Easter Parade

Squirrels are for lovers

Sooo cute!!!



Star of the show



Doggies!

 

No darling, they're squirrels
We don't have black squirrels in Seattle!




There's a real doggie

 

Biker squirrels

Love this perch



There might be some eggs in here



ya never know...
I'm not givin' up



Alphie's Easter Bonnet

 

Happy Easter, Squirrel Fans!

Vernal Equinox: welcoming the first day of spring

There are small hints of spring all over.

the cherry trees are almost in bloom

It's still cold out, but it's not as bone-chilling as before, and you can tell the ground has softened up by watching the squirrels react to it. There's spring in their step.

there's still some snow on the ground
but the sun is warming

sunbathing

me and my shadow

 

Born Yesterday

Good news: Red Momma had her babies yesterday! All four pinkies are alive and well. Red Momma seemed so exhausted that Bernie took over the feeding while she lay back and slept -- truly amazing. Bernie has been feeding them his Natural Squirrel Formula  http://thenewyorksquirrel.blogspot.com/2011/07/natural-squirrel-formula.html which he says they've been gobbling up. I'm just afraid that they'll get so used to his delicious milkshakes that they won't want to go back to Momma's milk once she gets up the energy to feed them.


For those who don't know the story of Red Momma, she was rescued by Bernie a few weeks ago, after being thrown out of her own nest! http://thenewyorksquirrel.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-rescue-of-red-momma.html

Bad Foot
Meanwhile, Bernie brought Bad Foot back to PCV yesterday. The little black squirrel seemed delighted to be there and ran around experiencing everything and enjoying the lovely mild weather.

This is how I got here

I don't think I'll go back in

I'd rather stay out  here!

 She has a funny little gait, due to the missing toes, but she is able to run and climb trees. We were concerned about her finding a place to live, but when she saw Spunky she sprinted across the lawn and followed her up the tree, where she soon disappeared. It looked like Spunky recognized her as one of her own, and accepted the little squirrel into her tree. That's not something that happens every day! So it looks like things are going well for Bad Foot.

For those who don't know the story of Bad Foot, she was rescued by Bernie a few weeks ago: http://thenewyorksquirrel.blogspot.com/2013/02/squirrel-trappers.html


Gray Momma
I saw Gray Momma briefly. She didn't come close enough for a photo op, but she looks thinner, and I believe she had her babies. Hope they're doing as well as Red Momma's babies.


Ed

We say hi to our friend Ed, who found the paralyzed squirrel that Bernie picked up a few weeks ago. This squirrel was treated with a medication that has been used successfully on other animals, but was experimental for squirrels. The squirrel is doing very well and will  soon be ready for release.

Mothers-to-be

Red Momma
Red Momma is getting ready to give birth at Bernie's hotel, where no effort has been spared to make her feel safe and comfortable. And she's healthier too: she's lost the awful scabs on her head and now looks more like the way she looked back in January:


01-29

Meanwhile, some other squirrels are also about to give birth. Although it's still awfully cold out, I'm afraid 'tis the season.

New Squirrel Digs at PCV

The Lord taketh away...

and the Lord giveth...


the new home

Honorable Mention

We're pleased that The New York Squirrel got a most honorable mention on The Westchester Land Trust Facebook page in their welcome to March, as the beginnings of spring start to peek through!

The Rescue of Red Momma

First a little background on this lovely red-brown squirrel called "Red Momma":

1-20 is the last time I go to PCV before the devastating 9-day cold spell. I notice that Red Momma is looking rather sickly. I'm not sure if she's pregnant but her skin and fur have been going through changes, which is often the case for a pregnant squirrel.

1-29 We finally get a break from the cold. Today it is 52 degrees and sunny. I  go to PCV after a 9 day absence to check on the squirrels. I'm relieved to find Red Momma, who has survived the cold, basking in the sun.

2-6 After yet another cold spell, we go to back PCV to assess the damage.  



Red Momma gets her first taste of corn

Oooh, she likes it!

2-9 Apres le storm

I survived Nemo

Sweet Cinnamon

I found these pictures of Cinnamon that were taken less than 2 weeks before he died from the cold. Such a lovely squirrel. As you can see, he was very young and was a little ball of fluff with soft, feathery "baby fur".

January 19

But she's not there

There's another rescue attempt that I feel the need to document. I had become friendly with this lovely large gray squirrel since the beginning of February. She has a skin condition and may be pregnant.


2-6

I had seen her around in January. She was always the first one to run over to greet me whenever I arrived, rain or shine. She was always there.

Squirrel Trappers

We found three little black squirrels who were in trouble after Nemo. They all appear to live together in the same tree:

In this hole we call the Infirmary:

Have Trap will Travel
Today Bernie brings his trap and his net and we set out to rescue some squirrels! We start by looking for the three injured black ones. As if by magic, they show up one after another.

If a tree falls

"if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound?" Apparently not when it comes to a tree in PCV.  No fuss was being made over the loss of a beautiful tree.

This is the tree with the terrace that provided a lookout for squirrels. Whenever you walked by there, if you looked up you would invariably see little squirrel heads peeking down. They loved that spot!

lookout tree

The "terrace"

Snow Squirrels

 

Well historic blizzard Nemo came and went and dumped a bunch of snow all over the city. We went out the next day to check on the damage.

Peter Cooper Village

Iceland Saga: Before Nemo

Nemo is coming tomorrow but today things are fine. 

Iceland Saga: Cinnamon's Story

The next day I go back to check on Cinnamon. I see evidence of a hawk's presence.

I think Cinnamon looks a little bit better today. Or is it wishful thinking?

Iceland Saga: Damage

After an 8 day siege of cold weather where thehighs were sometimes in the 20's and lows were in the teens and as low as 20, Bernie and I go over to PCV to check on the squirrels. Today it is a balmy 52 degrees.

Winter Garden

It's  a lovely winter day. The high for today was 53 degrees. The squirrels have been spoiled so far this year.

Mating Season
The squirrels are having an extended mating season, which is normally from December to January, most likely due to the warm weather.

 

I see a woodpecker!

The eaglets have moved!

Good Morning, Sunshine

 Their new home: http://watching-eagles.blogspot.com/

 

What has Sedgwick Deely been up to?

Anyone who reads this blog knows that we here at the Squirrel are dog lovers NOT. These animals have turned a former squirrel's paradise into a prey-adise, where a squirrel feels like prey every moment of the day, being constantly besieged by creatures on leashes who have nothing more on their minds than making some poor squirrel's life miserable. We have literally watched a squirrel evade three different dogs in about as many minutes. What does that do to a squirrel's cortisol levels?

Many dog walkers delight in breaking the "stay off the grass" rules to bring their dogs as close as possible to a squirrel tree, where the dogs are often on those extendable leashes that give them the ability to launch a sudden rush attack. They will smile sheepishly and say: "Oh not to worry, Rover just likes to look, he's a million years old and he'd never hurt a fly". Yes, yes, we've heard all that before. Tell it to the squirrel who's having a heart attack (or at least a bad case of indigestion) after his evening meal has been thus rudely ruined!

That being said, what's not to love about a dog that takes center stage in the latest issue of Country Living (http://www.countryliving.com/homes/house-tours/bobby-houston-cabin-decor#slide-6), a dog with a name like Sedgwick Deely, a dog with such photogenic tongue and teeth, a dog with his own FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/SedgwickDeely

 

A dog that (in the interest of full disclosure) happens to be my sister's dog ?

 

sleeping squirrels

These pictures came from the New York Wild web cam. Right now there are no squirrels using it, but it doesn't hurt to keep checking. http://newyorkwild.org/webcams/webcams.htm

click to enlarge

two squirrels sleeping side by side

nursing squirrel

 

Update January 16

The day after I posted the above I finally saw some action on the squirrel cam. When I tuned in I saw this big pile of leaves instead of the regular scene:

light shines through the hole, the entry way to the squirrel den

 

Then I saw a squirrel body emerge from the leaves. That was exciting!

 

leaves, squirrel tail in upper left

 

The squirrel was busily piling up leaves and doing quite a job of it. She (most likely) came in and out of the hole, each time with a mouth full of leaves to be added to the pile. This went on for a while. Judging by the size of the pile, it looked like she had been at it all morning. She finally stopped and remained very still for a while, head buried in the leaves. Perhaps she was taking a squirrel nap. Then, re-energized, she sprang up and darted out the hole! I didn't see her for a while after that -- maybe she was out to lunch. But then she came back and was at it again--  in and out, in and out. Such a busy little worker. I'm thinking there may be baby squirrels on the way!

 

To be continued...

Squirrel Appreciation Day 2013

Monday, January 21 is a BIG day.

Hug a person! Hug a tree!
National Hug Day is on January 21

Hug a President!
Presidential Inauguration Day is on January 21

Hug a hero!
Martin Luther King Day is on January 21 in 2013

Hug a squirrel!
Squirrel Appreciation Day is on January 21

Our friends at the edge of the wood  have some interesting things to tell us about Squirrel Appreciation Day: http://www.attheedgeofthewood.com/2013/01/16/national-squirrel-appreciation-day-thank-you-christy-mckeown/ 

Squidoo has lots of fun stuff  about squirrels, including a recipe for homemade squirrel cake and a very moving action flic that shows a squirrel defending a dead friend against crows. They also suggest ways to celebrate squirrels:
http://www.squidoo.com/national-squirrel-appreciation-day

No less than the Huffington Post gives us 5 Ways To Show A Squirrel You Care ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/21/squirrel-appreciation-day-2012_n_1220089.html

The Washington Post also list ways to "help the little fellas out"...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-buzz/post/squirrel-appreciation-day-lets-hear-it-for-sciuridae/2012/01/20/gIQABngFEQ_blog.html

And if you don't want to break out the corn cobs and  sunflower seeds yourself, there's an easy way to make a squirrel's day:

Donate via PayPal to The New York Squirrel's  "Feed the Squirrels Project"
It only takes a minute and leaves us to do all the work.
Our motto is: You buy, We fly

a fun way to get my calcium

2013 - Year of the Snake

The Snakes Are Arriving!

 

Whereas the squirrels have brilliantly assimilated into city life, these are the only city snakes we get to see around here:

Bulgari Serpenti