Flying Squirrels!

ApS · 03-10-2007, 07:02 AM

We once startled a gray squirrel on our porch, who raced from the porch at top speed—into space! It was a 20-foot drop to the ground—worse, he had leaped where the ground fell away to about 30 feet! He never missed a beat, and continued to run off to the nearest tree. They will miss the occasional leap between trees. I watched a gray squirrel make several "trial runs" on one branch before a particularly long leap. Funny to watch a squirrel "studying" his next leap.

Another time, I caught a red squirrel chewing on my favorite porch chair. I picked up the nearest item to throw—a charcoal briquette—and threw it in his direction. It hit him—he dropped—and didn't get up!

A bit dismayed, he got placed in a container to keep an eye on him. Sure enough, he slowly regained consciousness.

He was transferred to a Hav-a-Hart trap and was covered with a blanket. Of course, he proceeded to chew a hole in the blanket

. He got released at the town dump, none the worse for the experience.

I watched the video with amused interest, and wasn't too concerned for the "flying" squirrels. Anyone catch the "release mechanism" behind the glass door?

Anyway, if they annoy you for handouts, you can always scold them:

03-10-2007, 07:02 AM	#36
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,938 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	They're tougher'n you think... We once startled a gray squirrel on our porch, who raced from the porch at top speed—into space! It was a 20-foot drop to the ground—worse, he had leaped where the ground fell away to about 30 feet! He never missed a beat, and continued to run off to the nearest tree. They will miss the occasional leap between trees. I watched a gray squirrel make several "trial runs" on one branch before a particularly long leap. Funny to watch a squirrel "studying" his next leap. Another time, I caught a red squirrel chewing on my favorite porch chair. I picked up the nearest item to throw—a charcoal briquette—and threw it in his direction. It hit him—he dropped—and didn't get up! A bit dismayed, he got placed in a container to keep an eye on him. Sure enough, he slowly regained consciousness. He was transferred to a Hav-a-Hart trap and was covered with a blanket. Of course, he proceeded to chew a hole in the blanket . He got released at the town dump, none the worse for the experience. I watched the video with amused interest, and wasn't too concerned for the "flying" squirrels. Anyone catch the "release mechanism" behind the glass door? Anyway, if they annoy you for handouts, you can always scold them: Attached Images __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.