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Why Do Squirrels Run in Front of Cars?

December 28, 2021 By David

Squirrels run in front of cars for a variety of reasons, but they are neither playing chicken nor do they have a death wish. In fact, it is just the opposite.  Unfortunately, it is estimated that over one million animals die every day in just the United States alone from vehicular-related incidents with squirrels taking the honors of having the highest roadkill rate of any animal.
Squirrel Eating Flower Buds
The automobile was first invented around the turn of the 19th century and that much time is just a blip on the evolutionary scale. As such, squirrels haven’t had a whole lot of time to adapt to the threat the modern automobile poses them.

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Here’s Why Your Dog Chases Squirrels

December 20, 2021 By David

Dogs are active, playful creatures. Once they get excited, it is quite difficult to keep them calm. It doesn’t matter how obedient or loving they are; they will run off if they find something worth getting distracted by.

At that moment, it wouldn’t matter whether you are on a peaceful walk or getting some exercise. Keeping them under control will be near impossible.

These impossible situations often occur due to furry rodents. One moment everything is calm, but the next moment your dog will run after it, dragging you along too.

Zen the Goldendoodle

One of the favorite critters that your dog would love running after is squirrels. A sight or even the smell of squirrels will drive them crazy, turning up the desire to chase. So, why do dogs love chasing squirrels?

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Best Squirrel Repellents That Actually Work

December 11, 2021 By David

There are times when squirrels can be entertaining to watch but also times that they can be downright annoying and destructive.  If you are finding yourself in a battle of wits with the squirrels then this article will walk you through what are some of the best squirrel repellents for you to use to keep these adventurous critters at bay.

Squirrel Active In The Day

Let’s take a closer look at what types of squirrel repellents are available and which of them are the most effective.

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Where Do Squirrels Live? {Grey, Black, Red and Flying!}

December 4, 2021 By David

It is common to see squirrels running around backyards and parks in the morning.  They live in large numbers across pretty much the entire country and are one of the most well recognized wildlife creatures.

A very common question about this abundant wildlife species is, “Where Do Squirrels Live?”.

Most species of squirrels such as the Grey, Flying and Red squirrels live in trees utilizing either nests or dreys for shelter.  Some species of squirrels, like the aptly named Ground Squirrels, live in underground burrows.

Where Do Tree Squirrels Live?

The type of squirrels that you see in parks are almost always tree squirrels with Grey squirrels being the most populous.  Tree squirrels make their homes in trees using either nests or dreys for shelter.

A drey is a loose collection of branches, leaves and other insulating nesting materials that is constructed between supporting branches in a tree.

Squirrel Drey

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Are Squirrels Rodents and Related to Rats?

December 3, 2021 By David

Very few animals draw such vastly different emotional reactions from people than squirrels. Some people think squirrels are absolutely adorable and love to feed and nurture them.  Other people think squirrels are rodents like rats but with fluffy tails.

Part of the love/hate relationship with squirrels concerns where exactly they fall in the animal kingdom. Almost everyone HATES rats and we are taught early on that rodents should be avoided.  But what about our furry tailed tree squirrels?

“Are Squirrels Rodents Like Rats?”

Squirrels are absolutely rodents.  While squirrels are rodents there are five SubOrders in the Rodentia class and squirrels and rats are in different SubOrders.  This means that rats and squirrels are loosely related but are separate species that cannot interbreed.

squirrels vs rats

 

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Do Hawks Eats Squirrels? {Red Tails are Ferocious!!}

December 1, 2021 By David

Hawks are amazing and beautiful predators that are essential in nature’s food web.  One part of the food web is the role that squirrels play in the diet of hawks.  If you have ever wondered, “Do Hawks Eat Squirrels?” then this article will help you understand that:

Yes, hawks do eat squirrels.  Hawks are one of the top predators of squirrels and the species that eats the most squirrels is the Red Tailed Hawk. 

Let’s take a closer look at the differences in the types of hawks that live in the United States to gain a better understanding of their respective diets.

Hawks are Squirrel Predators

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Do Grey Squirrels Hibernate?

December 1, 2021 By David

Squirrels are busy animals. When it is nice outside, it is hard to go anywhere or spend more than a minute looking out your window without seeing a squirrel.  While these animals are busy throughout the warmer months, I started to wonder about how they got through the winter.

More specifically I wondered, “Do grey squirrels hibernate?”  I did some research and found that the answer is:

Grey squirrels do not hibernate.  Grey squirrels use multiple mechanisms to survive the cold including group warmth, shivering, food caching and bulking up for winter.

Do Grey Squirrels Hibernate

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What Are the Best Foods to Attract and Feed Wild Squirrels

December 1, 2021 By David

If you are thinking about feeding the squirrels in your backyard then, just like feeding birds, there are quite a few things to consider.  You need to have a handle on the proper foods to put out, how to attract squirrels and how to make sure the squirrels can safely enjoy the snacks that you are providing.

Let’s get started and take a look at everything you need to know about feeding squirrels!

Squirrel at Picnic Table Feeder

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Do Squirrels Eat Corn? Is it Good for Them?

November 28, 2021 By David

We have a lot of fun feeding squirrels at our house.  If you are just starting to feed squirrels then here is a strong chance you are trying to figure out inexpensive foods that they will love.  

One common question I see about feeding squirrels concerns their choice of food, specifically people want to know, “Do Squirrels Eat Corn?”

Do Squirrels Eat Corn?

The answer is, “Yes.  Squirrels love to eat corn, either fresh or dried.  Squirrels will typically eat the germ portion of the kernel and discard the bran.”

Squirrel on Picnic Table Eating Corn

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What Eats Squirrels? Which Animals are the Top Predators?

November 27, 2021 By David

Like other small mammals, squirrels are also susceptible to attacks from a wide variety of predators. These predators vary according to the types of squirrels. Different species of squirrels have evolved to adopt various defense mechanisms against predators, but they still tend to make vulnerable targets. This is also why squirrels live longer in captivity than they do in the wild.

Have you ever wondered, “What Eats Squirrels?” I did and this is what I found!

what eat squirrels

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