Discussion:
Squirrels - habits
(too old to reply)
Michael J Davis
2014-10-06 15:33:49 UTC
Permalink
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.

The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.

The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.

My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)

I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!

Mike
--
Michael J Davis
<><
Malcolm
2014-10-06 16:53:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael J Davis
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.
The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.
The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.
My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)
I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!
Facsinating, Mike, though no answers to your questions! I'll have to do
some reading up.
--
Malcolm
Liz
2014-10-06 19:37:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael J Davis
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.
The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.
The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.
My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)
I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!
Facsinating, Mike, though no answers to your questions! I'll have to do some reading up.
I remember watching a documentary about caching behaviour in squirrels and the theory mentioned was that it is to
prevent germination of said item being cached.

Liz
Liz
2014-10-06 19:38:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael J Davis
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.
The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.
The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.
My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)
I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!
Facsinating, Mike, though no answers to your questions! I'll have to do some reading up.
I remember watching a documentary about caching behaviour in squirrels and the theory mentioned was that it is to
prevent germination of said item being cached.

Liz
Darkside
2014-10-06 23:02:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Malcolm
Post by Michael J Davis
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.
The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.
The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.
My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)
I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!
Facsinating, Mike, though no answers to your questions! I'll have to do some
reading up.
I remember watching a documentary about caching behaviour in squirrels and the
theory mentioned was that it is to
prevent germination of said item being cached.
To make sure they rot, then?
My mum says most tree seeds buried by squirrels do germinate - though
she might be prejudiced!
--
Sue ]:(:)
Michael J Davis
2014-10-07 15:33:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Darkside
Post by Malcolm
Post by Michael J Davis
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.
The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.
The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.
My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)
I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!
Facsinating, Mike, though no answers to your questions! I'll have to do some
reading up.
I remember watching a documentary about caching behaviour in squirrels and the
theory mentioned was that it is to
prevent germination of said item being cached.
To make sure they rot, then?
My mum says most tree seeds buried by squirrels do germinate - though
she might be prejudiced!
I've certainly had to dig up lots of baby HC trees that weren't growing
where the conker fell! Can't say 'most' though.

Mike
--
Michael J Davis
<><
Christina Websell
2014-10-11 21:45:40 UTC
Permalink
"Darkside" <***@blackhole.invalid> wrote in message news:Ayp$***@mashtub.demon.co.uk...
?
Post by Darkside
My mum says most tree seeds buried by squirrels do germinate - though
she might be prejudiced!
--
Sue ]:(:)
I have young hazels popping up all over. Suspect - squirrel.

Larry Stoter
2014-10-07 06:38:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael J Davis
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.
The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.
The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.
My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)
I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!
Mike
They get very annoyed it you immediately dig it up ...

Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, many years ago, used to have large
numbers of Grey Squirrels who were very accustomed to people and to
begging food.

On several occassions, I had some nuts & raisins on me. Sitting down
would very quickly attract a squirrel. They would then only go 2 or 3
feet to bury the nut, although they usually checked several places
before deciding the best place; I would then dig it up and hand it back
to the squirrel.

At first, they just look puzzled, grab the nut and bury it again, often
in the same place, but tending to push the ground back down rather
harder, as though they thought the nut was getting out on its own.

By the 3rd or 4th repeat, they get the idea and run off into the
undergrowth to be replaced by another squirrel and the game repeats :-)

Larry
Michael J Davis
2014-10-07 15:36:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Larry Stoter
Post by Michael J Davis
This year our Horse Chestnuts have produced a bumper crop.
The squirrel (grey) population have been kept very busy burying them all
over our lawn & I've had a chance to watch them.
The procedure is this:-
1. Find Conker in case.
2. Open case
3. Sometimes take a bite out of conker
4. Carry conker to some location
5. Change mind and go somewhere else
6. Repeat 4&5 several times
7. Dig hole
8. Eat chunk out of conker
9. Bury conker
10. Cover conker with much paw waving
11. End by continuing to wave paws in air a few times
12. Trot off to look for next one.
My main query relates to 8. If the animal is hungry why not eat all the
conker? In short why bite into the conker - does it speed up the
fermentation, or improve the ability to smell it out later? Or both? Or
some other reason (scenting, etc.)
I love 11 - it's as though the paws have a life of their own and are
still waving after the grass and leaves have been put into position!
Mike
They get very annoyed it you immediately dig it up ...
Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, many years ago, used to have large
numbers of Grey Squirrels who were very accustomed to people and to
begging food.
On several occassions, I had some nuts & raisins on me. Sitting down
would very quickly attract a squirrel. They would then only go 2 or 3
feet to bury the nut, although they usually checked several places
before deciding the best place; I would then dig it up and hand it back
to the squirrel.
At first, they just look puzzled, grab the nut and bury it again, often
in the same place, but tending to push the ground back down rather
harder, as though they thought the nut was getting out on its own.
By the 3rd or 4th repeat, they get the idea and run off into the
undergrowth to be replaced by another squirrel and the game repeats :-)
Yes, and though less with conkers than acorns, I've seen some
interesting battles between squirrels and Jays & Magpies digging up what
has just been buried!

At the moment we don't seem to have any resident Jays.

Mike
--
Michael J Davis
<><
Darkside
2014-10-07 17:18:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael J Davis
At the moment we don't seem to have any resident Jays.
They're all here. I even got a photograph!
--
Sue ]:(:)
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