I've seen birds drinking out of the moats from time to time, but so far haven't spotted a squirrel doing that. Of course, there's no containers of water that aren't used for water sources by wildlife here. When it rains enough, depressions in the larger rock formations along the dry creek fill with some water, so there's less competition then. Unfortunately, there's a reason it's referred to as a dry creek...stays dry a lot.

We saw a smaller one doing it today. He sat, looked up to the birdbath, figured it was too high to jump up to, then climbed up the post and drank some water from the moat.

As much as I don't like the squirrels eating my birdseed and/or digging into my gardens/containers, I don't like to see them get killed by cats or other animals.

This morning, I heard a ruckus outside and saw a brown 'ferret looking thing' with his grips on a baby gray squirrel. I tried to use a long broomstick to separate them, but the 'ferret' ran away fast gripping the squirrel into the wooded area next to us.

The 'ferret' was slim and small. I didn't take the time to get any pics.

This is a list of KY animals and I'm wondering if the 'ferret looking thing' was a mink.

http://www.kentuckycrosswords....

http://www.crittrcatchr.com/an...

Nature can seem cruel sometimes.
It's nature though, and that "ferret" has to eat.
In the animal kingdom, predators do it for food, not for cruelty.

On the other hand, if you think it was a feral or stray domesticated animal (like an actual ferret), you should call animal control. Because that would be out of balance in your habitat.

Find out if there are any native weasels there.

Igrew up in Tennessee and would be interested to see what you find.

You were posting that as I was typing!
HA!

Good info on that second link!

crittergarden,

According to the KY list I posted (first link) we have both minks and weasels.

The second link sounded and looked like a mink.

I know the animal wasn't trying to be cruel, but for food. Just didn't like to see the baby squirrel get killed.

I'll have to do a google search later to see what a weasel looks like, DH and I have to take our bunny rabbit to the vet now.

At first, I didn't know your experience level.
And besides, someone else might see that.

BUNNY RABBIT?!?!?!?
ME TOO!

Here in the city, I keep my kitties inside, because now I know to. But I had my first kitties when I lived in the country and they were indoor/outdoor cats. They would sometimes kill birds. It bothered me but I thought cats needed the outdoors. One time they left a gopher on the patio and I was proud of them. But one time, I heard a baby bunny scream. It was awful. That was before I knew anything about house rabbits.....

Life cycles happen.

We had 2 bunny rabbits that DH and I got in early 2002, Cuddles and Scout.

Sadly, Cuddles died on March 10. She was 12 years old. Scout, her bunny buddy is still with us and he is 12 years old also.

What's your bunny's name?

After seeing what a weasel looks like, I think the animal I saw today was a mink.

http://www.crittrcatchr.com/an...

I meant to mention that the baby squirrel was a juvie.

juvie as in junenile delinquent???


My bunny's name is Leena and she'll be 7 in September. She's the sweetest thing ever. She also came with a bonded one. I came downstairs and found her buddy dead one morning. All the local house rabbit people assured me it happens, not to blame myself. Bunnies hide illnesses because in the wild they are prey animals.

The mink does have a more ferrety face than the weasel.

My grass eating squirrel. It digs down to find the plumpest, juiciest growth, then plucks it up, turns it around to the white part & eats that. It spends many hours eating grass. Sometimes, as is pictured in the photo, it will sit on the birdbath eating. The only thing is, it generally drops the tough, green tips into the birdbath which makes a mess & is organic material which makes algae grow like crazy. It jumps down, finds another choice bit, jumps back up & eats that. In between, it will drink. Silly squirrel. If all our squirrels only ate the grass like this one does, I would be a happy camper!

I didn't KNOW they eat grass! Maybe this squirrel has a really extreme vegan thing....eating only grass. My squirrels eat peanuts and sunflower seeds. I'm not sure if they eat anything other than what I put out for birds! Oh, I forgot, they like oranges, too, but I don't usually put those out.

Linda, in my whole life, I have NEVER seen a squirrel eat grass EXCEPT this one. We don't see any of our others eating grass. How can we tell it's this one? Look at it's tail there on the bird bath -- it's sort of a strawberry blonde --- it's the only one with this odd colored tail so that's how we know this one from the others. Now, I did see, just recently, a "baby" with red tail (what we call the grass eater) eating grass around the bird bath so I'm just guessing it's red tails baby & the baby is learning from the mom. Only time will tell. If the baby lives to grow up & it is a grass eater too, then......

We've also speculated that it's tail is the result of grass eating. Who knows? Yes, we joke about it being a quirky eater too.

I have seen the squirrels collect dried grass for their nests but have not witnessed them eating it, they like peanuts, other types of nuts, sunflower, other seeds, and apples.

The grass eating squirrel is very interesting. The oddest thing I have ever seen a squirrel eat was in the middle of one winter when I saw a squirrel eating frozen dead bird.

Rita, I have seen a squirrel kill a bird, a little junco, let me tell you I was shocked, I didn't know that they did that.

flaflwr - THAT is a wonderful squirrel story!
You have a unique little wild critter relationship.
How fun.