BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?

Subject: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 12:55 AM

I had to smile when I saw this. OK I know we dont like these little grey sods 'cos they have seen off our native red ones but the idea of them ripping tree bark to impress the girls is a good one. Thank god their paws are to small to hold paint spray cans. The graffitti would be interesting...'Tufty luvs......' 'Tufty's got a big tail'


How 20,000 squirrels are destroying a historic forest just to impress the girls
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 26/07/2005)

They may be doing it to impress the girls, but the mating ritual of grey squirrels that tear bark off trees is not impressing conservationists who monitor ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean, Glos.

The squirrels have caused unprecedented damage in the forest this summer, apparently because of their hormones.

The forest's wide range of trees, including oak, beech, chestnut, pine, fir and spruce, make it particularly attractive to squirrels. They strip bark from around the trunk, which means that the tree dies. If it is stripped on one side only, it weakens it until it snaps or allows fungus to set in.

Such damage occurs during the breeding season each year but the recent warm winters and a glut of autumn fruit has led to more squirrels breeding in the forest, leading to more damage.

The Forestry Commission estimates there are now around 20,000 squirrels there. Ben Lennon, of the commission, said: "If you walk around the forest at the moment you can start to see the damage. Some branches are bare on the trees and a lot of leaves are brown. The squirrels are an introduced species and their population just keeps growing and growing.

"There are several theories why the squirrels rip off the bark, but the most likely one is that it is linked to mating and the squirrels are trying to impress females."

Grey squirrels were introduced to Britain from America in the 19th century. The grey is bigger and more adaptable than the native red squirrel.

Mr Lennon added: "The animals have been in good condition to survive the winters in the past few years.

"We don't even bother planting some species in the forest now because it's not worth it - the squirrels just destroy them."

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: CarolC
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 12:59 AM

That's really odd. I don't think the grey squirrels here in the US do that to trees.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: dianavan
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 02:02 AM

Introduced species are a big, big problem.

Starlings, possums and bullfrogs (they're eating our darling tree frogs) have all been introduced to B.C. On the island, someone has introduced grouse, as well. We even have several peacocks roaming around. What next?

Then there is the little, Himalayan orchid that grows to about 6" in the Himalayas but grows to about 4'here and re-seeds itself and completely takes over.

We have a mangy little black squirrels here that is extremely agile and persistent. They're not as pretty as the brown and grey and they are much more rat-like. Never seen them rip the bark from trees, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 03:36 AM

I read the title as " Squeak,,, barking mad or randy?", and was wondering what liz had been up to...

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 06:00 AM

Rats with bushy tails.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 06:23 AM

Well the rats with bushy tails here in los Angeles like to throw magnolia seed pods on my dog's head. I believe it is why he developed epilepsy. Viscious little buggers.

I don't have randy squirells ripping bark of trees - just playboy Mockingbirds singing their brains out at all hours. Apparently bachelor Mockingbirds without mates to care for will set up in opposing trees and have a sing-off, usually from 1AM til dawn.   They've pretty much ceased this nonsense, but from the end of March until a week ago, I was on Mockingbird patrol with the neighbors - hosing them with water, tossing stones at them and generally herding them away from our block so they could have their Sing-off somewhere else.

It got so all I had to do was threaten them by yelling 'Don't make me come out there bird' and my personal mockingbird would move five trees down the street. Of course, that angered the neighbors who now had him PLUS their own nemesis mickingbord to deal with. Next year, I think we'll by Supersoaker guns and let them all have it at the first sign of male posturing.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 08:16 AM

Quite a few types of birds do this. Now, in town, here in Moncton, NB, CAN, the robins start anytime after 3AM. And there are others.

However, when I am at my camp, I am treated to the wonderful trill of the whippoorwill. These fine-feathered friends begin their calling at dusk and often lull me to sleep on warm summer nights. As most will know, the whippoorwill is a North American, nocturnal, insect eater of the goatsucker family. It has spotted brown feathers which camoflage it to near invisibility, even on the brightest moonlit nights.

The whippoorwill's common name and it's latin Genus-species name (Caprimulgus vociferous) are indicative of it's call. The common name is imitative of it's certainly distict trill and the species name clearly describes the fact the bastards never shut the f*** up!!! All night long. The darker it gets, the louder they get. You'd swear they were perched on your ear as the night goes on. Rats with wings.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 08:31 AM

I wouldn't mind the Mockingbords so much if they'd pick one call or tune and stick the EFF with it all night. Gawd help us, they do 'here we go round the entire bird catalogue of calls' all night loooooong. Just when you get used to one type of loud shrieking, they segue into some other horrible warble at an even louder decible, working their way ever upwards until by 4 Am, half the neighbors are out tossing rocks.

I've been nice to them this year - next year, all bets are off. I'll not start with pleading and negotiating. I'm going straight for the pressurized hose.

I was gentle on the buggers this year because the man who rents the garage behind out cottage adores Mockingbrids. Why? He says they remind him 'of the South' where he is presumably from. What I want to know is: Did He LEAVE the South because he couldn't get any sleep do to warbling mockingboirds? Maybe he brought them withn him.

Anyway - they are not a native species and aren't normally here every yaar. I'm hoping they take a hike this winter and lose their way back to my Magnolia tree where one is currently perched and singing like a drunken sailor.

And then.. when they shut up.. the Squirrels take up position in the Magnolia and start chucking seedpods at the dog.

Maybe we need to move.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 09:12 AM

Mind you, the squirrels could be both....

But they taste pretty good in a burgoo or cooked up into a thick gravy and served over buttermilk biscuits or cornbread. Just don't eat squirrel brains on toast.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 09:34 AM

Here in The States (Southern States specifically).. they know what to do with Squirrels and it's mighty tasty. It's called:

Brunswick Stew
http://tourbrunswick.org/brunswick_stew.htm

Sorry folks, the Blickifier isn't cooperating today

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 09:35 AM

here we go:

Proper use for Barking mad or Randy Squrrels is:
Brunswick Stew

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 10:06 AM

Y'all got some interesting squirrel recipes in Brunswick County, State of Virginia, USA. Up in Kent County, Province of New Brunswick, Canada, we got a different way ta eat them. Raw. Pluck out the eyes and tongue first, then the guts, then pick the bones clean... not us, the ravens. I wouldn't eat a squirrel for all the tea in Kent County... nevermind askin.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 10:23 AM

I read about an old gal in West Virginia who ate home made biscuits and squirrel gravy every morning of her very long life. She "barked" the little buggers with an ancient muzzle loading, 36 caliber "squirrel gun" (natch) it was a flintlock she had inherited from her grandfather. Probably made some time in the late 18th century (the gun, that is) What is called a "southern mountain rifle".

She was frugal. She'd dig the spent ball out of the tree where she had barked the squirrel and when she had a good collection of used bullets she would melt them down and recast them in her granpa's old bullet mold. She made her gunpowder from a mixture of dried chicken poop and rust (scraped from a piece of old farm machinery).

Talk about being self sufficient!

She was the aunt of the Reverend J.D. Hooker who writes occasionally for a great woods craft and folk lore magazine published in Colorado called "The Backwoodsman", Charlie Ritchie's magazine.

I don't know if all the above is "true", of course, but it sure makes a great story.

The "tree rats" who hang out in MY yard have a habit of picking a un-ripe pear from my ancient tree, taking a few bites and spitting pear all over my driveway, throwing the munched pear down as well. This year I have a "bumper" crop of pears so I'll probably get enough for Nancy to make some of her delicious pear butter. One year, though, they destroyed every pear on that tree. The odd thing is this all started only four or five years ago. When I first moved in they didn't conduct this wasteful practice. I haven't been able to find out why they started in the first place. I'd love to do something to stop it but I'm in town so shooting squirrels is out and I won't use poison or traps, even live traps, because that would present a hardship to other critters. (I have a wonderful old groundhog living under my old smoke house and coons, possums, rabbits and even an armadilo hang around too. So do a few coyotes, whom I dearly love.)

I guess I'll just "get on" with the little buggers. It's all part of living in a small rural town. Worth it in the long run.

I'd sure love to try out The Reverend Hooker's aunt's procedure some day, though.

CB

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 10:29 AM

Hyenas, Hawk, hyenas. They'll replace junkyard dogs.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 04:16 AM

How about that squirrelflinger the clip of which was on the internet for a while --- I think it was a converted clay pigeon (skeet) trap - the springloaded arm that flings the clay into the sky to be shot.

Put bait (eg nuts) on the trap, and fix a waeight-triggered release (like a rat-trap).

Squirrel gets nut - squirrel gets flung away. A few tries and they would probably learn.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 04:45 AM

you could always hose them out of the tree the way I hose the insane bachelor Mockingbirds. They'd learn quick and shuffle off the Buffalo.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 06:44 AM

Being squirrels they'd probably bite through your hose...

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 06:56 AM

Yup. Tree rats are smart. They'd make a mess of the hose. Or steal some soap.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 02:01 PM

They're worse than smart, they're evil and I have proof.

I took photos of the Demon Squirrel that torments my dog by chucking seed pods on his head and.. his eyes were glowing green! It wasn't even a flash camera - just one of those disposables you keep around. Darn if that Squirrel didn't have Exorcist eyes. I was waiting for him to say something like 'Your mother sucks socks in Hell" but I got scared an ran away. I'll have to upload the photos so you can all see. Evil I tell you, EVIL.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 03:25 PM

Yeah, but cooked right they're tasty.

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 05:20 PM

Anything that has to be cleaned and skinned at a distance and then spiced beyond a reasonable facimile of what it would taste like if not cannot be considered a food of choice. And for a bite and a half?

And in Virginia? Ever heard of Virginia White tailed deer? Not exactly a dirt eatin, musky smellin little rat eh what? And, as far as frugal goes, a 36 cal ball? And then spend all that time diggin it out of a tree and meltin it down? A GRANNY climbin a tree to dig a 36 cal slug out?

Ye got some wild recipes, but ye got some wilder stories.

Shore ye ain't a Yankee'in my leg ya'all?

BTW... I use a broken hockey stick and bread crumbs. How much fer a brace?

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 05:32 PM

Local New Orleans "urban hillbilly" singer Mike West ~ who, incidentally, seems to have a significant following in the UK ~ promotes his act and his record label by distributing bumberstickers reading:

"SQUIRREL: It's Not Just for Breakfast Anymore"

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 06:23 PM

Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy? / Yes, I am nuts... apparently.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Squirrels,,,barking mad or randy?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 10:59 AM

If you send Miike West an SASE, will he send you a sticker?