Squirrels at the Feeder

Figuring out why squirrels act like they do can be a fun challenge.  Sometimes they act loving and playful with each other but other times they are aggressive and chase other squirrels away.  So what gives with these critters?  Are squirrels territorial or do they just like some squirrels more than others? I did a little research and was surprised by all of the information that I found.  Here is what I learned:

The common tree squirrels (Grey and Fox) are not territorial.  The American Red and California Ground squirrels are extremely territorial.  Flying squirrels will exhibit territorial behavior if there is pressure for nesting locations.  The degree of territorial defense also varies based upon the sex of the squirrel and the presence of babies.

If we look at the territorial behavior for some of these guys in detail then how they act starts making sense.

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No, you did not read the title wrong. Squirrels attacking snakes does sound like something out of a Disney movie, especially if said movie features the squirrel actually winning against this formidable species. However, as implausible as it sounds, squirrels attacking snakes is a real thing.

It’s actually a classic David vs. Goliath tale if you ask me, which makes it a little freaky yet extremely cool. Let’s take a look at how and why squirrels attack snakes.

Squirrels attack snakes to defend and protect their young. Snakes love to eat baby ground squirrels that are only a few months old. Adult squirrels attack snakes by injuring them through bites and kicking gravel. Adult squirrels have quick reflexes, which help them avoid a snake strike. They can also take on the defensive position and warn snakes to leave them alone.

Snakes do not go for adult ground squirrels because they are often resistant to snake venom.  Consider it an evolutionary marvel if you will, but many adult squirrels carry a protein in their blood that helps them survive the venom released from a snake bite (source).

Here’s a video of a mother squirrel taking on a snake to protect her babies.  Watch the video and you will be AMAZED at what the squirrel can do!

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When you think of squirrels, you usually come up with a mental image of these things happily gnawing on a peanut or stealing some sunflower seeds out of your bird feeder.  In reality, squirrels chew on a heck of more than nuts. Squirrels can destroy wooden bird feeders with their teeth and will gnaw through Plexiglas like it is butter.

But what about that hole in your aluminum screen or that damage up on your roof flashing?  Could a squirrel have done that? Can squirrels chew through aluminum?? Let’s find out.

Yes, squirrels can easily chew through aluminum and other soft metals such as copper.  A squirrel will gnaw through this metal if it locates a food source on the other side or is in trying to make a nest in your attic. Check out the damage done by a squirrel in the following videos:

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We have a Wheaten Terrier in our family named Millie and she is the most determined animal that I have ever seen.  Millie is determined that no teenagers will leave our house, no delivery man will enter our house and that our Golden Retriever shall NOT chase the laser pointer.

And she is not kidding around.

The thing that Millie is most determined about is that she will kill all of the squirrels in our yard.  She hasn’t caught one yet but she has a plan.  If you have a dog like Millie with a strong prey drive then you might be wondering, “Will my dog get sick if it kills a squirrel?”  Let’s take a look and find out!

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The tail on a squirrel is a fascinating device that has a lot of uses.  Those fluffy appendages help with balance, regulate body temperature, break their falls, are used for communication and even battle!  Unfortunately it is not uncommon for a squirrel’s tail to come off.

What Happens When A Squirrel Loses Its Tail?

A squirrel losing its tail is a relatively common event.  A squirrel can get its tail stuck between branches on fence boards while they are chasing each other and have the thing yanked right off.   Squirrels can also lose their tails during a fight with a predator.

A squirrel can not regrow its tail.  Once the tail is gone it stays gone and the poor fella just looks goofy.

Squirrels can live a long time in the wild but without their tail but are at more risk for an early death. A squirrel’s tail is essential to survival.

A squirrel without a tail will not be able to balance as well in the treetops and is at greater risk for a fall.  This is especially dangerous as the squirrel won’t be able to use his tail to slow the descent.  A squirrel without a tail will not be able to use flagging to scare off predators making it more of a target.

Lastly, a squirrel without a tail has lost one of the mechanisms it uses to control body temperature making it more susceptible to the challenges of extreme heat or cold.

Weird Squirrel Tail Facts

Keep reading to learn some pretty amazing ways that squirrels use their tails including Fighting Rattlesnakes!

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Squirrels are clever creatures that have adapted well to living among people.  Squirrels are also extremely intelligent critters that have demonstrated that they have excellent memories.  Given their close proximity to us and their great memories it begs the question, “Do squirrels remember humans?”

There are many well documented cases of squirrels remembering humans.  Orphaned squirrels that were raised by a human will often return and visit their foster parents.   Wild squirrels are easily trained to remember that certain people can be safe and trusted sources of food. The strong memory of squirrels has been demonstrated in academic studies of their ability to repeat complicated tasks such as navigating mazes and working a series of levers.

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A few days ago I was having fun watching a few squirrels chase each other around the squirrel feeder I have in the backyard.  The chase is sometimes part of the mating process, either through the establishment of the dominant male or by the pursuit of the available female.  It got me wondering about the whole mating process (I think about things like that after three cups of coffee) and I decided to find out if squirrels mate for life.  Here is what I learned.

Squirrels do not mate for life.  Female squirrels are in estrus for only a few hours each year and will mate with any males in her territory.  There is vigorous competition for the female and she will often mate with multiple males producing litters of mixed parentage.  Once the mating is complete the male plays little role in the raising of the squirrel pups.

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During the day, you may see squirrels running just about everywhere. They run through yards, along power lines, and up trees. But, in the night, after they burn up all of that energy they need to catch some serious sleep.  It begs the question, “Where do squirrels sleep?”

Where a squirrel sleeps and lives depends on the type of squirrel, the time of year and the region of the country they live in.  In general, Gray and Red squirrels sleep in tree nests called dreys while ground squirrels sleep in underground burrows consisting of tunnels up to 30 feet in length.

Let’s take a look at some more details for the different types of squirrels and where they nap and snooze.

Ground Squirrels Sleep in Different Places Than Tree Squirrels

Most species of squirrels belong to one of two categories — tree squirrels and ground squirrels. The Eastern gray squirrel, red squirrel, and flying squirrel are tree squirrels. They sleep in nests or dens that they create or find in trees. [Read more…]