Squirrel tales...

[sluckey]

It's that time again. These pics were taken on 07/18/11. Molly, our Springer Spaniel, gave us the little one. The other came through animal rescue with the Mobile Environmental Center. The babies have grown considerably and have fur and open eyes now.

Molly's baby, Lil Bit...


Frisky and Lil Bit

[EL34]

Cool,
We get more pics of them growing up.
Fun to watch them grow

[Frankenamp]

So, how's the little guys doin'? I went down to Monterey earlier this week for SWMBO's B-day, and we made a (traditional) stop along the shore in Pacific Grove (over by Asilomar) to visit the squirrels that live along the shore. They are somewhat tame- and as long as you don't threaten them (and have plenty of bread crumbs) they will get pretty friendly. The ones in my back yard just throw walnut husks at me, and chew up the CATV wires- the Comcast guy says that the PVC foam in the RG6 tastes like peanut butter. Now that I have satellite dish, I don't mind as much... however- in the last seven years I haven't had one walnut!

[stingray_65]

Those are Squirrels?!!??!!

[sluckey]

Here's an update. L'il Bit and Frisky have bonded. Lookin' more like squirrels...










And here's a newcomer...

[tubenit]

That's really amazingly cool, Steve!  Bravo.

Best regards, Jeff

[stingray_65]

When raising squirrels,

when do you teach them how to circumvent any and all anti squirrel features on bird feeders?

[EL34]

They don't get past my bird feeder
The pole has a big tilting dome around it that they can't get around.

Now Racoons are another story

Steve,
That one on the right in the top pic has some huge back feet.

[bigsbybender]

I find it Fascinating how differently Squirrels look in various geographic areas. If I drive just one hour south, the squirrels look completely different.

[EL34]

A bunch of them look like this is these here parts.

Here's 3 white ones outside my shop

[sluckey]

when do you teach them how to circumvent any and all anti squirrel features on bird feeders?

No training required. They'll figure it out. All my birdfeeders hang from high tree limbs. The feeders are suspended by about 15'-20' of steel wire in such a way to have about 10' clearance from any adjacent trees or structures and they are 7' above the ground. There's still a squirrel that can get to one feeder. The best approach is to keep them fat enough that they are too lazy to jump far.   

That one on the right in the top pic has some huge back feet.

They all look like that at that age. Kinda like puppies. The feet are the first thing to mature. He'll grow into his big feet eventually. BTW, if you look at that foot from the bottom side, you'll see that the whole section of leg below that joint has pads. The whole thing is a foot!

[billcreller]

That's really neat !  Animals can get really interesting.  The squirrels sure are small when they are born......

 I have only a cat and dog (Boxer) and they are both spoiled rotten I tell ya !

[sluckey]

Dude opened his eyes today.

[EL34]

Steve I'll send you this one by Priority mail

You could name one of yours Peppa and this one could be Salt 

[sluckey]

I'd love to get some little white squirrels established around here. We have a lot of predators though. White could be bad for long term survival.

[PRR]

> how differently Squirrels look in various geographic areas

Squirrels in New Jersey are serious size.

Here in Maine they are smaller (and redder).

My neighbor says "chipmunks". Yeah, similar size, but I've lived near both squirrels and chipmunks..... chipmunks are cowardly, squirrels have Attitude. Our critters sass our dogs. Them's squirrels.

[andrew_k]

So cute!

My neighbor says "chipmunks". Yeah, similar size, but I've lived near both squirrels and chipmunks..... chipmunks are cowardly, squirrels have Attitude. Our critters sass our dogs. Them's squirrels.

Come check out our suburban possums if you want attitude. 12kg+ beasts that can climb a steel light pole pole in a second and take an eye out of a cocky cat in a single swipe (yes I've had a cat come home with its eye hanging out. a BIG dominant male cat)

[jjasilli]

:-)  I love squirrels.  Adult wild squirrels are playful and seem to me to have a sense of humor.   

[RicharD]

Wow!  This blows me away every year.  I can't really put it into words awesome this is.  I am curious though as to how many squirrel friends you have. 

[sluckey]

We've only done 3 little ones this year. Dude is still in a cage hanging under the gazebo but will be set free in about a week. The others are sleeping in a nest box under the gazebo but roam freely thru the trees. All are very playful. Frisky was named appropriately!

There are 4 grown squirrels that will still eat from my hand.

[kagliostro]

Very nice, they are lovable

[RicharD]

Dear Sluckey,

How are the babies?  Please send pictures soon.

Thanks!
 : ) : Richard

[sluckey]

Frisky is now sleeping in a nest in the trees. Dude and George (newcomer) are still in the halfway house (nesting box under the gazebo). All are free to come and go as they please. We still give George some formula everyday but he is eating just like a big squirrel. All three are good buddies and spend a lot of time playing together. They are a blast to watch. Hard to get a good pic with a point and shoot. They're just too active.

[tubenit]

Very cool, Sluckey!   Thanks for the update. Sound like you are having fun with it.

with respect, Jeff/Tubenit

[EL34]

Baby squirrels are a hoot to watch them play.

[billcreller]

Thanks for all the cool cute squirrel pic sluckey!   My oldest son has a cottage on Houghton Lake here in Michigan, and I see that there are black colored squirrels running around there. Some have gray or silver tails, and streaks etc.  It's the first time I had seen any that color..

[sluckey]

It's kinda late in the year for baby squirrels, or so I thought. We got a call from the Environmental Center last Monday and now we have Gracey. She's about 8 weeks old, was very hungry and a little dehydrated, but otherwise healthy. She adapted instantly to the Esbilac puppy formula and is doing well. She's also beginning to eat pecans and acorns. And she likes to cuddle after feeding.

[kagliostro]

Don't know if this is a squirrel or whatever it is


but I like this image 


K

[Willabe]

Yep, it's a squirrel.