Saturday, December 18, 2010

Red Squirrel of the Vermilon River. Post to Camera Critters #141


While Southern Ontario has its black and gray squirrels, we in the Vermilon River have our red squirrels(common to all parts of Northern Canada). They are a conifer feeder; namely on the cones that these trees produce; although they will also feed on insects, seeds etc. As well they feed on the sap of conifers. The squirrel bites the tree allowing the sap to dry,and then returns to feed. Their hoard of cones, seeds etc. are stored in "middens"which they tend to forget about and thus aid in the re-generation of a forest.

They are solitary except for the mother after the birth of her young. They are smaller than the gray or black but larger than a chipmunk. They are no longer restricting themselves to coniferous forests, but are expanding into mixed forests.

The fellow depicted here allowed me to get fairly close because he was in a dense tree, and concentrating on his lunch. The photos were taken at the lower end of  the Long Lake wetland. In earlier posts I took my readers on a tour of the wetlands. See the archives if you want to tour them. He is in no way habituated; he is a creature of the forest, and took off as fast as possible once lunch was complete.

Information primarily from Nature Works.

Post to Camera Critters # 141

30 comments:

  1. Gary, I have never seen a red squirrel but have heard that they are really mean and will fight other squirrels for food. Cool shots of the red beauty!

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  2. Hi Jean: Maybe that's why they're solitary. Gee I wonder if that's happening to Boom and I. First Whiskey Jacks and now Red Squirrels; maybe we need to get ahold. Ha Ha Boom & Gary.

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  3. But not as big as those elephants. Thanks for the visit.

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  4. True, we have black and grey squirrels here in East Gwillimbury (south-central Ontario) BUT I took a photo of a reddish-gey squirrel yesterday chowing down seeds underneath one of out bird feeders. Hmmm. Now I wish I posted its photo today.

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  5. No fair, EG WOW, hybrids don't count. Just kidding!!! Boom & Gary.

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  6. In a Chevvy Chase styly SQUIRREL............;-)

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  7. lovely red squirrel ... they have such photogenic faces (the little pests)!!!!!

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  8. To Captain Shagrat: Should I call him Chewy Chase next time I see him? Boom & Gary.

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  9. To Snap: Careful now he may be a rodent, but this guy is not at all urbanized like his cousins. He doesn't chew insulation or wires etc., in fact he wouldn't know what they are. So not little pests, but photogenic yes. Thanks for the visit. Gary & Boom.

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  10. The red squirrels look very cute. I like the color. Could I trade some of my gray one for your red ones?

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  11. To eileeninmd: Sorry those are urban squirrels you're talking about, and besides all the other predators keep these guys trimed down in numbers, so I don't have any to trade.

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  12. Love the squirrel. We don't see them here in Florida but we used to have red squirrels up in Michigan.

    Jessica

    http://themagicalmundane.blogspot.com/2010/12/camera-critter-saturday-mouser-series.html

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  13. Hi Jessica: And no I'm not sending you any. Thanks for the visit. Boom & Gary.

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  14. We found a red squirrel that was pushed out of it's nest when his eye weren't even open yet. When we were kids we went to a cabin in northern Michigan for Memorial day. We ended up taking him home and raised him. My dad built a house in our maple tree in our back yard. He hung around for a few years...we knew because in Grand Rapids they don't see any red squirrels. He would come to us when we would call him out of his tree.

    Here in Florida the squirrels are smaller than gray squirrels, but larger than red squirrels. I love the eyes! You got a great shot!

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  15. Beautiful the Red Squirrel, we get them here, but they are hard to get, possibly in Scotland.

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  16. Hi Bob: Thanks for the good words. As I said they're a forest animal and trimmed out by predators.

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  17. Hi Lyndsey: N. Michigan would have them as the forest is the same as here. Thanks for the kind words.

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  18. Thanks for dropping in and for your comment
    Love his hairy tail - we saw squirrels in a park whilst in Calgary last September. Have to find the photos and maybe post them next week
    Cathy

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  19. Hi Cathy: Always pleased to comment on a hairy woodpecker. Yes he's a furry fellow but it's cold here.

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  20. Good to hear your Red Squirrel is expanding Gary. Here in the UK our Red can't compete aginst the more prolofic Grey Squirrel.

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  21. Delighiful shots. We have a red squirrel, as well as black and grey in SE Ontario. The red squirrel was tunneling in the snow, caught it on video!

    I have fun watching them. I love Boomer. What a great way to match and ID tracks. The cats used to follow us onto the frozen lake, I miss our lake, having moved this fall.

    Wonderful sharing your world with your pets.
    Cheers from Cottage Country!

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  22. These are wonderful! I like the way the tail covers its back. Very cute!

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  23. To JM: Just remember they're wild creatures, and cute, I'm not sure about, but handsome yes. Thanks for the kind comments.

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  24. To Jen Jilks: Thanks for the visit and kind words.

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  25. A very cute squirrel! I would love to see a red one sometime. I get Fox Squirrels and there are also gray in this area, but I don't see much of them.

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  26. Hi Mary: The reds are mainly in the coniferous forests of the north. I doubt if they could hold their own against the grays or Blacks.

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  27. Now you've made me feel so lucky as I have grey, black and red come through my yard. :) Love that first shot!

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  28. Hi lisachaos: Thanks for the visit and kind words.

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