Its time for a grey

[McCarthy]

I totally agree, he's going for the element of surprise and a bite can sure help get that food dropped, it may not always be accidental.

It does sound like he may be your culprit in giving the crew a bad rap. If You, the squirrel whisperer found him a tad aggressive, who know what he's like with others. I think he is the typical bear that has to relocated because he's too comfortable with humans in Yellowstone etc. Without relocation, he could be harmed or could cause harm given the right circumstances. If relocated, the park owners could appease their complainers by proclaiming they "removed" the offender, and you save the rest of the crew. Maybe film him so you could prove it to the park owners that it was just that one.

While I agree with the idea, I doubt this is going to happen. The park belongs to the county, and they are not known to be that flexible, they can't even reply to simple emails. Catching and relocating wildlife on their premises is not allowed, unless they order a licensed wildlife removal company.

I'll contact a local wildlife rehabilitator and see what they have to say. Maybe they have a direct line to the county.

Since this squirrel doesn't show up in my camper, I won't be able to trap him unseen. My best bet would be to grab him the next time he claws me, but in that case I will be bleeding by the time I make it back to my car. Time to bring some gloves and a pillowcase.

I also saw him moving a plastic container full with fries and steaks from a park table. Once it landed on the ground, he shredded the transparent lid with his teeth, within 2 to 3 seconds, he stole a large fry, and ran off before the park visitors could do anything about it. He was like on crack, any interference and he would bite the crap out of you.

I think I'll watch his territory from afar for a while and go from there. If he continuous to be that aggressive with people, I'll find a way to get him. We have a large state park, far away from homes and people.

[McCarthy]

Squirrels do watch sunsets! Seen it many times.

[Charley Chuckles]

Beautiful 🥰

[McCarthy]

I was back at the park today, I just can't stay away from my friends.

At first I stayed in my camper, my boy and 2 other squirrels came in once they figured out the hierarchy for the day.

Every day they have to fight a couple times in order to make clear who owns me and the camper a bit more. It's quite hilarious, because I feel more like a possession at that point. This is the following routine:

- the most dominant squirrel gets to come in first
- all others have to wait outside
- the next in the list only can come in when the former leaves
- when a higher ranked squirrel arrives, the lower ranked squirrel has to leave fast or it will be chased out

My neuro boy is always last in that hierarchy. When another squirrel shows up at the door, he becomes very frightened. He misses his opportunity to run out, always comes to me, on my lap, and tries to hide behind my arms. The squirrel waiting at door becomes angry, comes in, and tries to chase him out, but I have managed to protect him every single time today.

It's really interesting to see that squirrels can read your body language and demeanor. I made clear that I won't tolerate any attack on my boy, with vocals, a stare, and pointing my arm / hand / index finger at the aggressor. I learned to mimic their double warning growl to the point that they connect the dots. When it comes from a 200 pound guy, it leaves an impression after all. Then I make sure that my boy can leave without any harm or chase.

[McCarthy]

Double post.

[Charley Chuckles]

Squirrels are so smart they are so amazing 🤩

[sundoesshine]

The park belongs to the county. Catching and relocating wildlife on their premises is not allowed, unless they order a licensed wildlife removal company.
I'll contact a local wildlife rehabilitator and see what they have to say. Maybe they have a direct line to the county.
He was like on crack, any interference and he would bite the crap out of you.

Sounds like a good idea to contact a rehabber, for some reason I was picturing a privately owned park.
That sounds like no ordinary squirrel.

[McCarthy]

Bought yet another lens, a SONY 14 mm 1.8 GM.

Also bought and installed Affinity in order to develop my photos properly since they are all shot in RAW file format.

--

Best one yet.

[McCarthy]

Photo of the day. Was out swimming 3 times.







Waiting for me on my solar panel, ready to jump on my head.

[island rehabber]

​Y'know what, McCarthy? I am a self-professed workaholic but you truly have me thinking about retirement. What a lovely thing to do.....swim in the sun and play with squirrels......aaahhhhh...

[McCarthy]

​Y'know what, McCarthy? I am a self-professed workaholic but you truly have me thinking about retirement. What a lovely thing to do.....swim in the sun and play with squirrels......aaahhhhh...

I used to work my butt off for my own company, for 20 years straight. We are talking no proper weekends, no vacations, but I partied every night. My health took a massive hit from high levels of stress, no healthy routine, and eating and drinking like a trash panda on a landfill. At age 40 I decided to change my unhealthy, excessive and luxury lifestyle completely. I moved away from Miami Beach party central, exchanged my luxury condo with downtown, ocean and bay views for a quiet house on a lake - 3 hours further North, left behind all triggers for unhealthy habits, including those friends. I stopped smoking, drinking, eating processed food, started eating all organic and none GMO, I stopped partying and going out all together. And I retired at age 40 from my own company.

That was 9 years ago, and that massive change saved my life. I never felt at home in Miami Beach, everything was just a rush. For the longest time I thought that living in Miami Beach and materialistic possessions would make me happy, but that was not the case.

True happiness is something I can find when I swim on my local beach. I usually swim further out where nobody else is around, about 200 yards from the beach. I love the peaceful view from the ocean to the beach, being by myself that far out. Well, I get visits from manatees and dolphins all the time, often within arms reach. That is happiness, and seeing the squirrels a few hours later.

That being said, the beaches, and the land, around here are becoming overcrowded. EVERYBODY is moving down to Florida these days. We are building new communities left and right. So many voted for the Democrats in other States, then their polices increased taxes, cost of living, gas prices, increasing crime rates due to lax DA polices, while taking away personal rights with ever-increasing laws and regulations. So those voters have had enough, sell their house and come to Florida since we don't have any state income tax, lower prices throughout, less regulations on business and personal rights, no vehicle inspections, proper gun rights, you name it.

I just hope that they leave their voting habits behind when they come to our state, or Florida will turn into the same mess they have created in their old states. DeSantis is the best governor we have had in a VERY long time, we almost ended up with a blue governor that was later caught doing drugs and cheating on his wife with another dude. Granted, you have to quit watching the lies on left wing biased CNN etc in order to see what's really going on and how good things are in Florida.

Anyways, that was my excursion of the day. Getting out of the rat's race and living in a free and warm weather state are really worth it. We only have 2 worthwhile assets in our lives: time and health. Both is running out, for all of us. Don't waste either.

[sundoesshine]

My boy now sits on my shoulder ALL THE TIME. Soon he will build a nest on my head.

His expression is priceless. The demure little smile he can't hide showing how proud he is to have such a lofty position.
Is he your neuro guy?

[McCarthy]

His expression is priceless. The demure little smile he can't hide showing how proud he is to have such a lofty position.
Is he your neuro guy?

That sure is him. Yesterday I was leaning against my car with my head pointing at the roof. He jumped onto the hood, walked up the windshield, right in-front of my face and placed his behind right there. That was so awkward. And I thought to myself, what the heck, pushed my nose into his back and started sniffing him like they would do when being young lol

To my surprise he didn't walk away or slap me, he turned around and started sniffing my nose. Some people saw that and started laughing.

Made my day.

[McCarthy]

Took yet another lens to the park today. This lens is the sharpest lens one can buy according to DXO rating. Its the SONY FE 90 mm F2.8 Macro G OSS.

[McCarthy]

Also, a new guy showed up today. Never seen him before. What can I say, Mr Grumpy is dethroned, because he rules them all.

Both his ears have slits from fights. His nose is short and he is a heavy, older guy. He didn't chase one squirrel, all he did was growl at them in a very deep and intense tone. None of my gang had the guts to stick around, let alone come close to my camper. They all ran away with their tail between their legs.

He also didn't mark my camper, or me. He ate like a harvester, and just left when he was done.

This guy must have been in some serious fights. I'll call him Rocky, with his boxer ears

[McCarthy]

Mr Biting Buddy got me again today. He got me in my index finger, my nail prevented me from a double puncture. I think I know what's going on with him. It seems to be simply food aggression. In his territory are many squirrels and it becomes very hectic in that section of the park. He has zero patience and when anybody is feeding those guys, he always fears that another squirrel takes it away from him. So he comes running and he will bite your hand if you don't drop the food before he arrives.

He is the only squirrel that can't be hand-fed. You have to drop it in time or you will get a beating.

When he bit me again today, I whacked his ass quickly. He didn't run away, just turned around with this "What was that for?!" look.

Looks like the stoopid hoooman has to adjust.


--


Anyways, here the cutie-pie pictures of the day. Rocky was back as well, he is so very different. 100% solo and 100% a lone fighter, much like me. I love him.



The squirrels make more use of the benches than the humans.










The solar panel on my camper turned into a permanent observation platform. I had several people walking up to my minivan, warning me that a squirrel is sitting on my roof. Then they see that another 1 or 2 are sitting inside, right next to me on my couch, and the laughing starts.

[McCarthy]

Some more photos, I'm bored lol
















Lets hide that nut in your sock! Oh there is a leg in the way, lets bite it.






One of them eats EVERYTHING on my dashboard while looking out of the windshield. Huge mess I have to clean up every time.

[BCChins]

Have you seen your girlie lately?
The photo's are awesome.
AND THAT SUNSET

[McCarthy]

Have you seen your girlie lately?
The photo's are awesome.
AND THAT SUNSET

Yes, I see her almost every time. She doesn't come to my camper that often because her nest is not close to the parking lot but right on the beach, in a palm tree. I see her when I walk over to that section. She always makes a point by sitting on my lap and eating right there.

Just a few days ago she showed up at the camper with her 2 kids, very first time. You can tell because those 2 guys and her didn't chase each other away like the rest of them. Both kids are skittish and don't come inside the camper. One of them took a nut out of my hand, the other one will only take it if you drop it. Both have long and slander bodies and tails. Any unseal sound or warning call, and they are up in the trees and won't come back down for hours. Good on them.

[BCChins]

Awe thats cool she is brought them to see you