Comments on: Red Squirrels http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/ A natural history journal about the trees, flora and fauna surrounding Flandrum Hill Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:07:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Furry Little Creatures « Forest Rat http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-25 Furry Little Creatures « Forest Rat Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:02:43 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-25 [...] is a post at Flandrum Hill about the squirrel situation in Nova Scotia. I actually saw both red and grey squirrels around [...] [...] is a post at Flandrum Hill about the squirrel situation in Nova Scotia. I actually saw both red and grey squirrels around [...]

]]> By: flandrumhill http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-21 flandrumhill Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:50:37 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-21 Connie, they've been whacking Greys at such a rate in the UK that it was inevitable that they'd become table fare. They supposedly taste a bit like rabbit. The Reds and the Greys do not interbreed as they are different species. However, Grey males will intimidate Red males and prevent them from mating with the Red females. There is quite a variety of colour among the Greys. Some researchers at the Anglia Ruskin University in your neck of the woods have been following the activities of the Black Squirrel. Possessing higher testosterone levels, the Blacks do indeed breed with the Greys, and are threatening to overtake them due to their more aggressive, territorial behaviour. Connie, they’ve been whacking Greys at such a rate in the UK that it was inevitable that they’d become table fare. They supposedly taste a bit like rabbit.

The Reds and the Greys do not interbreed as they are different species. However, Grey males will intimidate Red males and prevent them from mating with the Red females. There is quite a variety of colour among the Greys.

Some researchers at the Anglia Ruskin University in your neck of the woods have been following the activities of the Black Squirrel. Possessing higher testosterone levels, the Blacks do indeed breed with the Greys, and are threatening to overtake them due to their more aggressive, territorial behaviour.

]]> By: Connie Attwood http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-20 Connie Attwood Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:18:19 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-20 Yes, they have been trapping the greys in great numbers here in the UK and eating them (ugh, vegetarian), even selling them at butchers! Two years ago when hiking in northern Scotland we were asked to let the rangers know how many reds we saw and not a one! The greys have definitely taken over. Sometimes I see ones here in Cambridge that look not quite red and not quite grey and wondered if they inter-breed? Yes, they have been trapping the greys in great numbers here in the UK and eating them (ugh, vegetarian), even selling them at butchers! Two years ago when hiking in northern Scotland we were asked to let the rangers know how many reds we saw and not a one! The greys have definitely taken over. Sometimes I see ones here in Cambridge that look not quite red and not quite grey and wondered if they inter-breed?

]]> By: flandrumhill http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-19 flandrumhill Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:19:40 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-19 Forestrat, you've noticed a change in the squirrels. What about the trees? The Grey Squirrels almost exclusively prefer the deciduous forests. Have you noticed that there are more deciduous trees in upstate NY now than there were when you were a kid? If so, do you think global warming could be a factor? Forestrat, you’ve noticed a change in the squirrels. What about the trees? The Grey Squirrels almost exclusively prefer the deciduous forests. Have you noticed that there are more deciduous trees in upstate NY now than there were when you were a kid? If so, do you think global warming could be a factor?

]]> By: forestrat http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-18 forestrat Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:53:52 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-18 Grey squirrels have taken over the area around my home in upstate NY; whereas it was almost all reds when I was a kid. I remember my father saying something about reds and greys not co-existing, but being a kid I didn't pay much attention. A few weeks ago I was hiking in Pennsylvania and happened to see a red one. It took a couple minutes for me to register what I was seeing - I've just gotten used to all squirrels being grey. MDW Grey squirrels have taken over the area around my home in upstate NY; whereas it was almost all reds when I was a kid. I remember my father saying something about reds and greys not co-existing, but being a kid I didn’t pay much attention.

A few weeks ago I was hiking in Pennsylvania and happened to see a red one. It took a couple minutes for me to register what I was seeing – I’ve just gotten used to all squirrels being grey.

MDW

]]> By: mme3rivieres http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-9 mme3rivieres Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:19:33 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-9 Wow, look at that - I can even tell the difference between the squirrels! ;-) Thank you for your very helpful information about their autumn mischief-making, and may your home remain grey squirrel-free! Wow, look at that – I can even tell the difference between the squirrels! ;-) Thank you for your very helpful information about their autumn mischief-making, and may your home remain grey squirrel-free!

]]> By: flandrumhill http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-8 flandrumhill Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:19:59 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-8 The Grey Squirrel was introduced to Great Britain as a Victorian novelty in the 19th century. As they say in Nova Scotia: What a sin! The Grey Squirrel was introduced to Great Britain as a Victorian novelty in the 19th century. As they say in Nova Scotia: What a sin!

]]> By: worldphotos http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/red-squirrels/#comment-7 worldphotos Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:39:41 +0000 http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/?p=239#comment-7 Nice post. They are having the same problem with the gray squirrels in Great Britain. I don't remember why they imported the American Gray there, but it was a mistake. Our Eurasian Red squirrls come in a variety of colors from black to Gray to Red and a combination of the various colors, but their features are mostly similar. Nice post. They are having the same problem with the gray squirrels in Great Britain. I don’t remember why they imported the American Gray there, but it was a mistake. Our Eurasian Red squirrls come in a variety of colors from black to Gray to Red and a combination of the various colors, but their features are mostly similar.

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