Category: squirrels

Dastardly offense in Colorado

October 15, 2017 • 3:45 pm

I don’t believe in capital punishment, but if any crime deserves a sentence of life without parole, it’s this one (click on screenshot to see the sordid tail from The Longmont News):

Longmont police on Friday arrested a woman on suspicion of disorderly conduct after they say she pulled a gun on a squirrel outside of a coffee shop.

Kylie Morrison, 31, was released on a summons for misdemeanor disorderly conduct following the incident, according to an arrest report.

Police responded to Cafe Luna on a report of a woman with a gun and placed Morrison into custody. Witnesses told police that Morrison had been sitting in the coffee shop and talking to herself but later exited the building and sat outside. Morrison appeared to be “high on something” and started throwing items at a squirrel when it got too close to her, the report stated.

One of the witnesses began feeding the squirrel to coax it away from Morrison, who allegedly became irritated, drew a gun from her bag and pulled the trigger three or four times. The gun didn’t discharge, but a witness told police she froze in her tracks until Morrison put the gun away.

This being America, the Second Amendment also applies to squirrels, who have every right to defend themselves. Remember, guns don’t kill squirrels, people do!

h/t: Woody

 

Readers’ wildlife photos

October 8, 2017 • 7:45 am

Comments on the photo posts have been few, and I’m not sure whether that means people aren’t looking at them. But I’d urge you to say something if you like a photo, for the contributors surely like their work to be appreciated, and that’s the only way they’ll know. If you see something, say something. And remember to send in your good photos!

Today we have a potpourri of photos and a video.  The photographers’ notes are indented.

The first few are from reader Damon:

Attached are some photos of Diamondback Water Snakes (Nerodia rhombifera) from South Texas that I took earlier in spring.

From reader Tim Anderson in Australia:

This is an Apostle bird (Struthidea cinerea). Its name derives from the fact that it generally goes about in groups of about a dozen. They are constantly fussing and nattering away, even when they are on their own. They have a black band across their face, which makes them look like bandits. Just about my favourite bird.

Reader Michael Glenister sent in two damselfly photos, and I regret that I lost the email that may have identified them. Perhaps readers can help:

A squirrel from Randy Schenck in Iowa:

Time for a Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) close up.  The nails might need a trim but you can count the whiskers if you want.

And a movie from reader Ben Dreidel showing that cats aren’t the only beasts who can train their staff:

This is a video from our recent family vacation. The bald eagle has trained the tour boat to give him a fish when they come by so he can fly down and grab it for the tourists’ cameras.

 

Squirrel shoots slinky at chipmunk stealing its dinner

September 28, 2017 • 12:45 pm

There are many misguided people who denigrate squirrels, but having lived with them up here on the third floor for years, I know what awesome rodents they are.  Submitted for your approval: three videos in which squirrels pwn their opponents.

In this one, a squirrel appears to remove a chipmunk taking its food by slamming it with a stretched Slinky. Now that seems too weird to contemplate, but you tell me: did it do this–twice–on purpose?

Here a squirrel (don’t know the species) drives away a rattlesnake endangering its brood by throwing dirt in its face. There’s no doubt about its aims (and its aim), but is this instinctive or learned? Whichever, it’s cool. This is from a Facebook post, so click on the screenshot to go to the video:

Here’s another squirrel bothering a rattlesnake with the same tactic. It must be instinctive!

A visit to Japan’s Kinka Squirrel Village

August 16, 2017 • 2:30 pm

I’m worn out from politics and want to take a break today with ducks, squirrels, and other persiflage.

Rachel and Jun are a couple in Japan (she’s American, he’s Japanese), known to me from Jun’s videos showing him shopping with his cat and then cooking in front of his cat, letting the cat sniff each ingredient. Rachel posts a lot of videos about Japanese life and how Americans can fit into the culture. Today they visit a wonderful squirrel park—something that doesn’t (but should) exist in the U.S. Their notes:

The squirrel park (Kinka Squirrel Village) is right next to Gifu Castle. Gifu Castle is kind of a smaller Japanese castle, but it was only 200 yen [JAC: $1.81 US] to get inside and the view was beautiful!

First there’s a squirrel bit, then at 9:46 the party visits Gifu Castle, a 1950’s reconstruction of a 13th century structure destroyed during World War II.

Those are some stout squirrels! Does anybody know what species they are?

Stubs the squirrel

August 4, 2017 • 2:30 pm

So many squirrels are eating nuts and seeds on my windowsill that I can’t recognize them all. There are babies, old adults, and battle-scarred veterans. This is one of the latter, and a squirrel I can easily recognize. I call it “Stubs” because a big chunk of its tail is missing (you can see the chewed-off bit as well as the missing fur):

There’s also a nick in the ear.

Because Stubs has been traumatized, and probably could use some nutrition, I always open the window and give him/her (I haven’t yet ascertained the sex) extra peanuts.

Tail amputation seems pretty common in squirrels. How do they lose their tails? Do dogs bite them off?  Is it internecine warfare? If you know, weigh in below.

Criminal squirrel gang purloins chocolate bars in Toronto

July 11, 2017 • 2:30 pm

I am feeling better, thank you, and we’re up to 48,939 subscribers, so my bucket list goal of 50,000 seems within reach. Let’s celebrate with two things everyone loves (except miscreants): chocolate and squirrels.

In January the CBC News reported that a squirrel, or more likely a maurading gang of mixed race squirrels (black and gray) are entering a Toronto shop and making off with candy bars:

In a Reddit Toronto thread first posted this fall, the store’s owner says the shop doors typically stay open because it gets “stuffy and hot” inside. And, for more than seven years, it’s never led to problems.

“Until the squirrel started showing up,” the owner wrote.

And there’s more: The owner later learned the thefts — at least six so far — could be the work of an entire ring of furry thieves, or at least two critters. “A black one (or more) and a light brown/grey one (or more),” the owner wrote.

But there’s hope!

The two, three, or more furry criminals — it’s not totally clear — have now been caught on camera swiping candy bars from a bottom shelf.

In one video titled “Crunchie Caper,” posted on Wednesday, a squirrel sneaks into the store, snags a Crunchie bar, and dashes outside — then scampers across the street.

Here’s a video of the crime:

Now I love Crunchie bars, which aren’t available in the U.S.: they have a honeycomb center coated with chocolate:


But if I were a squirrel I’d go for the best candy I’ve had from Canada, the famous Coffee Crisp, which has layers of wafer separated by coffee-flavored cream, all coated with milk chocolate. Sadly, I’ve seen neither of these bars in the U.S., but a kind Canadian once sent me the latter:

Coffee Crisp

But I suppose a squirrel’s gotta take what it can get. As for leaving the door open, people have suggested putting in a screen door, but what fun would that be? (Besides, the squirrels could gnaw a hole in it.)

 

 

 

h/t: Taskin