Unusual squirrel behavior

[marielle]

Hi Folks,

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me as to what I saw yesterday. I have a lot of squirrels in my neighborhood generally, but yesterday the trees in my yard were CRAWLING with squirrels. There were at least 20 that I could see. They were all making the same kind of noise. Sort of like a voiceless chirp. Not an alarm sound. They were all peaceful. No chasing. I stood very still and a few that were on the ground even approached me. They were just kind of running all over the place in the trees along the fence and on the ground and kind of all moved off at the same time (after about 20 minutes of watching them). Like I said, all of them making this noise, all of them pretty peaceful. I didn't see much food gathering or hiding or digging going on.

I've never heard that sound for squirrels before or seen so many together like that. Later in the day I did see another larger than normal group doing the same kind of thing, same noise, but not like that very large group that happened in the late morning. It was around 10 am when i saw the first group.

There was no chattering or barking or tail flicking that they will do sometimes.

I'm SO curious.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Marielle

[marielle]

But seriously, 20 squirrels minimum, cause there were definitely a bunch I didn't see in my magnolia tree- too dense.

[Duckman]

It does sound like they were chased away from another area by a predator and they do have several different types of alerts. I find that squirrels who aren't upset don't make too many noises, so the fact that there were so many of them and they were all making a chirping tells me it was a type of alarm. :grin3

[stosh2010]

Hi Folks,

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me as to what I saw yesterday. I have a lot of squirrels in my neighborhood generally, but yesterday the trees in my yard were CRAWLING with squirrels. There were at least 20 that I could see. They were all making the same kind of noise. Sort of like a voiceless chirp. Not an alarm sound. They were all peaceful. No chasing. I stood very still and a few that were on the ground even approached me. They were just kind of running all over the place in the trees along the fence and on the ground and kind of all moved off at the same time (after about 20 minutes of watching them). Like I said, all of them making this noise, all of them pretty peaceful. I didn't see much food gathering or hiding or digging going on.

I've never heard that sound for squirrels before or seen so many together like that. Later in the day I did see another larger than normal group doing the same kind of thing, same noise, but not like that very large group that happened in the late morning. It was around 10 am when i saw the first group.

There was no chattering or barking or tail flicking that they will do sometimes.

I'm SO curious

.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Marielle
My crew always flick their tails when upset or excited... That sounds odd... No video ???

[TubeDriver]

I encountered what i think was a large mating ritual/chase a couple years back.

I walked out to my car and there where at least a dozen squirrels all sitting around making odd little noises. Some were under my car, some around it and they did not run off as I approached. In fact, they turned to look at me and a couple took a fews steps towards me which sort of freaked me out. They eventually all ran off.

[Mommaluvy]

If it sounded like a mild puff noise or a repressed sneezy purr like what the infants make
When hungry then it was a mating groups. I know it's fall baby season but I would think it's too late for mating??!! I dunno. I watched a pack of juviniles hanging out together the other evening. They could have been chasing .. But it was nothin like the mating chase I see in the spring. And like you there were about 15-20.

[anniedancer]

That must have been interesting! I know one morning here, there were about 20 squirrels all chasing each other around these two big trees. No hostile noises, more squeaking. I mentioned it here and was told it was probably a mating thing. Normally, approx. 6-12 squirrels visit me every morning for food ....not 20! My goodness, I would REALLY be broke!
Annie

[pjjere]

I recall reading somewhere that when squirrels perceive a threat from above (hawk, crow, etc.) that they will give a soft warning noise so the airborne predator cannot hone in on their location. The loud, easy to trace warning screech that we are used to hearing if a cat approaches is not only to warn other squirrels but also to let the cat know that it has been detected. I see you and you can't catch me so you may as well give up. Not saying that's what happened here but squirrels do communicate danger in different ways.

[marielle]

Thanks for the input everyone. Squirrels gone back to normal around here. Kind of sounds like the same sort of thing the person with the car experienced. Squirrels everywhere, some approaching me.

They weren't chasing each other though some were following one another, but definitely no chasing. They were on the ground, in the trees along the fence and it was just so interesting watching them.

I've been listening to squirrel sounds and still haven't heard the noise they were making. It was more of a puff, no squeaks. By the way they were acting I'd be really surprised if it was any kind of alarm call. I've certainly heard those before.

Thanks again!

[marielle]

Yeah, not really any tail flicking. I noticed quite a few exploring some of the tree holes nearby. That's really what it looked like they were doing, looking for something/exploring. They'd climb part way up a tree and check out the holes and go back down. Hopping along the ground, looking behind the A/C units, checking me out, coming closer. Some of them got within a few feet. They all seemed calm. They were going along the fence a big going from tree to tree, but not in a chasing way and not really running at all. They didn't really seem to be foraging and none of them were eating. And it seemed to me they were all making that same noise. Peeking around the sides of things, going around the flower pots, walking in a line along the fence. Just the weirdest thing.

[anniedancer]

Ah, the mysteries of squirrel behavior! Its all so interesting. Couple days ago, two males were at my feet. Both started gnashing their teeth together...they were eye-to-eye and it was obviously some sort of warning noise. I haven't heard any of them "puffing," though. Chattering, what I call "chuk-chuk-wooooo", squeaks, snarls, and something I can only describe as an "outer space" noise (high pitched and weird!)
Annie