Urban snacking
Recently, the food habits of rodents have been all over the news. Urban animals are well adapted to living around humans in part because they are willing and able to eat our leftovers. Not to be outdone by Pizza Rat, rats’ rodent cousins, quickly made headlines for eating milkshakes and cinnamon rolls. Obviously squirrels have a sweet tooth,
but some like tomatoes
Power outages and other problems
Squirrel related power outages were reported in: Hutchinson, KS (800 people); Grand Rapids, MI (2000+ people); Somerset in the UK (1000 people); Spokane Valley, WA (2359 homes); and Frederick, MD (1900 homes). Squirrel also caused grass fires in Raymond, MS and Bryan, TX.
Squirrels and politics
Is that a squirrel on your head or are you just happy to see me? Bobby Jindal accuses Trump of looking like he has a squirrel on his head. Frankly, it’s a little insulting to squirrels.
Squirrels and science
Virus discovery credited in part to squirrels
Scientists studying a seed that had apparently touched a squirrel’s nest found a new giant virus. Note: the original manuscript makes no references to squirrels, nests or seeds.
Squirrels may need a matchmaker
Russian ground squirrels spend much of their year sleeping – and when they come out of hibernation, it’s time to mate. But apparently the squirrels are suffering from a lack of males to mate with, and the inability of those males who are around to connect with females. Time for a squirrel Tinder app?
Endangered Red Squirrel
Once declared extinct, the red squirrel is present in the Mt. Graham area of Arizona, where researchers are currently tracking their numbers (approximately 300 individuals) and movements to better understand their behavior.
Town gets excited about relocated squirrel statue
Folks in Olean, NY have a new 14-foot high fiberglass squirrel living in their park, one of thirty around the town.
Dead Squirrels
Eating squirrels
I admit, I gagged a little at some of the pictures from the recent Squirrel Cook Off.
Dog with dead squirrel
Why? I don’t know.
Baby squirrel rescued from fire in North Carolina
A baby squirrel had been sleeping in the attack of a home that caught fire in North Carolina. As he ran out of the burning house, firefighters gave him a few hits of oxygen before sending him on his way into the wild.
Brits once again obsessed with squirrel nuts
Yes, animals have genitals. Why this is supposed to be a source of embarrassment I’m not sure.
Hunting accidents
A 43 year old man near “Coon Valley,” WI was shot in the shoulder by his hunting buddy while seeking out squirrels. They didn’t report on whether they bagged any squirrels before the accident.
In NY, a man was shot in the face after another hunter missed his target (a squirrel). Oops. The injuries were not life-threatening.
…and a man in Indiana shot himself in the leg while hunting squirrels.
You gotta fight for your right…to feed squirrels?
A Canadian man had received several citations for feeding squirrels. The cops even had him placed under surveillance to stop him from offering handout to local wildlife. In response, he took his claims of privacy violations all the way to the Supreme Court. He did not win.
Stuck squirrels
Squirrel stuck in gift shop
Locals expressed concern for “at least one squirrel” running around inside a gift shop in Seattle. The shop owners placed a trap in hopes of catching and releasing the squirrel.
Squirrels stuck in trap
A Wisconsin police log reports calls of complaints after someone trapping squirrels didn’t notice that two squirrels were in the same trap…and fighting each other.
Take two pills and call me...
I got bitten by a squirrel eight and a half years ago. It was a very expensive bandaid. Since then, medical codes have become more specific, including one just for squirrel bites. Note: there are also now codes for orca bites and spacecraft accidents.
