It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…
~ Charles Dickens
It started out as a whirlwind relationship with all the romantic trimmings… playful chases through the forest, bouquets of fresh evergreens, blazing sunsets and quiet sunflower seed dinners by moonlight. Nothing this good could last forever… something was bound to happen to end it all… kids!
They’re everywhere: leaping in the trees, eating at the bird feeders and drinking at the birdbath. I counted seven yesterday. [Up to 18 can co-exist per acre (Layne 1954) , an area just a bit smaller than my yard]. Although three can be seen in the photograph above, there was actually a fourth that had just slipped behind the tree. They’re cute, but they’re constantly squabbling with one another.
“He stole my sunflower seeds!”
“I was sitting on that post first!”
“She keeps biting my tail! Mommmmmm!!!!!”
Recklessly leaping from branch to branch, their antics and chatter make them an easy target for predators, putting the whole family at risk. It never ends. Dawn until sunset… day after day… week after week… what are squirrel parents to do? Hmmmm… Why not have more?
Red Squirrels will often have more than one set of offspring per season if the situation is good. Which it obviously is…
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Good morning, all you beautiful red squirrels! Looks like you are good parents. Amy, do people in your “neck of the woods” have challenges with red squirrels chewing at wiring and insulation in the attics and causing fires? People around here shoot (shh, sorry, didn’t mean to say that) these guys because more than one house has burned down due to chewed wiring. What is your take on this?
This post made me smile and laugh. 🙂
Thanks AmyLynn
Kathy, a couple of years ago, one of my friends was concerned that squirrels might be chewing wires in her attic and start a fire – I checked, but didn’t find any evidence of that. However, that’s not to say it’s not happening. I just haven’t heard any local stories. There’s certainly a lot of information about that on the Internet (provided by extermination companies of course).
I haven’t put birdseed on my deck in years. The squirrels seemed a little too bold and I figured it would only be a matter of time before they stole their way into the house.
fw, those squirrels are so entertaining. I never tire of watching their antics. I’m glad my post about them gave you a laugh 🙂
Those squirrels are precious. I do not see so many, as Miss Sadie and the Cowboy shout at them in loud barks, and Miss Puss moves quietly . . .
I’ll bet she moves quietly. As quiet as they are, squirrels do a lot of chattering here when cats sneak into the yard. They must pick up their scent.
I just had a red squirrel chew the end off my pitch fork handle…why? Doesn’t he have enough wood to chew on in the surrounding forest? I think he misses stealing the sunflower seeds from the feeders and is taking it out on me! Or am i just being paranoid?
I enjoyed your post and photos…they are cute and a bit spazzy.
Porcupines will chew on garden tools for the salt that’s left there by sweaty human hands. I don’t know if squirrels do this too, but a vengeful one might 😉
I love the squirrel tale and the pretty tails!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Joan. I can’t remember if I ever saw any Red Squirrels out west.
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