BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 01:43 PM

By so doing they are in effect assisting the rest of nature by planting numerous future trees and providing food for a great variety of other creatures...another great thing about squirrels.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: john f weldon
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 03:02 PM

I once found where a squirrel was hiding his nuts and stole a few, then made him beg for them. I doubt he ever guessed that was rehiding the same nut 10 times. He thought I was a great benefactor.

(Most of the time I'm nice to squirrels.)

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 03:46 PM

When feeding Grey Squirrels they seem to rely more on smell than sight, feeding them for many years I find that they seem to be short-sighted.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 05:38 PM

G'day JennieG,

I can remember when we had feral squirrels (fairly small ... grey/brown stripes ... ?) running round the grounds of Sydney's Taronga Zoo. I'm thinking of the '60s ... and probably the early '70s. Presumably the trickly little b*****ds escaped from the Zoo's display.

I don't know if any of them went over the wall (... Taronga is supposedly a "Quarantine Area" ... but tell that to a squirrel!) so there may be / have been a feral population around Mosman. I think I remember reading that the Zoo had exterminated their feral population as part of disease control protocols ... and trying to maintain Quarantine status ... and I certainly haven't seen any running loose at Taronga for deecades.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: bbc
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:22 PM

Well, in Columbia County, New York, they all seem to come to the feeders on my deck, winter & summer alike. We used to try to discourage them. Then, we started feeding them peanuts in the shell. Now, for goodness' sake, we've actually supplied a feeder just for them--a "Squirrel Lunch Box"! Here's a link to my squirrel set
on flickr.

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Beer
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:30 PM

bbc
You've done a really great job with those pictures. I enjoyed watching your slide show. Keep it up.
Beer(adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: JennieG
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 11:47 PM

bbc, those photos are terrific! Squirleys (as my son and his girlfriend call them) are very entertaining little critters.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: gnu
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 04:30 AM

Very nice pics!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 05:37 AM

Does anyone remember squirrel gums? Sweetshops used to sell them in jars.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Emma B
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 05:50 AM

For wld - a liitle nostalgia at Christmas.

Preferred cherry lips myself :)

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 05:56 AM

wow!

I thought it was all a dream!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: bbc
Date: 25 Dec 07 - 05:12 AM

Thanks, folks! Merry Christmas!

bbc

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: *daylia*
Date: 25 Dec 07 - 09:14 AM

Not all squirrels are afraid of a little cold -- oh no! Here in Barrie Ontario we are tough, resilient, fit, well insulated and incredibly courageous. Every last one of us. Particularly the squirrels!

Our squirrels scoff and scorn their lily-livered big city cousins, cowering in thier noisy dark dingy dusty attics, begging extermination all winter long. Our squirrels are much MUCH too brave, too smart for that, so their behavious doesn't change much, from one season to the next.

The proof is right here.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Emma B
Date: 25 Dec 07 - 09:30 AM

city squirrel dressed for Ontario winter

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Dec 07 - 11:48 PM

I don't know about other parts of the world, but here we have squirrel nests. Google 'squirrel nest image' and you'll see.

I have never done a study, but people tell me that squirrels winter over in them. We can get temperatures as low as 25 below zero, and I believe the squirrels would have to take shelter somewhere in order to survive that. So I guess I accept the idea that they winter in their nests.

I have a 'squirrel-proof' feeder which operates on a counterweight. It worked fine for many years, until a clever squirrel figured out how to hang off the overhang, as described above. I bought a tube of lithium grease at the hardware store and coated the edges of the roof with it. End of problem.

I let the squirrels have all the seed they want off the ground. [Beats letting rats get it.] But I want the birds to have the first chance.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Dec 07 - 03:27 AM

I load my feeders with only half of their capacity and I attach weights to their underneaths in an attempt to prevent as much seed from getting to the ground as possible. When any animal eats seed from the ground beneath a feeder they are eating seed often contacted with bird feces, = salmonella and other nasties, especially in rainy weather. I also try to move the feeders at least several feet, once a week.

Yes, I know... but, it can't hurt.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Dec 07 - 10:24 AM

Good ideas, gnu.