Wild squirrels disappearing

[PennyCash]

I'm not sure what has happened but over 20 squirrels have disappeared in the last couple of weeks. July 6th there was almost more squirrels than you could count between my yard and the neighbors closest to me.
Every morning with my cup of coffee I would watch them traverse the canopy getting ready for breakfast. I went away for 4 days and know that there was food put out daily. Since I've returned on the 9th it's been slowly dawning on me that I haven't been seeing my outside friends.
Yesterday I watched very closely, I studied all the trees and yards that I could see and saw no squirrels in the morning. Not in the trees or on the ground. I watched where I put the seeds and nuts all day long until dark and only saw 5 squirrels in total. 3 of which came from back in the woods behind my neighbors house. Even the hawks aren't around and they too have been in my yard for years. We've found no bodies, there's been none hit near me. It's like they all just disappeared.
Has anyone experienced anything like this? I'm baffled and very concerned but have no idea what to look for next.

[DarkLies212]

How are your neighbors with squirrels? Any chance they were fed up, caught the squirrels, and shipped them off while you were away?

[Milo's Mom]

Sounds like you've had a predator move in...an owl will make hawks leave.

[stepnstone]

Been the same around here for a couple months. I could have 15 or so in my yard at any given time, went down to 2 or 3.
Haven't seen a hawk in a long time either. Squirrels are slowly starting to return...

[PennyCash]

How are your neighbors with squirrels? Any chance they were fed up, caught the squirrels, and shipped them off while you were away?

Not that I'm aware of and 4 days wouldn't likely be long enough to ship off at least 22 squirrels.

[PennyCash]

Sounds like you've had a predator move in...an owl will make hawks leave.

For the past 15 years there's been both Hawks and Owls nesting in my yard. They seem to live peacefully with the hawks out during daylight and the owls on nightshift. :dono

[PennyCash]

Been the same around here for a couple months. I could have 15 or so in my yard at any given time, went down to 2 or 3.
Haven't seen a hawk in a long time either. Squirrels are slowly starting to return...

Hopefully mine come back as well. Scary to not see any. I plan to drive around the neighborhood looking for squirrels.

[stepnstone]

Hopefully mine come back as well. Scary to not see any. I plan to drive around the neighborhood looking for squirrels.

I did the same thing being paranoid after that poisoning incident a few years back,
thankfully I haven't seen or found anything alarming.
I did talk to one neighbor that said she's seen more squirrels coming to her (bird)
feeders then she's ever had. :dono
Lately what I'm seeing coming to my yard now are new juvies with a few of my regulars.
My regulars keep a distance but don't fear me, the juvies can't get over the fence fast enough. :gigg

[PennyCash]

I did the same thing being paranoid after that poisoning incident a few years back,
thankfully I haven't seen or found anything alarming.
I did talk to one neighbor that said she's seen more squirrels coming to her (bird)
feeders then she's ever had. :dono
Lately what I'm seeing coming to my yard now are new juvies with a few of my regulars.
My regulars keep a distance but don't fear me, the juvies can't get over the fence fast enough. :gigg

Most of these Foxers are quite tame comparatively and don't do more that cling to a tree when they're not familiar with me. In no time at all they simply stand a foot or two back waiting for breakfast to be served.
When I spoke with some of my neighbors they all told me 'come to think of it we've not seen any squirrels either for about 2 weeks' Several feed the birds and have squirrels eating at the feeders. In 13 years I don't recall not looking around and seeing squirrels....
I did drive the neighborhood looking for squirrels and for the majority not one squirrel. I saw a deer in the woods, then a larger fawn crossing a yard. Didn't see any signs of poisoning, traps or hunting. Nothing strange or out of place other than the lack of furry tailed fuzzers.I thought I saw one in the woods and made it home just in time to catch it heading to my house. In the entire neighborhood I saw only the one in the woods and one chillaxing pancaked on my sidewalk.
Guess the good news is that my house is still the place to put their grub bag on. Maybe they're all having their own gathering that they're attending?

[Roxygirl]

I have had 10-18 coming to my patio for the last few months, I just noticed in the last few days
there are only 4-5 now at a time when I look.

[stepnstone]

I have a friend in Pa that has a feeder in the edge of woods that is 10 feet long or better, he gets
anywhere from 20-30 at his feeder and has remarked with the same thing about disappearing squirrels.
I've never seen this happen like this in the past either but it's obviously not isolated to any particular
area.

[missPixy]

I've noticed time of year and weather have a big effect on the number of wilds who come to my yard. as the summer progresses (and summer mating season comes upon us!) I've noticed fewer of the same ones who were always in the yard.

Have you ever noticed any "migration" of squirrels? What I mean is, I see many wilds who come by for a season, or a few seasons, and then seem to be "replaced" in the late spring/early summer by juveniles. A few of the elders remain on (they may have nests closest to my yard).

[PennyCash]

I've noticed time of year and weather have a big effect on the number of wilds who come to my yard. as the summer progresses (and summer mating season comes upon us!) I've noticed fewer of the same ones who were always in the yard.

Have you ever noticed any "migration" of squirrels? What I mean is, I see many wilds who come by for a season, or a few seasons, and then seem to be "replaced" in the late spring/early summer by juveniles. A few of the elders remain on (they may have nests closest to my yard).
I swear that mating season is half the year here. In fact they adult male I saw yesterday still was quite swollen and territorial.
I absolutely have had several migrations of juveniles - adult and adult - juveniles with a few adults who remain throughout. Some around for a season and others a couple of years. Last year I had a tiny, skinny nursing female show up who has been a daily beggar at Resilie window cage (except for a week after giving birth) and even she is absent for a couple of weeks.
Now to read that many others from different places are experiencing similar cut backs is truly bizarre. I even woke up extra early this morning to try and verify it's not a summer schedule thing.

[PennyCash]

I have a friend in Pa that has a feeder in the edge of woods that is 10 feet long or better, he gets
anywhere from 20-30 at his feeder and has remarked with the same thing about disappearing squirrels.
I've never seen this happen like this in the past either but it's obviously not isolated to any particular
area.

20 - 30 is a close approximation of my norm. I've physically counted 27 in a 2-3 hrs period. They usually seem to come in waves of 7 -
10 at a time with the quite young, old or injured strangling after everyone else is done.

[SquirrelyDad]

I'm experiencing the same thing in my yard:thinking. I was having 10-14 on a regular basis now I'm lucky if I see 3-4 daily. I was concerned at first because I saw no adult males for almost a month, I've noticed some have returned (looking beat up and skinnier) I guess:dono all this is due to mating season. I just hope and pray they are all ok and alive.

[Mel1959]

I've noticed the same in my yard. I hadn't given it a lot of thought till everyone mentioned the decline. I still have a few regulars but not nearly the number I had at the end of Spring. What I find so interesting is that my neighborhood consists of 4 streets with cul-de-sacs and houses that back to canals. One road in and out of the neighborhood with a river that runs at the end of each street. WHERE do these squirrels go if it's a relocation thing? They would have to travel up the street and around to the next street. They certainly aren't swimming across the canals! :rotfl over the next few days I will pay closer attention. We have very few predators, so I don't think it's that.

[Roxygirl]

So I only had 3-4 today....at least the times I looked.....but I also want to mention that the afternoon bunch is way down....so far down I had none any after 6 yesterday
and that is unusual....there is usually 6-8 or more coming up for a bedtime snack

It may be the heat.....in the 90s last few days

[PennyCash]

I'm experiencing the same thing in my yard:thinking. I was having 10-14 on a regular basis now I'm lucky if I see 3-4 daily. I was concerned at first because I saw no adult males for almost a month, I've noticed some have returned (looking beat up and skinnier) I guess:dono all this is due to mating season. I just hope and pray they are all ok and alive.

Here I've always had about 5 large males who always seemed to be jockeying for position of dominance. 2 days in a row only 1 adult male and a couple of juvenile males.
Everyone I've seen looks really good right now although a bit thin. Shiny fur, no new wounds etc.

[PennyCash]

I've noticed the same in my yard. I hadn't given it a lot of thought till everyone mentioned the decline. I still have a few regulars but not nearly the number I had at the end of Spring. What I find so interesting is that my neighborhood consists of 4 streets with cul-de-sacs and houses that back to canals. One road in and out of the neighborhood with a river that runs at the end of each street. WHERE do these squirrels go if it's a relocation thing? They would have to travel up the street and around to the next street. They certainly aren't swimming across the canals! :rotfl over the next few days I will pay closer attention. We have very few predators, so I don't think it's that.

Here there's highways, cow fields and our development. 300 acres of cow pasture to the left and 300 acres of horse and cow to the right but there is wood lines in between.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Just wanted to add....I think it's the time of year or even weather...heat...because I'm not seeing my regulars as often....not even my two releases....I had to really call and call just to get a small appearance....even Nougie, who has taken up residence in her release cage, didn't come out of the nestbox when I put out her food this morning.....and, come to find out....the other one has had babies and she's in the nestbox "all" the time...I see her on the porch watching me once in a while....then I did see another regular and sure enough you could see she's been nursing....so! I'm assuming my guys are either staying cool in the top of the trees....or are taking care of babies :great

I see this happen every year also....and I'm outside for hours during their active times....no predators....no remains :please

[PennyCash]

Just wanted to add....I think it's the time of year or even weather...heat...because I'm not seeing my regulars as often....not even my two releases....I had to really call and call just to get a small appearance....even Nougie, who has taken up residence in her release cage, didn't come out of the nestbox when I put out her food this morning.....and, come to find out....the other one has had babies and she's in the nestbox "all" the time...I see her on the porch watching me once in a while....then I did see another regular and sure enough you could see she's been nursing....so! I'm assuming my guys are either staying cool in the top of the trees....or are taking care of babies :great

I see this happen every year also....and I'm outside for hours during their active times....no predators....no remains :please
I'm actually pretty accustomed to females disappearing for the first week after birthing, then they return famished. This is completely different than any year that I can remember. I'm usually up and outside first light, while it's cool and I'm not even seeing squees in the trees moving around. With the exception of the 2-3 visiting males and the 1-2 females I'm truthfully not seeing squirrels ANYWHERE.
The few that are visiting are arriving about midday 11 -
1.
Guess I'll wait and see if everyone returns. I'll try to remember to post and see if others are experiencing a similar return. :grouphug

[PennyCash]

I promise I'm going to put this to bed. But... as I was studying my yard, the woods, and the neighbors yards for any sign of squirrels I realized that the best way I can describe this is Mass extinction.
I know that it sounds quite dramatic but it truly is the best description. With the exception of those few traveling squirrels who are coming midday there is not a squirrel to be seen. I watched 4 yards most of Tue, drove around the neighborhood yesterday. I've spoken with the neighbors in different parts of the subdivision. It's the same throughout.

[California Squirrel Lover]

I've been experiencing a bit of the same, like, where is everyone?! Left for a couple nights, and I'm still waiting to see all mine. I have definitely noticed periods of time where it seems like all are missing. It's been oddly hot here, too. I really hope that's all it is in your case, I couldn't bear the thought that something terrible happened. :grouphug:grouphug:grouphug

[Roxygirl]

OK....so this morning we had a bit of a resurgence, 8 or 9 at once today.....and 5 or more were small young squirrels.

[Mel1959]

I saw only 3 this morning, one was my boy, Peeps the other was a female that is quite tame and always here, and then another young male. This evening I saw a total of 5, 2 of which were my boys and the tame female.

[Rocky1]

Could it be that they are either rotating nests and moving from one territory to another? Or that they are staying in the middle of leafy trees out of sight?

I am overly cautious, but I like to take walks and listen and look carefully to get a sense of what's going on in the area. I know what a squirrel sounds like, so if I hear the predator alarm, I will usually emerge outside to see what I can do (Shine a bright light or reflect sun on hawks or chase away ground predators), or if I hear the squirrel call, sometimes I will non-invasively watch to see "who" responds to the call. I also tend to look at neighbor's roofs to see who is up to what. Sometimes I will walk at night to see what else dwells during those hours.

[PennyCash]

I've been experiencing a bit of the same, like, where is everyone?! Left for a couple nights, and I'm still waiting to see all mine. I have definitely noticed periods of time where it seems like all are missing. It's baftereen oddly hot here, too. I really hope that's all it is in your case, I couldn't bear the thought that something terrible happened. :grouphug:grouphug:grouphug

It's quite odd to me that so many states therefore it's not necessarily a bad thing that's happened. I've Been told that it can take up to a week after you return. I hope that your gorgeous babies return quickly. :grouphug

[PennyCash]

OK....so this morning we had a bit of a resurgence, 8 or 9 at once today.....and 5 or more were small young squirrels.

:w00t

[PennyCash]

I saw only 3 this morning, one was my boy, Peeps the other was a female that is quite tame and always here, and then another young male. This evening I saw a total of 5, 2 of which were my boys and the tame female.

I'm down to 1
:tap

[PennyCash]

Could it be that they are either rotating nests and moving from one territory to another? Or that they are staying in the middle of leafy trees out of sight?

I am overly cautious, but I like to take walks and listen and look carefully to get a sense of what's going on in the area. I know what a squirrel sounds like, so if I hear the predator alarm, I will usually emerge outside to see what I can do (Shine a bright light or reflect sun on hawks or chase away ground predators), or if I hear the squirrel call, sometimes I will non-invasively watch to see "who" responds to the call. I also tend to look at neighbor's roofs to see who is up to what. Sometimes I will walk at night to see what else dwells during those hours.

Like you I'm quite observant when I'm home. I've been wondering if they're actually in the thick woods. There's no way that they all just disappeared. I did see one going up a tree in my yard. That made me so very happy! Hopefully they'll be back they last few days I've only seen one squirrel. That's insane to go from 27 eager eaters down to 1 in a months time :sadness

[TubeDriver]

I have also had fewer wilds around. I recently released two squirrels so I had cut back my normal feeding to my wilds. I did not want too many wilds around to compete with my young recent releases. But I have been surprised at how few of my regulars I have seen. I know that during mating season, some squirrels travel back to the area they were born in.

[Roxygirl]

I have also had fewer wilds around. I recently released two squirrels so I had cut back my normal feeding to my wilds. I did not want too many wilds around to compete with my young recent releases. But I have been surprised at how few of my regulars I have seen. I know that during mating season, some squirrels travel back to the area they were born in.

So this morning I had 7-8, 3 adults, balance young. I have noticed them way up in trees and doing allot of talking. Probably a bit cooler up there.
Will be 94 here again today.

[Rocky1]

I think it's baby season. So I'm thinking that some might be taking care of babies.

[PennyCash]

Ok, this is really becoming a serious concern for me. Just this week alone (7 days) my squirrel visitors have gone from 5 down to 1. Craziest part is that not one of the squirrels I've seen appear to be sick or hurt in any way. They just disappear from one day to the next.
Yesterday I was at a neighborhood BBQ and 1 of my neighbors up against the thick woods asked me where all the squirrels were. This was echoed by other neighbors who have noticed that we don't seem to have any squirrels. 10 neighbors have only seen 1 squirrel this week and it's been either crossing the street to come to my house or in my yard. We've also noticed a decline in the numbers of song birds, coyotes, hawks, and owls. In fact most of the wildlife seems to be dwindling with the exception of the deer although no one has actually counted them. It's on the list...
Mind you most of us have lived in this development for 10 - 20 years and no one can remember it ever being this quiet!
Last night I crunched some numbers. My neighborhood is 205 lots, between 2 - 5 acre, 176 houses, 172 houses with tons of black jack oak and hickory trees. Let's say that every lot is 2 acres and that there's 1 squirrel per 1/2 acre and add 1 baby. That's 860 squirrels that have disappeared in a months time 859 after you deduct the 1 squirrel we're seeing.
Any ideas on what could be behind this? Any ideas on what I can do to help support the some young male just in case we are actually dealing with a human poisoning the environment?

[stepnstone]

With so many different areas commenting on the same thing I wouldn't think poisoning is logical.
If anything I'd contribute it to environment. It's hot, the heat is oppressive, global warming is real.
There has been a definite rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system, it stands
to reason its related effects would include the effects on wildlife. Their chosen habitats may very
well be changing in order to adapt for their survival. Hopefully in the cooler fall & winter months when
they seek to be closer to human intervention (food sources) we will see a return of our regulars.

I'm still getting a few stragglers and not the same ones every time, today I had one of my blinks in the
yard and it's been awhile. Don't know where they go or staying but they obviously know where they can
safely come back to forge and visit.
On another note, I used to take my feeders in (rat avoidance) at twilight when the squees have bedded
down but lately I will still have a few forging at dusk so I leave them out longer to accommodate them.

[lennysmom]

I honestly believe during the summertime when it's really hot, they just don't eat as much and choose to stay where it's cool. I've noticed before on really hot days Lenny will just lay on a branch and won't even come down for treats at all. And in the past couple of weeks, his visits have been more sporadic and he has been eating much less - doesn't even want his favorite which is pecans. Oddly enough he wants almonds which he usually won't even take from me. I agree with Step - since so many of us are seeing a decrease in squirrel activity and change in behavior, I believe it is indeed environmentally related. Hope your fuzzy friends will return for a visit soon to ease your mind.:grouphug

[HRT4SQRLS]

More than likely this a 'normal' natural phenomenon. If you Google squirrel migration you will find many examples of mass squirrel migration. Some of the examples document squirrels swimming across rivers, etc in a massive population move.

It isn't completely understood but it seems reasonable to conclude that it's related to food/territory. If there isn't enough food they move but actually the opposite can be involved also. If there is abundance of food, it results in abundance of babies. This population explosion can increase the competition for resources and migration is necessary.

Mast years of acorn production can be a driving force. I have witnessed mast acorn production in my yard. The ground in my yard will literally be covered with acorns. I have literally hauled off acorns by the 5 gallon bucket full. Interestingly, that will be followed by several lean or moderate seasons of acorn production.

I think it's a normal phenomenon but we just notice it more than most people. Imagine that... us.... notice squirrels. :ardilla :rotfl

[PennyCash]

More than likely this a 'normal' natural phenomenon. If you Google squirrel migration you will find many examples of mass squirrel migration. Some of the examples document squirrels swimming across rivers, etc in a massive population move.

It isn't completely understood but it seems reasonable to conclude that it's related to food/territory. If there isn't enough food they move but actually the opposite can be involved also. If there is abundance of food, it results in abundance of babies. This population explosion can increase the competition for resources and migration is necessary.

Mast years of acorn production can be a driving force. I have witnessed mast acorn production in my yard. The ground in my yard will literally be covered with acorns. I have literally hauled off acorns by the 5 gallon bucket full. Interestingly, that will be followed by several lean or moderate seasons of acorn production.

I think it's a normal phenomenon but we just notice it more than most people. Imagine that... us.... notice squirrels. :ardilla :rotfl

I actually did Google it sometime ago but did promise that if I started to see an increase I'd share. For the past month there had been only the one visiting squirrel. Now there are 4 younger squirrels who seem to have taken up residence in my yard. :w00t

[worriedaboutwildlife]

I'm not sure what has happened but over 20 squirrels have disappeared in the last couple of weeks. July 6th there was almost more squirrels than you could count between my yard and the neighbors closest to me.
Every morning with my cup of coffee I would watch them traverse the canopy getting ready for breakfast. I went away for 4 days and know that there was food put out daily. Since I've returned on the 9th it's been slowly dawning on me that I haven't been seeing my outside friends.
Yesterday I watched very closely, I studied all the trees and yards that I could see and saw no squirrels in the morning. Not in the trees or on the ground. I watched where I put the seeds and nuts all day long until dark and only saw 5 squirrels in total. 3 of which came from back in the woods behind my neighbors house. Even the hawks aren't around and they too have been in my yard for years. We've found no bodies, there's been none hit near me. It's like they all just disappeared.
Has anyone experienced anything like this? I'm baffled and very concerned but have no idea what to look for next.

yes We have been baffled. The squirrels would strip every feeder within 3 days and you could always count 20- 30 in our yard. we noticed the end of August that they all dissappeared., no bodies have been found. The black walnuts are so thick that you cant cross the yard and not a squirrel is gathering them. It has been so quiet that its scarey . Even the special one that would come beg for peanuts has not been around. I have sat and watched for hours without seeing one. we are in western NY where are you?

[PennyCash]

I have come to believe that what was experienced in my area, at least in a 10 mile radius was a mass migration. People were asking me where all the squirrels went all winter long. I was lucky enough to have 1 squirrel who stayed, multiple small groups passed through until Feb.
Feb a mother with 2 babies moved into my yard with a couple of others following.
As of this morning I counted 14 squirrels at the buffet with a even number of Juveniles to adults.
I also saw 2 attempting to reach the service line from across the street. The bouncers went to keep them back but it does tell me their numbers are returning. :serene

[joejeweler]

Numbers for me seem to be down of late here in the beginning of July 2018,....but I still see probably 15 or so separate individuals who return several times a day. (down from 25-30 usually the norm)

I think the extreme heat and humidity is partly to blame, and I see lots of folks mentioning they put out food during the July period last year,.....but no mention of providing PLENTY of cold refreshing water REGULARLY!

I'm not sure if that's just an over site, but wanted to remind folks that the Eastern part of the US has been under an extended heat wave for the past 4 days,....and today is the fifth for my area near Albany NY.

I make sure to rinse out and fill five to six two quart each containers of cool water 3x a day,....as it's quick to warm up even when placed in the shade. I fill again just before dark for the nightly visitors, and to be sure the grays have water in the early morning before I get up. They have PLENTY of almonds buried from the night before, and most evenings just before dark I toss and they bury maybe a hundred Almonds for breakfast.

The heat of successive 97 to 99 degree days in a row in tough on our little friends,...and their fur coats don't help of course. Today is the 5th day,...and only expected to hit 95 but still humid. Oppressive heat is finally supposed to break tomorrow for a high of just 82 with less humidity. :dance

While it's a bit humorous to see them laying as prone and flat as they can on a shaded side of an exposed tree root growing horizontal to the ground, or ON the shaded ground under a tree,..... I know they suffer under these conditions.

So PLEASE be sure to change their water supply often, and maybe ADD a few extra bowls to be sure during July and August!

It's not fun for the caretaker either in this weather,.... but they are family after all. :serene