Where are the squirrels and chipmunks?

[Sue Doe-Nym]

We have had no squirrels and chipmunks this fall, and we have thousands of acorns falling all over the place. Was there a plague of some sort? Don’t get me wrong....they can be a nuisance , but we have seen none here. Big mystery.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

We have had no squirrels and chipmunks this fall, and we have thousands of acorns falling all over the place. Was there a plague of some sort? Don’t get me wrong....they can be a nuisance , but we have seen none here. Big mystery.

The squirrels all committed suicide last fall. But I have seen less critters this year than last, esp mice, which I'm extremely happy about! I caught over a dozen last year and I've seen none so far this year, fingers crossed.

[Descant]

No mice here this fall. My cat is very disappointed in the slim harvest. My older kids graduated, got jobs and found places to live. The cat just wants to live in the basement and have food brought in. The squirrels don't hang around the bird feeder anymore, but I think that's because we got one of those Droll Yankee feeders and they can't raid it. Fun to watch them try.

[8gv]

I wonder if the predators that would have eaten the missing squirrels and chipmunks will be looking at our pets for dinner this fall.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by 8gv

I wonder if the predators that would have eaten the missing squirrels and chipmunks will be looking at our pets for dinner this fall.

We suspected that when we lost our cat for a week. Apparently go trapped someplace, (we think a nearby tool shed when neighbors moved in/out but came home a week later. No Coyote damage.

[gravy boat]

With the big die-off last year we had none for a while. This summer we had at least one red squirrel and one gray. And we have three chipmunks that I can count. Lots of acorns falling this year so the population should continue growing.

I read that acorns take 2-3 years to mature/grow to point they fall and their numbers depend on prior years' weather.

[SAMIAM]

Miss the squirrels and chipmunks but not too sad that we have no moles this year.

[gwhite13]

Squirrels and deer are looking very thin heading into winter.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by gwhite13

Squirrels and deer are looking very thin heading into winter.

Whatever is left of the squirrels will fatten up on the big acorn crop we have right now and the deer are already doing so. Another 2 months of this and the deer I’ll have a good fat layer on their backs.
Nature’s will to survive is very strong.

[tis]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Miss the squirrels and chipmunks but not too sad that we have no moles this year.

Moles and mice! Who needs them? Glad their population is reduced!!!!

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by tis

Moles and mice! Who needs them? Glad their population is reduced!!!!

They are food for the owls and raptors and foxes, tis!
I have heard that owls are suffering from the lack of rodents in certain areas of the country and are starving. Given the exploding mouse population of last year, you would think the owls had plenty...
This year, my bluebird houses, which are normally “winter housing” for the mice, are empty. I will put out some “bucket of death” traps for the mice soon...that will give me an idea of how many there are out there right now. I do not want them invading my buildings and equipment.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

They are food for the owls and raptors and foxes, tis!
I have heard that owls are suffering from the lack of rodents in certain areas of the country and are starving. Given the exploding mouse population of last year, you would think the owls had plenty...
This year, my bluebird houses, which are normally “winter housing” for the mice, are empty. I will put out some “bucket of death” traps for the mice soon...that will give me an idea of how many there are out there right now. I do not want them invading my buildings and equipment.

Guess that's who needs them LOL. But I know I sure don't need them in the house. I tell them I wouldn't trap them if they would just stay outside but they don't want to listen. I put a mouse trap in my closet just in case they start to try to come in. I have yet to catch one.

[swnoel]

They're in my back yard... do you want some??

[Skip]

Originally Posted by swnoel

They're in my back yard... do you want some??

Looks like they finally found the nuts!

[upthesaukee]

Because I stopped feeding the birds back in late May or early June (bears 3, Upthesaukee 0, game, set & match), the seed on the ground has disappeared, and so had our squirrels and chipmunks until the last few days.

I'm guessing that both had been taking advantage of the natural foods that are available over the summer in the woods surrounding our house. Now that the acorns are falling (looks like a bumper crop this), they are collecting their new found bounty from our yard and have returned.

And yes Skip, they have found a couple of nuts at my house!

Dave

[swnoel]

Originally Posted by Skip

Looks like they finally found the nuts!

Now I know where to drop them off ! :-)

[webmaster]

Photo by Airedale1

[rick35]

He looks afraid to come out. With all the falling acorns he could get knocked unconscious. We have a bazillion acorns which hopefully won’t translate into a bazillion critters.

[JEEPONLY]

Several Falls ago I noticed a chipmunk coming out of his burrow, return a bit later with a face-full of acorns, and disappear down the hole- only to repeat the actions several time in a row. I decided to help, so I collected some acorns and set them on the lip of the burrow. They were completely ignored, and the chippie went on about his business.

OK. So, I put on some work gloves, removed the previously offered acorns, and replaced them with non-human smelling acorns.

Suddenly, the little critter's collection time was cut down to seconds.
I just think this is an interesting observation, though not totally surprising.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by gravy boat

With the big die-off last year we had none for a while. This summer we had at least one red squirrel and one gray. And we have three chipmunks that I can count. Lots of acorns falling this year so the population should continue growing. I read that acorns take 2-3 years to mature/grow to point they fall and their numbers depend on prior years' weather.

Same numbers here. The gray only appeared one day. The cursed red squirrel ran across the lot a couple of times. Three chipmunks over the entire summer.

Back in Spring, the first chipmunk remembered me, and came running to my whistle!

He was shadowed by a larger chipmunk, which I took to be his mother. She'd chase him off (which is normal), but she would also look forward to some black sunflower seeds. Both are likely off in the woods now, but there are reminders (left by mussel shells) that we also have minks—which prey upon chipmunks. Both always appear stressed. A third appeared in the last two weeks, but wouldn't respond to me (and just now, ran away).

Chipmunks evolved from an underground tunneling mammal that survived the dinosaur era.

Their underground homes (and food-storage areas) use large voids they find in the ground, so can't solely be blamed for misalignment of stepping stones. (Which should be bedded in a large gravel footprint).

All the other 28 Chipmunk species are smaller than our Eastern Chipmunk.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

We have had no squirrels and chipmunks this fall, and we have thousands of acorns falling all over the place. Was there a plague of some sort? Don’t get me wrong....they can be a nuisance , but we have seen none here. Big mystery.

They all migrated down here to Massachusetts!

We are inundated with chipmunks and plenty of squirrels,,,

I if you have any suggestions about how to go about it, I would be happy to send some your way.

[rick35]

I haven’t seen a red squirrel at our place on Bear Island or a chipmunk at home in Merrimack this summer. I hate them both for the nuisances they create. The squirrels like to nest in my shed and make a mess and the chipmunks have burrowed under my brick walkway causing the bricks to droop. No loss here.