- Joined
- Sep 27, 2012
- Messages
- 1,247
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Dublin ( South )
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 40 Plus
Hi
Discussed these under my Barn Owl thread but think they deserve a separate Thread.
I live in Suburbia, road lined with turkish Haze trees now with nuts ripening.
These pesky squirrells are abundant. If that was it would be not a problem but concerned on their impact , rurally on our and you beautifull native Red squirrell and locally and rurally on our Bird population.
Interesting comment re raiding for wild honey !! though they must consume a lot of birds eggs, says when available, but as they are constantly scampering throught trees bushes they must come upon nests often and do serious damage !
Food and Feeding Habits
Grey squirrels are largely vegetation feeding on a wide variety of seeds, berries, fruits, nuts, roots and cereals which are provided within forests. They have a particular preference for the seeds of broadleaf tree species such as acorns, pinecones, hazelnuts and beech mast. They are opportunistic feeders and will raid any nearby vegetable gardens or agricultural fields. Fungi are a favored food source in damp woodlands as is wild honey and even birds eggs when they are available. Grey squirrels mainly forage in daylight hours and spend more time at ground level then red squirrels where they will store any extra food gathered in a series of hoards which are shallow holes dug in the ground. Grey squirrels do not hibernate in winter but in cold weather conditions will spend several days in the nest only emerging to visit one of their ground level hoards to feed.
Discussed these under my Barn Owl thread but think they deserve a separate Thread.
I live in Suburbia, road lined with turkish Haze trees now with nuts ripening.
These pesky squirrells are abundant. If that was it would be not a problem but concerned on their impact , rurally on our and you beautifull native Red squirrell and locally and rurally on our Bird population.
Interesting comment re raiding for wild honey !! though they must consume a lot of birds eggs, says when available, but as they are constantly scampering throught trees bushes they must come upon nests often and do serious damage !
Food and Feeding Habits
Grey squirrels are largely vegetation feeding on a wide variety of seeds, berries, fruits, nuts, roots and cereals which are provided within forests. They have a particular preference for the seeds of broadleaf tree species such as acorns, pinecones, hazelnuts and beech mast. They are opportunistic feeders and will raid any nearby vegetable gardens or agricultural fields. Fungi are a favored food source in damp woodlands as is wild honey and even birds eggs when they are available. Grey squirrels mainly forage in daylight hours and spend more time at ground level then red squirrels where they will store any extra food gathered in a series of hoards which are shallow holes dug in the ground. Grey squirrels do not hibernate in winter but in cold weather conditions will spend several days in the nest only emerging to visit one of their ground level hoards to feed.
