Kira and Taro last winter. They both are males, and now (summer 2023), in their third year of life. They are very likely brothers, the first one and a half year strolled around together a lot, but now have turned more into isolationists. There was a third of their family, Sari, but Sari either has wandered away, or already is dead. I observe them and support them since they were small and young. And yes, I am emotionally engaged with the two. :)

Last winter, after around 2 years of life, was the time when the two brothers started to go more separate ways. Also, they are not as playful and lightminded anymore, dont stay and play in the trees with the feeders anymore and do funny things, but now almost charge the feeders, quickly get a nut, and chase away as quick as they can. Fast in, fast out.

Gone are the easy days of squirrel youth! :(

They cost me 40 kg of nuts every year, walnuts and hazelnuts. On some days, they work the nut boxes in 30 seconds intervalls - grab a new one every 30 seconds, hiding it. How ever their third winter will become - I can make sure that food and fresh water will not be any of their problems. Thankfull they look string and healthy to me, big, the fur is in top shape, and no signs of exoparasites, although they probably have some flees. All squirrels have them, annoying, but usually not dangerous. There are much meanier parasite threats for my little fur noses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPJgdABTXcA

At least your squirrels do not chew the heck out of the feeder box.

They tried, when they were very young and did not know how it worked. The clapping lid hadf them jump starting time and again, they then tried to bite the lid away, or to bite holes through the wall to get to the nuts. :D


They had to learn it. And they did.

Great thread idea!

Gray squirrels learned that chewing is the best way in! These squirrel are relentless with chewing plastic, wood and metal. It is evident with my squirrel resistance feeders.

Anyway, I pulled the trail cam to look at what was on it. For some reason there was no recordings. I remounted it after clearing the SD card from recordings prior to moving it to the squirrel feeding box. Hopefully it is still working. If not I'll get a new trail cam.

Happens to me now and then too. Reformatting the SD card is normally what I do and it's fine the next time I check it.

Bobcats evening stroll down by the river.

Inspired by your wild boar debacle in the backyard. These trail cams are great!

I'll stick with my fox, racoon and opossum! Neat shot!

I'll check it this afternoon. The camera I have is very good but I would like one that bluetooths the phone. Easier to access what has been recorded. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

How about this guy :)?


If you could look up you would see my cabin about 50 yards up the hill.

It is just really something the things that go on when one is not paying attention.

Here is the local Rodent Control Officer.

Hahaha..yep. We have a red shouldered hawk that hunts our feeders. I watched him swoop in one morning dove ground feeding. Gone in a second.

A few years ago at the same time in the evening our feeder would start shaking. It is dark and we could not see what was shaking the feeder. We sure could hear the feeder rattling around. I decided to set our trap thinking it was another rat. We get one or two a year. I trap them and drive them off to a field and let them go. So, this is what was rattling the feeder at the same time every night. Flying squirrel. I release the bugger back into the yard. The missus is ok with critters. Just not rat critters.

https://youtu.be/hciLebxtrII