Garden Wildlife UK

Preparing for another cold snap.

I had a squirrel in the garden today, the first time for several months. It has to be more than a coincidence that the hazel tree is dropping nuts at present.

Not had one in a while. Did come up from the woods now and again.

I get visited by a squirrel from time to time but it's only one and doesn't seem to bother with the feeders. The latest one to arrive immediately struck me as looking different. I couldn't decide whether I was just not seeing it properly. It was getting around the garden and I finally got a good uninterrupted view. It only had half a tail It didn't seem to be a problem as it was doing all the usual squirrel-like things without hesitation.

Not seen a squirrel here for a year or so.

My half-tailed squirrel has been in the garden again. It has been digging little holes in my back lawn to find hazel nuts it must have buried last autumn.

Could have some new trees sprouting.

Willpar wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 10:01 pm Could have some new trees sprouting.

I don't really need a new hazel tree in the lawn. I'm having quite enough trouble with dandelions.

Will be easy to get rid of any with the mower.

A couple of years ago I was sat outside, and saw a squirrel untie the string of the peanut bird feeder, and it fell onto the floor.
Every time she went off to bury some nuts, I moved the feeder a few feet my way, until she was about a foot away. I'd got some hazel nuts so I gave her some, which she buried in my neighbours' incredibly neat lawn, lol!
She ended up jumping up on the table right next to us, and stayed around us for a good half an hour.
She always visited the garden but never came near us again.
Now we have a male - very obviously a male, he is very canny so I have to invent lots of new ways to stop him getting sunflower seeds out the hanging feeders.
All visiting squirrels here are named 'Cheeky'.