Squirrel on Squirrel violence

[LzbthCldwll]

We seem to have a problem.

I have seen squirrels fight before but this has gone WAY overboard.

They are fighting so loud I can hear the yipping in the house! The one being chased will try to play dead, flopped over on his back stock still, but as soon as it moves the other one is right on top of it. When playing dead wont do the trick it tries to hide... The aggressor hangs around nearby waiting.

276773

I dont know if this is male on male or male on female but it has been going on for 4 days now and I am worried for the one that is getting bullied.

I dont know if it is related, but I fear it is... we used to have a yard full of squirrels.... then there was just one... and now 2... I fear this aggressive squirrel has cleared out the entire yard.

[Daisey007]

We seem to have a problem.

I have seen squirrels fight before but this has gone WAY overboard.

They are fighting so loud I can hear the yipping in the house! The one being chased will try to play dead, flopped over on his back stock still, but as soon as it moves the other one is right on top of it. When playing dead wont do the trick it tries to hide... The aggressor hangs around nearby waiting.

276773

I dont know if this is male on male or male on female but it has been going on for 4 days now and I am worried for the one that is getting bullied.

I dont know if it is related, but I fear it is... we used to have a yard full of squirrels.... then there was just one... and now 2... I fear this aggressive squirrel has cleared out the entire yard.

It's mating season... :gigg:
Although... I'm not sure they actually try to hide like that. :dono

[stepnstone]

Hard to tell from that picture, squirrel being bullied, young or adult?
Personally I'd intervene anytime you see it being bullied and chase
the bully off. It may be "nature" but that poor baby is terrified if it's
trying to play dead let alone bury itself in a brick wall like that. :shakehead

[Daisey007]

Hard to tell from that picture, squirrel being bullied, young or adult?
Personally I'd intervene anytime you see it being bullied and chase
the bully off. It may be "nature" but that poor baby is terrified if it's
trying to play dead let alone bury itself in a brick wall like that. :shakehead

Oh yeah, I agree! Get the garden hose with nozzle... soak 'em!

[stosh2010]

BUT--be aware that an aggressive squirrel may turn on YOU. Have some heavy gloves to ward off a IN YOUR FACE attack.

[LzbthCldwll]

It's mating season... :gigg:
Although... I'm not sure they actually try to hide like that. :dono

This one does.... head under the house, head behind the rain spout... anything to make himself temporarily invisible to that crazy guy chasing him!

[LzbthCldwll]

Hard to tell from that picture, squirrel being bullied, young or adult?
Personally I'd intervene anytime you see it being bullied and chase
the bully off. It may be "nature" but that poor baby is terrified if it's
trying to play dead let alone bury itself in a brick wall like that. :shakehead

we have been going out and interrupting. the poor thing will be panting and terrified. He will hide anywhere he can cover his head... or lay out on his back like roadkill

[LzbthCldwll]

we have been going out and interrupting. the poor thing will be panting and terrified. He will hide anywhere he can cover his head... or lay out on his back like roadkill

and I think the victim is younger. certainly much smaller.

[LzbthCldwll]

BUT--be aware that an aggressive squirrel may turn on YOU. Have some heavy gloves to ward off a IN YOUR FACE attack.

So far he looks at me like... "Oh hey human, hows it going... got almonds?"

[TubeDriver]

Poor little squirrel.:(

I sometimes interfere when I see excessive bullying. I will walk near them, raise my voice and stare at the bully.

[PennyCash]

Wow! Who knew that it could get this bad? Not I...
Thankfully I don't see bullies very often and certainly not to this extent. A couple of times I've had to stagger feeding locations and times to help settle mating season drama. I stopped naming at 27 regulars at the buffet but they're Foxers so mostly it's just some grumbling while eating close by.
Since this is just 2 I wonder if it's possible to set up separate feeding zones with you, gloves and a hose ready to stop the bullying? If it were me I'd probably try to position the bully to the farthest side of me to give the little one a better shot at escape if necessary.
Gosh this must be hard to witness :grouphug

[LzbthCldwll]

Wow! Who knew that it could get this bad? Not I...
Thankfully I don't see bullies very often and certainly not to this extent. A couple of times I've had to stagger feeding locations and times to help settle mating season drama. I stopped naming at 27 regulars at the buffet but they're Foxers so mostly it's just some grumbling while eating close by.
Since this is just 2 I wonder if it's possible to set up separate feeding zones with you, gloves and a hose ready to stop the bullying? If it were me I'd probably try to position the bully to the farthest side of me to give the little one a better shot at escape if necessary.
Gosh this must be hard to witness :grouphug

It is just awful. We added extra water dishes and have separated food... I will try to get some video for you so you can see the play dead routine. I have never seen anything like it.

[stepnstone]

Can you get a better (overall) picture of that baby?
I'm really curious as to how young it might be.
Maybe it's too young to be on it's own like that,
poor thing is obviously terrified. :(

[LzbthCldwll]

Can you get a better (overall) picture of that baby?
I'm really curious as to how young it might be.
Maybe it's too young to be on it's own like that,
poor thing is obviously terrified. :(

I will do my best to get more photos and maybe some video tomorrow.

[LzbthCldwll]

276802

Steppin Stone - Not a great photo - it was taken through a screen - but the little is so skittish this was the best way to get closest. They pyrex water dish is 8x12 I think. I know the plate is 7.5 inches in diameter.

Does this help?

[LzbthCldwll]

Videos

https://youtu.be/pagqxpS7nNc

https://youtu.be/u8Qdu5mxw9Y

[TubeDriver]

Does not look too young and seems reasonably healthy.

[LzbthCldwll]

Does not look too young and seems reasonably healthy.

I agree. He is what I would call a teen. Not as big as the grown ones... but not a baby either.

If they start fighting I will try to get some video of the ruckus too. So far the aggressor has not made an appearance today :)

[stepnstone]

I suspect with as little as I could actually see the little one is female?
Definitely old enough to be out on it's own but possibly just not ready
for the mating scene If the bully is male. If that's the case hopefully
he'll find another female to hook up with and leave this one alone. In
the meantime I'd chase him off whatever chance you get and give the
little more time to adjust.

[LzbthCldwll]

I suspect with as little as I could actually see the little one is female?
Definitely old enough to be out on it's own but possibly just not ready
for the mating scene If the bully is male. If that's the case hopefully
he'll find another female to hook up with and leave this one alone. In
the meantime I'd chase him off whatever chance you get and give the
little more time to adjust.

That I can manage! I work from home so I am here most of the time. I have a loud voice, a hose and a broom! LOL

[LzbthCldwll]

An update...

The violence stopped after about 4 days.

The little is going to need to regrow some of her tail hair.... it looks like she lost a fair bit of it in the struggles.

The cuts and scrapes and sores on her head and back appear to be healing nicely without any signs of infection or anything....

Anddd... It looks like there are babies on the way... or is it possible she is nursing already? I dont know how this works exactly with squirrels. Anyway.. she is eating a LOT. plenty of greens from the yard and lots of nuts from my hand... and she is definitely got some nipples going on!