Hello!
Not sure if this is the right forum/site to post on? I hopefully won't have to rescue any squirrels but wanted to get some expert info on behavior.
A rock squirrel (new mexico, USA) in my yard has had babies who emerged about two weeks ago. About seven of them, little angels, running and playing around the burrow. Anyway, Mama's always chirping, and seems to be annoyed by the cottontail adolescent bunnies that (try to) live under another shed in my yard. She also has been very upset about another rock squirrel youngster who doesn't seem to belong to her (he's bigger and looks different). Anyway, long story short, the young rock squirrel yesterday seemed to be poking around the entrance to her burrow. Later that day she emerged with one of her babies in her mouth. I hadn't seen that before. She dropped it and the baby ran back in the burrow. Then a massive storm hit last night (not too much rain / no flooding). I haven't seen a single squirrel all day and I'm wondering if she might have moved them because of the intruder? I'm a bit worried. Do they sometimes not come out to explore? I feel like I've seen them every day for about two weeks, so it's strange not to see a single one.
Any theories?
Thanks!
Lucy