The Day the Squirrels Went Berzerk

Dingfod · 12-03-2005, 07:12 PM

Squirrels in Kirkland, Washington have taken to eating Xmas light wiring and raiding local stores for nuts. But, worse yet, a pack of squirrels in Lazo, Russia attacked a dog and killed it, scampering off with hunks of flesh.

ms_ann_thrope · 12-03-2005, 07:35 PM

More killer squirrels to be found here. :sqattack:

I love squirrels! :smitten:

thewantingseed · 12-03-2005, 07:35 PM

The squirrel pictured in the second article looks positively evil.
That story scared me in some deep and fundamental way that I can't desribe.
:sqattack:

The Lone Ranger · 12-04-2005, 03:16 AM

Squirrels aren't vegetarians, though a lot of people seem to be under the mistaken impression that they are. In fact, true vegetarianism in the animal kingdom is surprisingly rare. Lots of animals that most people think of as vegetarians have been documented to kill and eat smaller animals -- including squirrels, goats, and cows.

Animal flesh is a much better source of protein and fats than is virtually any plant matter, and so many "vegetarian" animals will happily eat meat if its available. Bones are an excellent source of calcium and phosporous, and where these minerals are in short supply, even cows and deer have been seen to kill and eat small birds and mammals, apparently for the calcium and phosphorous. (Antlers shed by deer don't last long for the same reason -- they're quickly set upon by porcupines, squirrels, and other nibblers for their calcium.)

Squirrels regularly raid birds' nests and eat the eggs, or carry off the young birds if they can. A study in Canada a few years ago found that the major predator of young snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) wasn't hawks or owls or coyotes or lynx or any of the other expected predators -- it was red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

Best keep an eye on the fuzzy little buggers.

Cheers,

Michael

Dingfod · 12-04-2005, 12:36 PM

Cows are cannibal scavengers too, I've seen it first-hand. Back in Wyoming, for the longest time, there was a cow carcass lying next to the gravel road to the gas plant. More than once, there was a live cow munching on the carcass. At the time, I used to joke that they were not eating the dead cow, but merely attempting to wake it up. "C'mon, Bessie, it's time to get up. You've been laying there for what must be days and days. Get up. C'mon, get up."

ceptimus · 12-04-2005, 01:29 PM

The native squirrel in the UK is the red squirrel. It's different to the American red squirrel. The UK red squirrel is quite small and cuter (IMO) than other squirrels.

Images courtesy of redsquirrel.org

Unfortunately, the American grey squirrel was introduced to the UK by various idiots early in the last century, most notably by the Royal Duke of Bedford at his country estate, Woburn, in 1902. The greys have spread from this site over the last 100 years and now infest most of the country.

The grey carries a virus that is fatal to the reds, and the reds have now been eradicated from much of England and Wales. They survive in Scotland, and also on some tiny islands and other isolated outposts in England and Wales, but even here they are threatened by the American greys, and may eventually become extinct.

livius drusus · 12-04-2005, 02:08 PM

Those ears on your red squirrel are adorable, cep. I like the American red squirrels too because they're little and cute, but they don't have tufted ears.

I saw a documentary on grey squirrels once, which noted that they're extremely intelligent and will figure out pretty much anything, overcome pretty much any obstacle, to get to food.

Incidentally, I really dig this thread. It's interesting and disturbing and it compels me to sing Ray Stevens every time I see it. You'd think that'd be a point against it, but nope. I find it oddly endearing. Go figya...