AGS
09-21-2013, 11:20 AM
Hello, and thank you for providing a forum with so much information on one of my favorite animals. A backyard squirrel is one of my earliest childhood memories, and now many years later, squirrels remain an object of fascination and a source of real pleasure for me.
This past spring, a squirrel turned up at my bird feeder with a large lump on his side. It looked serious, but there was nothing I could do but wish him well and continue to fill my bird feeder. He either died, moved away or healed within a week or two, and it was at about this time that I started scattering roasted peanuts (unsalted in-shell) at the bases of some of my trees to help the squirrels and take some pressure off of my bird feeder. We had a miserably wet Spring and Summer in Western North Carolina.
On or about July 30th, I was washing my daughter's car when I heard the rustling of branches in the tree above me and the frantic cries of a mother squirrel. I found four baby squirrels, between one to three weeks old scattered under the tree but still alive and moving. I placed the babies together in a hay-lined box at the base of the tree and the mother and father came and carried the babies to a new nest within 15 minutes of the initial event. I have no idea how or why all four babies fell at once, I did not see a predator.
I continued to place peanuts around the trees, especially after this incident and I did not see any sign of the baby squirrels again until last week on September 18th. As my son and I sat in the yard after putting out peanuts, two juvenile squirrels cautiously climbed down the tree trunk. One was more brave than the other, and came all the way to the base and got a peanut. He ate with no problem. The other juvenile stayed higher up. We took photos and really enjoyed the beauty of the young squirrels.
The next day, I saw the brave juvenile foraging on the ground in the company of his mother. I noted that the mother appeared to have an injury on her right side that looked round and red with blood. I assumed all was well and did not look for the squirrels again until 6:30 that evening when I went to make the rounds and put out peanuts.
To my horror, the brave little juvenile was lying at the base of the tree, sprawled out on his stomach and cold to the touch. As I went to pick him up, he came around briefly, responding to my touch. I tried to warm him and check for an injury or obstruction but he soon died in our hands. I buried him at the base of the tree, the mother I believe, could be seen watching from above in the tree.
Naturally I was devastated and questioned whether I had caused the death of this squirrel by making in-shell peanuts available. I then began to worry the next day when I saw no sign of the other juvenile, dead or alive. The mother was spotted in the tree the morning after her baby's death but she seemed to abandon the tree entirely thereafter.
I now have started to wonder if the appearance of the juveniles was an indication of their desperation. Had the mother stopped feeding them due to illness? I also noted the injury to the mother squirrel ( I assume this is the mother) and at least one other squirrel I have spotted in my yard.
Is there any clue contained in the following pictures? The first photo is the squirrel I have called the "mother". The other pictures are of another squirrel I believe who also has an injury and or infection. The squirrel with the bad injury between the shoulders is eating peanuts but seems weakened in general and not as alert as it should be.
My apologies for the long first post. I really want to do what's best for these beautiful animals, or at the very least not contribute to their demise through any of my actions.
Tony
21514821514921515021515121515221515321515421515521 5156215157
This past spring, a squirrel turned up at my bird feeder with a large lump on his side. It looked serious, but there was nothing I could do but wish him well and continue to fill my bird feeder. He either died, moved away or healed within a week or two, and it was at about this time that I started scattering roasted peanuts (unsalted in-shell) at the bases of some of my trees to help the squirrels and take some pressure off of my bird feeder. We had a miserably wet Spring and Summer in Western North Carolina.
On or about July 30th, I was washing my daughter's car when I heard the rustling of branches in the tree above me and the frantic cries of a mother squirrel. I found four baby squirrels, between one to three weeks old scattered under the tree but still alive and moving. I placed the babies together in a hay-lined box at the base of the tree and the mother and father came and carried the babies to a new nest within 15 minutes of the initial event. I have no idea how or why all four babies fell at once, I did not see a predator.
I continued to place peanuts around the trees, especially after this incident and I did not see any sign of the baby squirrels again until last week on September 18th. As my son and I sat in the yard after putting out peanuts, two juvenile squirrels cautiously climbed down the tree trunk. One was more brave than the other, and came all the way to the base and got a peanut. He ate with no problem. The other juvenile stayed higher up. We took photos and really enjoyed the beauty of the young squirrels.
The next day, I saw the brave juvenile foraging on the ground in the company of his mother. I noted that the mother appeared to have an injury on her right side that looked round and red with blood. I assumed all was well and did not look for the squirrels again until 6:30 that evening when I went to make the rounds and put out peanuts.
To my horror, the brave little juvenile was lying at the base of the tree, sprawled out on his stomach and cold to the touch. As I went to pick him up, he came around briefly, responding to my touch. I tried to warm him and check for an injury or obstruction but he soon died in our hands. I buried him at the base of the tree, the mother I believe, could be seen watching from above in the tree.
Naturally I was devastated and questioned whether I had caused the death of this squirrel by making in-shell peanuts available. I then began to worry the next day when I saw no sign of the other juvenile, dead or alive. The mother was spotted in the tree the morning after her baby's death but she seemed to abandon the tree entirely thereafter.
I now have started to wonder if the appearance of the juveniles was an indication of their desperation. Had the mother stopped feeding them due to illness? I also noted the injury to the mother squirrel ( I assume this is the mother) and at least one other squirrel I have spotted in my yard.
Is there any clue contained in the following pictures? The first photo is the squirrel I have called the "mother". The other pictures are of another squirrel I believe who also has an injury and or infection. The squirrel with the bad injury between the shoulders is eating peanuts but seems weakened in general and not as alert as it should be.
My apologies for the long first post. I really want to do what's best for these beautiful animals, or at the very least not contribute to their demise through any of my actions.
Tony
21514821514921515021515121515221515321515421515521 5156215157