Thank you for approving my request to join the forum! I live in Michigan with my 3 senior rescue dogs...JJ (12) and Eddie (9), both cocker spaniels, and Pugsley (16+), a blind, deaf terrier mix who has doggie dementia but physically is healthier than me. :-) I have always enjoyed birds, squirrels, and chipmunks (and most other little critters), but I have recently made the acquaintance of a female Fox Squirrel who frequents my Mom's home (Mom is 97, has dementia and is housebound, and I am her primary caregiver, so I'm there all day every day).
I first noticed "Lefty" about 3 months ago...she is missing her left front paw (hence her name)...when she came to eat out of my platform feeder by my window. We also have chipmunks running around, so I started bringing peanuts in the shell to Mom's, and leaving them for Lefty and her friends, who gladly enjoyed them. Lefty has seemed pretty comfortable around me, so I slowly started getting closer with a peanut in my hand...first tossing it from a few feet, then a few inches, and finally, she took it from my hand. Now, she will accept a few peanuts from my hand, but usually is content to sit a few inches away stuffing herself with sunflower seeds in the feeder. She will look in the window some days to see if I am here if I haven't left peanuts for her yet.
I am strictly a backyard, wild squirrel fan, and I want to learn how I can best help Lefty stay healthy and also stay safe and warm during the Michigan winters. I'm pretty sure she has or is going to have babies...she has been getting quite rotund and has visible teats. I think she lives in a tree about a block away - that is where I see her carrying nuts occasionally. I've attached a couple of photos of her. She has some hair loss, and I'm not sure what is causing that...mange, perhaps? Anyway - I just want to be a good squirrel neighbor and help support her and her squirrel/chipmunk friends as best I can. Mom loves watching them, and they are a fun distraction from all the stress in my life.
Thanks for letting me join in!