belongs - see photos.