Squirrel Shots - My Squirrel Collection

[melodysparks]

The squirrels in the local arboretum are virtually tame and I love to photograph them in their antics. A few years ago there was one partiular squirrel who could tell it was me approaching and come gambling up to me from about 20 yards away and clamber up my leg and onto my shoulder. When I sat down he would climb on me in search of peanuts and fruit often invading my pockets

Here is my squirrel collection. I hope you enjoy them

SO THIS IS WHAT A CAMERA LOOKS LIKE



DISPOSING WASTE RESPONSIBLY



SQUIRREL SHORT - INVADING THE POCKET

Squirrel Shorts a video by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy) on Flickr.

BREAKFAST WITH PSYCHO SQUIRREL



MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: STALKING THE PEANUT



GIVE IT ME! ITS MINE



NUTS AND A BEER



MMMM WALNUTS



SQUIRREL SHORT 2 - HOW DOES THIS LID COME OFF

More Squirrel Shorts - How does this lid come off? a video by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy) on Flickr.

Comments

[mckaysmonkey.livejournal.com]

I've not seen a squirrel that tame before. Excellent shots.

I know we're supposed to hate these brash American invaders, for displacing the local reds, but it's difficult not to find them cute.

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Yes they are very tame having gotten so used to people

Surprisingly the red one are viscious little buggers, I saw a red squirrel once attack a chipmunk half its size but the black squirrels are what we have to watch out for they are fiercer and are slowly outnumbering both red and grey

[mckaysmonkey.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd heard about the black squirrels.

Where did you see the red squirrel? I was lucky to catch sight of one once at a forestry place on holiday in Scotland, but they're ridiculously rare.

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

I was over in Canada in Quebec at a lake called Kanasuta. I was feeding the chipmunks when the red jumped out and attacked and the screech it made was horrendous. Unfortunately I have not seen any on the UK although I heard there may be some in Northern Nottingham in Sherwood Forest area

[mckaysmonkey.livejournal.com]

Just did a quick google search - I think your Canadian red squirrel was Tamiasciurus hudsonicus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_red_squirrel, which is one of the Pine squirrel family. They are known for territorial behaviour.

The British red squirrel is Sciurus vulgaris http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_squirrel which is actually more closely related to the Eastern grey squirrel, who is the little guy from your photos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Gray_Squirrel.

Oh and for completeness, this is your black squirrel, which is a sub group of the Eastern grey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_squirrel

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you yes the red ones in Canada must have been territorial

The black is a mutation of the grey but I read somewhere that some reds have been found with the mutation and their fur is a dark auburn/black

[tarlanx]

So cute!

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Thank you

[daisychains1957]

aha my early questions are answered by this post :D