Squirrel in a tree

[Joe S.]

Was sitting at the desk this morning working I looked out at my yard and saw a squirrel on the ground holding something huge and white. I grabbed my binoculars about the time he started moving. He perched on this limb and start eating it. It was a mushroom. I didn’t know squirrels would eat the things. It was fun to watch.

Sorry about the crappy pic. Cell phone through the binoculars. Still neat to see.

[gator89]

Years ago while in college, I was on a bench waiting for a class to start and a squirrel was rummaging in the trash can nearby. Rocky popped up with a chicken bone from a KFC box that had recently been discarded, and started gnawing off the gristle on each and and whatever meat in between. Once the bone was clean, Rocky appeared to look at the bone and say, what the heck, and started munching on the bone.

There is a reason squirrels are called tree-rats or bushy-tailed rats, they eat whatever it takes to survive.

[Joe S.]

I guess I’ve just never really thought of what their diet actually consists of. I just always think of them eating acorns and pecans. Ha

[ezekiel38]

Walnuts where I live. Years ago my father who lived in an adjoining city called me one day and asked if I still had the 22 LR rifle he had given me as a 12 year old 40 years earlier. I said I did and he ordered me to bring it to his house in town 30 miles away. Dad at this time was 83 yoa. Got to his house an hour later and he was "hoppin mad" and my father was a very easy going man. He told me the squirrels had cleaned out his walnut crop that had been falling on the ground, and he wanted them dispatched with the 22.

I reminded Dad that he now "lived in town" and I couldn't eradicate the squirrels. This was not what he wanted to hear, as he would peel he husk off the walnuts, crack them, dry them and glaze them and give them as a stocking stuffer at Christmas. So squirrels I know, they also like birdseed as they clean my birdfeeders out every so often, in the Springtime.

[rangersedge]

After growing up on a farm and squirrel hunting from a young age, squirrels were worthy adversaries and esteemed.

While living in town and witnessing them rummage through garbage and act more like rats, squirrels didn't seem so worthy of any esteem.

Back out in the country with a young son, squirrels are again worthy and esteemed opponents.

[Longhunter1750]

I've seen squirrels eat lots of things you wouldn't think they would eat, bird eggs, canned dog food, french fries, seen a photo of one eating the head off a mouse.

[Joe S.]

Agreed. City squirrels are diff’ernt.

Jun 15, 2020 21:29:32 GMT -5 rangersedge said:

After growing up on a farm and squirrel hunting from a young age, squirrels were worthy adversaries and esteemed.

While living in town and witnessing them rummage through garbage and act more like rats, squirrels didn't seem so worthy of any esteem.

Back out in the country with a young son, squirrels are again worthy and esteemed opponents.

[Joe S.]

Cannibals?? Ha

Jun 15, 2020 21:51:44 GMT -5 Longhunter1750 said:

I've seen squirrels eat lots of things you wouldn't think they would eat, bird eggs, canned dog food, french fries, seen a photo of one eating the head off a mouse.

[dmize]

A couple years ago there was a hell of a commotion in a maple tree in the back yard. On the ground there were 3 headless Bluejay chicks. While I was standing there a 4th one plopped on the ground and a fox squirrel was in the nest.

[Joe S.]

Oh wow! Savage!