BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?

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

Good ideas, gnu.

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: 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: 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: *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: bbc
Date: 25 Dec 07 - 05:12 AM

Thanks, folks! Merry Christmas!

bbc

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: 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 - 05:37 AM

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 01:08 PM

Jennie:

Alas, Zoologists who study squirrels find that they don't really remember each specific nut. They bury them all around their territory, then search around for them in winter.
No different from me and my car keys.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 06:13 AM

I feed them every morning in our well wooded Park, they were out as usual this morning, the dawn was breaking at 8am on a very cold frosty morning.   The cold didn`t deter bother my furry friends who greedily eat the peanuts provided.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: JennieG
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 01:58 AM

This is all very interesting reading, and you have answered my question - thank you!

We thought the squirleys were funny little critters. One day we were at the shore of Lake Ontario, just behind the Balmy Beach Club, watching a couple of optimistic little fellers burying nuts in the sandy beach. It's a looooong expanse of sand. I don't know how they will remember, in the future, just where those nuts were buried.

Now I will have to think on another deep meaningful thought to ponder.......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 12:34 AM

I see the link to Squirrel recipes but how about a recipe for Squireels??

Acorn Pie
(not really made of acrons but looks like it kinda)

Ingredients:
1 9 inch Graham Cracker Pie Crust
3 Eggs lightly beaten
1 cup of light corn syrup or Golden Syrup (I prefer Golden Syrup)
2 Tablespoons of butter, melted
1 Teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
1 cup castor sugar (superfine sugar to US readers)
1 1/2 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the beaten eggs, syrup, melted butter, vanilla and sugar. Mix well and then stir in the nuts. Pour contents of bowl into the crust and bake for 45 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Cool completely before serving.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 07:24 PM

Squirrels are charming and amusing creatures. They avoid the worse winter weather by sheltering in nests, hollow trees, and attics, etc, but they do come out when the sun is shining or when they need to get something to eat.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:03 PM

Raiding my bird feeders every day. It is fun opening a window and watching the double back flip as they try to reach the nearest bush.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: topical tom
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 12:35 PM

The neighbour lady told us of seeing a group of blue jays attacking a squirrel.Apparently they had pecked out at least one of its eyes. Nasty is right!
   Celtaddict, the "squirrel-proof" feeder that I have has a long slanted roof with nothing to get a purchase on and the roof has an overhang of several inches and the sunflower seeds are a couple of inches in from the edge.
   However, what you describe they did on another bird feeder that I later took down.
   Believe me, they have milked money from me for a number of bird feeders!And they're only rodents but with beautiful fur and tails!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 12:02 PM

Ever see squirrels and blacbirds fight? Or robins? Nasty!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Bee
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:54 AM

Squirrels have Mighty Battles. When I worked with kids in the city, I was usually the only staff member who'd grown up rural and had two clues about wildlife. Once, on a winter park walk with a bunch of three and four year olds, a staff member threw one cracker between two squirrels who were already giving each other a jaundiced eye. There ensued a vicious, eye-gouging, face-biting, snarling no-holds-barred fight between the two, blood flying everywhere. The kids reacted with either deep interest or sobs of horror, depending on their personal bent. The other three staff stood in stunned silence, no doubt wondering how Disney got it all so very, very wrong...

Oh, yeah... a Bluejay flew down and swiped the cracker.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:47 AM

Check out this!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:33 AM

I love squirrels. "Jack" showed up at my window in NYC with an infected eye. She was dying. I opened the window enough to warm her and put out soft food. Next day she was gone but her eye was on the windowsill. I assumed she had died.
But about two weeks later a one-eyed squirrel appeared regularly for a free meal of shelled cashews and pecans. Later she would introduce her babies. Jack always ate with her blind socket to me so she could watch for intruders. And she was nasty! This was HER free lunch.
She came when I called and lived fat and happy for about five years. One winter she stopped visiting. But her babies carried on the tradition. I could recognize them by markings and tails.
I was always in trouble with the co-op who thought squirrels were a nuisance.
Here in Maine, Freddie is trying to eliminate the squirrel population single-handedly. He kills the babies regularly. So I can't feed them - not fair. In winter when snow keeps Freddie in, I toss out shelled nuts in Jack's memory.
Later I will tell the story of the Easter Egg Hunt that turned into a battle of the squirrels.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Celtaddict
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:22 AM

I put up one of those 'squirrel-proof' feeders with the counterweight, that drops and closes off the seed when a weight is on the perch area. In less than twenty minutes, I looked out and a grey squirrel was lying on his belly on the roof of it, holding the top edge roofline with his hind feet, and reaching down to snatch seed from the tray below.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:10 AM

And of course flying squirrels, which are nocturnal and so are seldom seen by the casual squirrel-watcher, migrate south to winter in the great swamps of Georgia and Florida, where they form a vital part of the diet of juvenile alligators. Every Armistice Day, thousands of fanatical squirrel-watchers (or "nutters", as they call themselves) make the trek to Point Pelee to view the massive flying squirrel flocks which congregate there prior to the long and often fatal flight across Lake Ernie.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: john f weldon
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 09:42 AM

My Uncle and Aunt loved squirrels more than people, and once found an abandoned baby grey squirrel which they brought up like a human baby. It would often sleep in bed with them, and lay on its back with its paws spread out in a very human fashion.

Not all members of the family were happy with this. The squirrel would run up your leg when you visited and hop around your body as if you were a tree. Another uncle was visiting and the little beast sat on his shoulder, then leaned out to look at his face. Although he was reassured that this was okay, the squirrel suddenly decided that his nose looked like a tasty nut (it did) and took a bite!

Both survived, and the squirrel lived out its days as a pseudo-human.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: topical tom
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 09:32 AM

We have two squirrel-proof bird feeders that actually work.One has a cylindrical metal baffle and the other is counter-weighted and closes when too great a weight is placed on it i.e. squirrels.
    There is another one, though,and I placed two metal plates on the pole to keep the squirrels from climbing up.Though about six feet from the ground the little b*****ds jumped effortlessly onto it from the ground!
    Maddening, but so amazingly and admirably inventive!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: john f weldon
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 08:47 AM

My mom spent a life-long battle keeping squirrels away from the bird feeders. She had one that hung from a long rope, tied to a long skinny tree branch. The squirrels couldn't reach it, but they could get a front paw onto the rope and shake it, causing seeds to fall out, which they'd then go down and eat. I've known humans who aren't quite that clever!

The squirrels around here are 90% grey & 10% black, with rarely a red or brown one. BUT, there's one grey guy with a very red tail. I wonder how that happened.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Becca72
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 08:00 AM

I know they can be a pain in the ass, but they're just so damned cute! Especially the red ones.

My best friend for the first 3 years of my life was a chipmunk who lived in our front lawn. I spent hours a day collecting acorns and dropping them down the hole (only after he'd left...I didn't want to knock him on the head), "helping" him stock his cupboards. And then one day my eldest sister was PMSing or something and quite harshly informed me that my little friend wouldn't eat the acorns I had so lovingly delivered because they "smelled like people now". I was crushed.

Oh, is the hour up already, doc? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 07:54 AM

I ran a line when I was a lad too. Used to sell the rabbits to an old guy until one day I found a rabbit snare that did not set properly. Pulled them all up and never, ever, used a snare again.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Beer
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 07:43 AM

Watched an albino one for a number of years at my work place. Then "Gone". Time was up I guess.

When I was a youngster I would check my trap line after school for rabbits,muskrat, weasel and mink. The 22 was my companion and I never let a good meal go wasted. Red squirrel was part of our diet. If by chance I didn't come home with a rabbit or two, on the weekend Dad would come with me to see if I wasn't setting my snares correctly. When your poor you'll eat just about anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: MMario
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 07:13 AM

In the winter squirrels migrate to Squirrtopia; by traveling inside telephone and electric wires - that's why so often they are caught trying to gnaw their ways inside a junction box- they are seeking an entrence to squirrtopia.

Those squirrels you see running along wires? Convoy guards - that means there is an entire tribe of squirels inside that wire transporting themselves to or from squirrtopia.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 07:03 AM

What can be done to teach squirrels the Green Cross Code? I agree its a problem - did Alvin Sradust labour in vain all those years.

Can the red ones be taught to jump straight into the pot?

The world of squirrels is indeed a fraught one, given their barely socialised tendencies.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: maeve
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 07:01 AM

"There's a great book by Bernd Heinrich..." Listen to ranger1. There are several, and all well worth the reading!

In winter, gray squirrels move to Geico's publicity department, waiting for another squirrelly commercial to be taped.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 06:58 AM

Emma, if you go North a few miles to the National Trust place at Formby there are red squirrels. And they sell nuts at the car park quiosk. There are walkways with a low rail fence, and bits just for the wildlife. Squirrles are well trained, and come up to the rails doing handstands and shouting 'here I am'... 'feed me'. The pigeons keep quiet but steal the food anyway.
And red squirrels used to be such shy creatures, always on the wrong side of the tree trunk.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 05:20 AM

Off the bone. It tasted like spitting it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 05:17 AM

D'you know that Steinbeck story The Red Pony where they keep eating squirrel pie? Perhaps we're talking about a different sort of squirrel. Edible squirrel.

Anyone out there ever eaten a sqiuirrel? What did it taste like? Did you have it in a pie or off the bone?

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Emma B
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 04:56 AM

I've not seen a red squirrel in our neighbourhood for a long time now.

The greys are thriving, despite appalling road sense; mainly, because, as many folks have already mentioned, their ingenuity at cracking all those 'squirrel proof' bird feeders.
detirmined squirrel!

When the weaher gets cold here the squirrels just get out their winter wardrobe, dense and much more silvery grey than their summer outfit.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:50 AM

Rats with bushy tails.

Re chipmunks... from Hinterland,
: With the onset of winter in November, chipmunks disappear below ground. At present, it is not known exactly what happens when chipmunks retire to their burrows for the winter. One view is that they immediately go into a torpid state. (In this state, the body temperature, rate of breathing, and rate of heartbeat drop to very low levels, reducing the amount of energy required to maintain the chipmunk.) Periods of torpor last from one to eight days, and perhaps longer. Between periods of torpor, chipmunks wake up and consume part of their food supply. They have occasionally been seen above ground on warm winter days. A second view is that chipmunks do not actually hibernate until their food supply has been exhausted.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Janie
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 11:42 PM

Tree rats!


Some nice recipes there, bobad.


About 10 years ago red squirrels started appearing at my parent's bird feeders, near Charleston, WV.   does that mean they're moving south? "Only" gray squirrels here in the piedmont of north Carolina. Last year was a naturally recurring non-bearing year for the pecans in our little ecosystem. This year a very late frost killed the pecan flower buds.    there are still an overabundance of them, but they be looking scrawny. And are also starting to dig up tulip bulbs in my garden and such.   Gnawing the electrical wiring is one thing, but digging up my bulbs is serious!

This means WAR!

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 11:40 PM

To answer your question, which none of you have done yet---but not for want of trying: In winter, squirrels go right where they go in the summertime---right there on the ground! Lately, here in Peru, I've seen a few who wear really tiny little Depends fashioned from dry leaves and spagnum moss!!

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: topical tom
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 11:25 PM

Though I carp and complain about squirrels eating the bird food, I agree with John Weldon, it's fascinating to see them overcome attempts by man to prevent them from "stealing" bird food and being otherwise destructive.
   In our area we have gray squirrels, rarely a red one and I have never seen a black one here.
   PS. I have never eaten squirrel.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 10:43 PM

We were watching a gray squirrel on patrol this morning in Maine, with a foot of snow on the ground, sunny but subzero weather. He did evidently have a nest under a nearby porch but he definitely was very busy.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 10:04 PM

Ah, squirrems. I loves em, me ma in law hates em. I stop in the middle of the street to let them cross, she tries to run them down! Murder most squirrlley, I say!


Then again, I don't have them in my attic chewing insulation, wiring, and stored Stuff. Her city laws don't allow her to shoot, trap or poison them. She is at her wits end.

I've eaten squirrel. Dark meat, and 'firm'...the young ones are best. Not much meat on one tho. You need several. Chicken fried or stew.

Subject: RE: BS: Where do squirrels go in winter?
From: Beer
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 09:47 PM

Love to watch the little red critters put the chase on to the Black and Gray's.