Squirrels!

A catch-all area for all things squirrely...

From the BBC:
Black squirrels' slow scamper to dominate
By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine

The plight of the disappearing red squirrel is being highlighted in events dedicated to the native British species. But its tormenter, the American grey squirrel, is itself being slowly overwhelmed in parts of the country by the little-known black squirrel.

* About 160,000 red squirrels in UK, compared to 2.5 million greys
* Most of these greys live in England
* Reds are two-thirds the size of greys or blacks
* Because greys are bigger, they eat more food more quickly, leaving too little for reds
* And greys carry a pox that's deadly to reds

Russian squirrel pack 'kills dog'

Local people suggest hunger is driving squirrels to extremes
Squirrels have bitten to death a stray dog which was barking at them in a Russian park, local media report.

Passers-by were too late to stop the attack by the black squirrels in a village in the far east, which reportedly lasted about a minute.

They are said to have scampered off at the sight of humans, some carrying pieces of flesh.

Is squirrel the perfect austerity dish?
By Katie Connolly BBC News, Washington

The North American grey squirrel - coming to a plate near you?

Grey squirrels are ubiquitous in North America - scurrying across our lawns and up our trees, burying nuts and taunting our tantalised dogs.

Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, squirrels are cute, furry and, apparently, very edible.

The notion of stewed squirrel may not tempt everybody's taste buds, but in an age of tightening belts and financial severity, the humble abundance of the squirrel is causing some to reconsider its epicurean virtue.

American hunter William Hovey Smith, a self-described outdoor enthusiast, loves a spot of squirrel stew, made of course from critters he hunts himself.

"It is certainly a very American dish. We've eaten it since colonial days. In fact sometimes, during hard times, a lot of people primarily subsisted from squirrel meat, just for want of anything better," Mr Smith says.

From WHDH Boston 7:
Squirrels cause date change for Braintree celebration

BRAINTREE, Mass. -- Squirrels eating habits have caused Braintree Town Hall to reschedule their holiday celebration.

"We found ourselves in a bit of a nutty situation. But we’re working through it," said Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan.

Squirrels nibbled through the holiday lights strung around the Braintree Town Hall trees. Officials discovered half the lights weren’t working just days before the town hall’s holiday celebration, which was scheduled for Sunday.

link with moving pictures

Squirrel in toilet startles granny
EDMOND, OK -- Edmond 911 dispatchers field dozens of calls everyday. But this was among the strangest in recent memory.

Dispatcher: What's going on there ma'am?
Caller: I have some kind of animal in the toilet in my bathroom.
Dispatcher: Like, what's it look like?
Caller: Well, it's gray. That's all I can tell you. I didn't look real good because it scared me to death. I'm sorry.
Dispatcher: But it's not like one of your animals, like a cat or something?
Caller: No. My cat is in my office behaving herself.

Edmond Officer Derek Kennedy was the first to respond to 305 Candlewood Drive.

When he arrived, he discovered the aggressive squirrel, still in the toilet.

"As soon as I saw the squirrel, I knew I needed back up immediately," Officer Kennedy said.

Did you ask for a squirrel? - Yes, yes, the master is quite ready.

Happy New Year!

Squirrels, mushrooms and berries... Quite a night!

Errant squirrel weasels its way into National Grid substation, knocks out power to 6,500 customers in Wilbraham, Hampden and Palmer
WILBRAHAM - An errant squirrel somehow weaseled its way into a National Grid substation Tuesday morning and knocked out power to some 6,500 customers in this town, Palmer and Wilbraham.

Debbie Drew, a spokeswoman for National Grid, said the rodent touched off the outage about 10 a.m.

“Some customers saw only momentary outages while others saw outages for about a half-hour to an hour or so,” Drew said.

The majority of the customers were in Wilbraham and most had their power restored by about 11 a.m., Drew said, adding that a handful of Wilbraham customers didn’t get their power back until about noon.

“Despite our best efforts to keep animals out of our equipment this one apparently found its way in and caused some problems this morning,” Drew said.

The squirrel did not survive, Drew said. (duh!)

Is this a toy for pet squirrels or a squirrel toy for other types of pets?



And what is that thing on the right?

Squirrels For Sale In Ryazan

Sell squirrels on-line in Russia!

I'll be a millionaire!!!

Somehow I missed it... January 21, every year.
I'm sure I did something but without knowing it.

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/January/squirrelappreciation.htm

http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Outdoors/Archives/2011/Squirrel-Day-Activities.aspx

From Have You Fed a Squirrel Today?
Do you enjoy watching squirrels?
Yes! They're entertaining to watch.
90%
Yes, but in someone else's yard.
5%
No squirrel is a good squirrel!
5%

Total Votes: 20

I lol'd

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!