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#1
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales,
don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 casualties a day. Dan Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net |
#2
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
On 9/10/2010 4:31 PM, Dan Musicant wrote:
They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 casualties a day. Dan Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaycross/92400978/ Obviously |
#3
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
Dan Musicant said:
They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 casualties a day. Gray squirrels and fox squirrels have both been introduced to California. A key trait for distinguishing them is the color of the belly: typically, white in the smaller gray squirrel and (appropos the name) a rust color in the fox squirrel. (There are odd color morphs and subspecies for that break this rule -- the most common being gray squirrels that are entirely black.) -- Pat in Plymouth MI "Vegetables are like bombs packed tight with all kinds of important nutrients..." --Largo Potter, Valkyria Chronicles email valid but not regularly monitored |
#4
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
On 9/11/2010 6:33 AM, Pat Kiewicz wrote:
Dan Musicant said: They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 casualties a day. Gray squirrels and fox squirrels have both been introduced to California. A key trait for distinguishing them is the color of the belly: typically, white in the smaller gray squirrel and (appropos the name) a rust color in the fox squirrel. (There are odd color morphs and subspecies for that break this rule -- the most common being gray squirrels that are entirely black.) My response was facetious but you can google up pictures of all squirrel species - I believe over 250. It's probably a fox squirrel. |
#5
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
"Frank" wrote in message ... On 9/11/2010 6:33 AM, Pat Kiewicz wrote: Dan Musicant said: They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 casualties a day. Gray squirrels and fox squirrels have both been introduced to California. A key trait for distinguishing them is the color of the belly: typically, white in the smaller gray squirrel and (appropos the name) a rust color in the fox squirrel. (There are odd color morphs and subspecies for that break this rule -- the most common being gray squirrels that are entirely black.) My response was facetious but you can google up pictures of all squirrel species - I believe over 250. It's probably a fox squirrel. If they are small and reddish they could be pine squirrels. |
#6
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
Steve Peek said:
"Frank" wrote in message ... On 9/11/2010 6:33 AM, Pat Kiewicz wrote: Dan Musicant said: They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 casualties a day. Gray squirrels and fox squirrels have both been introduced to California. A key trait for distinguishing them is the color of the belly: typically, white in the smaller gray squirrel and (appropos the name) a rust color in the fox squirrel. (There are odd color morphs and subspecies for that break this rule -- the most common being gray squirrels that are entirely black.) My response was facetious but you can google up pictures of all squirrel species - I believe over 250. It's probably a fox squirrel. If they are small and reddish they could be pine squirrels. Pine squirrels are small and tough -- I've seem a pine squirrel chase off a much larger fox squirrel. But they are far more likely to be littering your yard with debris from fir, spruce or pine trees rather than tearing into mature squash. Pine squirrels will make off with the occasional strawberry or other small fruit, though. -- Pat in Plymouth MI "Vegetables are like bombs packed tight with all kinds of important nutrients..." --Largo Potter, Valkyria Chronicles email valid but not regularly monitored |
#7
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:31:54 -0700, Dan Musicant
wrote: :They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, :don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in :Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular :has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of :at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have :a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 :casualties a day. : an : : :Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net This squirrel is smart, very smart. It did a Houdini to escape my live squirrel trap, just bought on eBay, 16 x 6 x 6 inches. It definitely was in the trap and escaped. I think it's probably a red squirrel. I tried the live trap again, and the damned thing got the bait out of the trap without going inside. Masterful! I had peanut buttered the last 5" or so of a stick and set it into the trap from above. Hard to believe the rodent figured out how to get that stick out, but it did and ate all the PNB. I think it's probably the same squirrel that's been harassing me for 3 years or so, but he's getting better and better. He stopped hitting the rat traps I have out there (around 6, all baited with PN butter). I deduced that the live trap isn't big enough. This is a BIG squirrel. I saw it again today and I think the nose to end of tail it's about 20-22 inches. The tail keeps the gate from closing on the trap and it somehow got out, either turning around inside or lifting its tail and backing out. I thought of returning the trap and ordering a bigger one but instead I modified the trap today, adding 10" to the length with some wire mesh I had lying around. I have it set now, and think this time I'm likely to get the bugger. I'm going to let it out several miles from my house. Dan Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net |
#8
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
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#9
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
In article ,
Dan Musicant wrote: On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:31:54 -0700, Dan Musicant wrote: :They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, :don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in :Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular :has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of :at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have :a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 :casualties a day. : an : : :Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net This squirrel is smart, very smart. It did a Houdini to escape my live squirrel trap, just bought on eBay, 16 x 6 x 6 inches. It definitely was in the trap and escaped. I think it's probably a red squirrel. I tried the live trap again, and the damned thing got the bait out of the trap without going inside. Masterful! I had peanut buttered the last 5" or so of a stick and set it into the trap from above. Hard to believe the rodent figured out how to get that stick out, but it did and ate all the PNB. I think it's probably the same squirrel that's been harassing me for 3 years or so, but he's getting better and better. He stopped hitting the rat traps I have out there (around 6, all baited with PN butter). I deduced that the live trap isn't big enough. This is a BIG squirrel. I saw it again today and I think the nose to end of tail it's about 20-22 inches. The tail keeps the gate from closing on the trap and it somehow got out, either turning around inside or lifting its tail and backing out. I thought of returning the trap and ordering a bigger one but instead I modified the trap today, adding 10" to the length with some wire mesh I had lying around. I have it set now, and think this time I'm likely to get the bugger. I'm going to let it out several miles from my house. Dan Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net Do you have too many trees to put chicken wire collars around them, or wrap your fruit in? I certainly understand your anger, but is there any concession you could make to keep the squirrels happy without destroying your plants. I give mine a walnut a day, away from the garden, and loosely wrap chicken wire, 5' to 6' up around the trees where they access my garden. It has worked for me, YMMV. -- - Billy "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini. http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/2/maude http://english.aljazeera.net/video/m...515308172.html |
#10
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
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#11
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:07:50 -0700, Billy
wrote: :In article , : Dan Musicant wrote: : : On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:31:54 -0700, Dan Musicant : wrote: : : :They all seem to look pretty much alike, orange/brown, bushy tales, : :don't know how else to describe them except that they are very common in : :Berkeley, CA. What exact variety of squirrel is this? One in particular : :has been raveging my pumpkin/squash patch, having eaten most or part of : :at least 11 of my current crop. I'm trying to research the beast. I have : :a trap on order, but until it gets here, well, I'm getting at least 2 : :casualties a day. : : : an : : : : : :Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net : : This squirrel is smart, very smart. It did a Houdini to escape my live : squirrel trap, just bought on eBay, 16 x 6 x 6 inches. It definitely was : in the trap and escaped. I think it's probably a red squirrel. I tried : the live trap again, and the damned thing got the bait out of the trap : without going inside. Masterful! I had peanut buttered the last 5" or so : of a stick and set it into the trap from above. Hard to believe the : rodent figured out how to get that stick out, but it did and ate all the : PNB. I think it's probably the same squirrel that's been harassing me : for 3 years or so, but he's getting better and better. He stopped : hitting the rat traps I have out there (around 6, all baited with PN : butter). : : I deduced that the live trap isn't big enough. This is a BIG squirrel. I : saw it again today and I think the nose to end of tail it's about 20-22 : inches. The tail keeps the gate from closing on the trap and it somehow : got out, either turning around inside or lifting its tail and backing : out. I thought of returning the trap and ordering a bigger one but : instead I modified the trap today, adding 10" to the length with some : wire mesh I had lying around. I have it set now, and think this time I'm : likely to get the bugger. I'm going to let it out several miles from my : house. : : Dan : : : : Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net : o you have too many trees to put chicken wire collars around them, or :wrap your fruit in? I certainly understand your anger, but is there any :concession you could make to keep the squirrels happy without destroying :your plants. I give mine a walnut a day, away from the garden, and :loosely wrap chicken wire, 5' to 6' up around the trees where they :access my garden. It has worked for me, YMMV. I don't care if they climb my two plum trees. I see them in those trees frequently, and they can have all the plums they want. There's more than I can use in anycase. Birds get a lot of them, but again, I don't care particularly. But the pumpkins are another matter. I can't keep them safe from a squirrel determined to eat them. What I do do is grow them up trellises made of long bamboo. This protects most of the crop from squirrels, and 95% of my currently maturing crop is so situated. The ones on the ground have either been picked by me or at least partially eaten by squirrel(s). More than a dozen were hit by squirrel(s). There are maybe 1/2 dozen left on the ground, mostly seemingly not noticed by the rodent(s). I have a few tucked into ~1' high containers, where the rodent(s) can't see them. I haven't checked the lengthened (now 26") trap this morning. Want to give time for the rodent to hit the patch (I read in Wikipedia today, that they like to go out foraging after dawn and about dusk to avoid both predators and noon-day heat), but it's been only a sometime thing lately, so maybe, maybe not. Dan Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net |
#13
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What variety of squirrel populates Berkeley, CA?
ObJoke:
the edible kind. songbird (who's actually never eaten squirrel, possum or raccoon... yet... |
#14
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Quote:
__________________
Artificial Grass - This is now compulsory for me... |
#15
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Gray squirrels, fox squirrels have been introduced to California. A key feature is the color difference between the belly: usually, white in a small gray squirrel and of a rust-colored fox squirrels.
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