Although I know I am lucky, I find it odd that I live in a rural temperate area and have NEVER seen a squirrel or chipmunk in my yard in the 34 years I've been here. I guess they have enough natural habitat in our woodlot to just stay put back there. So, I really enjoy the antics captured by photos.
I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned.
Did you plant sunflowers for the birds, jmorth? I tried that one time, and just as the seedheads were ripening a deer ate the lot, just leaving a row of headless stalks.
Squirrels don't hang around my garden much during summer, but I see them a lot in winter when they are attracted by seeds that fall out of the bird feeders. Do you have bird feeders in your yard, Deb?
June, in regards to your query...Sunflowers have been self-seeding here since 2004 when they were originally planted to provide shade to two new Paw Paw tree seedlings (forest understory tree that needs shade for first couple of years to survive). Original cultivar of sunflower was Kong, a multi-flowering giant of 12 ft tall (or taller). Goldfinches love them, Cardinals sometimes visit as well.
Wow, those are amazing sunflowers, self-seeding for 9 years and still going strong! I must see if I can find some 'Kong' next year. At 12ft tall, they'd be safe from all browsers except giraffes.
Nice pics, jmorph! I'm pretty safe from giraffes munching my flowers! Actually, the deer are pretty small here because of the drought and adverse climate, so they would be unlikely to reach 12 foot-tall sunflowers! They DID munch on my Golden-Eye plants on the other side of the shed, outside the fence. But since the dear little deers took off for their fall feeding areas, the plants came back and are now blooming. One plant is bigger, because it's growing in a ditch by the shed and somehow wasn't touched.
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
I like that last shot in the first set of photos J. The balancing act. Boy! Your squirrels sure are red aren't they?
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
So when are you taking a road trip, camera in hand, & get us some photos of those white squirrels J?
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Name: Glen Ingram Macleay Is, Qld, Australia (Zone 12a) (Lee Reinke X Rose F Kennedy) X Unk
Do the squirrels hibernate over winter?
Most of our mammals are nocturnal. I have two Brown Bandicoots that come in for the seed under the feeders at night. I am thinking of getting a trip camera.
The problem is that when you are young your life it is ruined by your parents. When you are older it is ruined by your children.
I don't think they do here. I had to capture one over the weekend, so I could release it outside. It got in the house and the cat wanted it (but it's so fun to play with, Mom!).
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
Referring to an answer above regarding a query fron Glen regarding winter squirrel hibernation in my neck of the woods.
A little research acknowledges that tree squirrels don't hibernate though the winter here, though they do display periods of less activity, hangin out in the tree hollow they've settled into and emerge only on warm days to feed on what they can find from secreted caches or opportunistic strikes. Some species in the squirrel family may enter a geared downstate.of Torpor but this isn't considered true hibernation.
I guess I'm trying to amend a statement alluring to my earlier stated observation that the squirrels here hibernate. The reality is some of these cute tailed rodents slow down their activities to maximize time with family in their tree houses and are seldom cavorting round on the roof; if if they venture onto the roof there may enough snow to cover the sound of their pitter-patting locomotion.
Summer time is different for sure, they not only pitter patter on the roof but skitter, scatter routinely.
As n aside, I read that ground squirrels can hibernate.
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