Where are the squirrels and chipmunks?

[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.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yup! If they’re not accustomed to human stink, they will avoid!

[Sue Doe-Nym]

We still have seen no squirrels or chipmunks this fall on our property. Very strange....we used to have to be careful closing doors to keep them out. Not a one.