Mrs? Squirrel

[Cazzie]

Hi all,

Well what with my new pond (complete with a new froggie in it!) and a Jay yesterday it's all happening in my garden atm! Today I had a pair of juvenile bullfinches, a red admiral and small tortoishell and also this little 'madame' on a nut raid!!!



Now I'm hazarding a guess that she's got babies somewhere as correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't she lactating?... or is she preggers? - looks a bit porky round the middle to me?!?



She then proceeded to attack my nut feeders and knock them off, so I then put them back up, then she knocked them off again!!



Have to admit, she was very entertaining for about an hour this morning lol!

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Hi all,

Well what with my new pond (complete with a new froggie in it!) and a Jay yesterday it's all happening in my garden atm! Today I had a pair of juvenile bullfinches, a red admiral and small tortoishell and also this little 'madame' on a nut raid!!!



Now I'm hazarding a guess that she's got babies somewhere as correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't she lactating?... or is she preggers? - looks a bit porky round the middle to me?!?



She then proceeded to attack my nut feeders and knock them off, so I then put them back up, then she knocked them off again!!



Have to admit, she was very entertaining for about an hour this morning lol!

hi did she manage to break your nut feeder,by the look of her she looks like she has young somewhere her teats look quite big to me,bless her i know there are a lot of people on here that say their pests but i am sorry i cant help it but love them.

[Cazzie]

Originally Posted by naturelover

hi did she manage to break your nut feeder,by the look of her she looks like she has young somewhere her teats look quite big to me,bless her i know there are a lot of people on here that say their pests but i am sorry i cant help it but love them.

No she didn't haha! She did inspect her handywork by jumping down to see if the lid had come off and the nuts had spilled out, but I was too quick for her and put them back up quick lol!

Yep, I thought she had quite 'obvious' teats too! Honestly go no idea where she's come from and she's only the 2nd squirrel I've seen in my garden in the last 5 months! Have a sneaking suspission that she'll be back again soon if she's got little ones nearby.....

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by Cazzie

No she didn't haha! She did inspect her handywork by jumping down to see if the lid had come off and the nuts had spilled out, but I was too quick for her and put them back up quick lol!

Yep, I thought she had quite 'obvious' teats too! Honestly go no idea where she's come from and she's only the 2nd squirrel I've seen in my garden in the last 5 months! Have a sneaking suspission that she'll be back again soon if she's got little ones nearby.....

sure will once they find nuts thats it.

[jdurbo]

aaawww cute little nutkin! They do look funny climbing all over everything

jen xxx

[zharca]

HI, I think that might be her second litter this year.
They tend to have one in early spring and then may have another one about this time if the conditions are good. If you're lucky*, she might bring two or three hooligan babies down in a week or two to show them where the easy chow is.





* or unlucky, depending on your view!

[Bob Copper]

I'm afraid that I am no fan of grey squirrels, but feeding peanuts is potentially bad news for lactating squirrels (red or grey). They've got a very high phosphorous content and the technical blurb indicates that animals which don't have a good calcium level in the diet can develope bone disease. This is something that is recorded regularly in wild red squirrels which are effectively killed with kindness. If put out cuttle fish bone, the breeding female may well chew away all of the soft material as it is calcium rich. Only a suggestion.

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by Bob Copper

I'm afraid that I am no fan of grey squirrels, but feeding peanuts is potentially bad news for lactating squirrels (red or grey). They've got a very high phosphorous content and the technical blurb indicates that animals which don't have a good calcium level in the diet can develope bone disease. This is something that is recorded regularly in wild red squirrels which are effectively killed with kindness. If put out cuttle fish bone, the breeding female may well chew away all of the soft material as it is calcium rich. Only a suggestion.

hi the nuts are for the birds not the squirrels what is cazzie got to do put a notice up ( no squirrels )

[Bob Copper]

Originally Posted by naturelover

hi the nuts are for the birds not the squirrels what is cazzie got to do put a notice up ( no squirrels )

Whether the peanuts are for the birds or not, the squirrel is eating them too. I was just pointing out a general problem with peanuts and squirrels, irrespective of how the animal gets hold of the food. Sorry that both this, and the suggested solution, seems to have upset you slightly it was in way meant as any criticism.

[Bob Copper]

If anyone is interested this is one paper on bone disease

http://http://www.jwildlifedis.org/c.../full/40/3/515

but if you look around there are lots of wildlife care sites which talk about peanuts:

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a deficiency of calcium in a squirrel’s diet. It is caused by an improper diet wherein seeds, nuts, and corn are the major, or only, components of a diet. The condition will kill the squirrel. This is not a theory - it is common because some people ignore the warnings, do not follow the dietary instructions, give the animals a diet high in seeds, nuts, and corn, and low in calcium bearing foods. In addition to bone development, calcium is needed for all organic functions, including heart, respiration, blood circulation, muscle, and eyesight. Do not think you and your squirrel will be the exceptions if you feed a diet composed of seeds, nuts, and corn. This deadly diet is often sold in stores under the descriptor “Squirrel Feed”. http://http://www.squirrel-rescue.co...l-diseases.htm