Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Foxy

Red Fox (aka Foxy), is the most beautiful squirrel in the park.
We think he may have survived a near-death encounter with a hawk, during which a big chunk was chomped out of his rear-end. Indications are of a hawk bite, because of the location, depth and severity of the wound. Hawks tend to attack in that spot on the back, in their attempt to crush the spine of their victim, thus paralyzing it.

After an unsuccessful trapping attempt, we've been worrying about Foxy constantly and trying to keep him well-fed in order to heal. Unfortunately, the snowstorm brought with it 2 days of no food, and in that short period he became pitifully thin. You can see in the picture above that he used to be quite plump and round, but he has lost all his baby fat.
But I'm happy to report that although he looked a bit bedraggled hopping through the snow, a scab has healed over his wound, which is still large and ugly, but no longer raw!

He had a huge appetite today and ate and ate - avocado, grapes, walnuts, cashews and peanuts. When he was finally full, he engaged in a game of catch with me -- where I threw peanuts at him which he caught and promptly buried --- and then he returned for more. This is a wild squirrel's way of bonding when it is no longer hungry and just wants to play!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Snow Buddha

We found this artist's rendition in the easternmost park of Peter Cooper Village when we ventured out after the snowstorm. The squirrels love it!




Sunday, February 14, 2010

Thrill-seeking Squirrel Banned from Theme Park Ride

THIS thrill-seeking squirrel has been going nuts on a theme park roller coaster. But now the daredevil scamp has been banned from the ride as its antics posed a health and safety risk.

The rodent was said to be causing headaches for operators at Alton Towers by getting in the way of improvement work on an attraction at the resort.

Workers noticed it riding the revamped Sonic Spinball roller coaster as it was tested in the mornings and joining visitors who were offered an early go on it before the official opening.

The grey-haired animal was also caught stealing food from the workers.

A spokeswoman for the Staffordshire theme park said: "It was getting in the way of builders who were painting. They couldn't carry on because they would end up with paw prints in the paint. And we can't have anything on the track when the roller coaster is going round."

Alarms were installed that emit a warning noise inaudible to human ears but designed to ensure the squirrel, nicknamed Sonic, avoids the ride in future.

Morwenna Angove, sales and marketing director at the Alton Towers resort, said: "Unfortunately Sonic's behaviour is a danger both to our guests and himself and so we're doing all we can to ensure that he stays away from the ride.

"Banning a squirrel from a roller coaster is certainly unusual but I suppose there's a first time for everything."

The Sonic Spinball ride officially opened to the public yesterday to coincide with the start of the February half term.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2853165/Squirrels-theme-park-ride-ban.html#ixzz0fcTTWIqP