It has been hard for people to tap the maple trees for sap this spring with all the snow still on the ground, but maybe this American Red Squirrel has an easier time tapping the trees as folklore credits the red squirrel for the origin of maple syrup. They gouge the bark with its large front teeth and then leaves as the sap flows out. The squirrel returns later when the water evaporates from the sap and licks the maple sugary syrup.
American Red Squirrel
This squirrel is holding its pose, probably hoping if he doesn’t move, I won’t see and chase him out of the bird feeder.
Squirrel Holding Still
This squirrel might not be happy with the cloudy day with occasional rain showers today, but it warmer than it will be as a stretch of days not getting above freezing so hopefully he has stashed a lot of food for the winter.
Time to Gather Nuts
On a day with temperatures over 90, even the critters need to rest in the shade as they try to stay cool during the hot temperatures.
Hot Day Rest
The little American red squirrel might be smaller than the gray squirrels but the little squirrel can produce some very loud sounds, especially if I an interrupting its adventures.
American Red Squirrel
I think this squirrel heard the forecast and is shocked about the sleet and snow coming when it is supposed to be spring.
What Squirrel
I saw a squirrel dashing across the yard with something white in its mouth. I thought maybe the squirrel broke into my house and stole a big marshmallow, but instead it swipe one of the apples I had put out for the deer and he had already eaten the peeling off. He kept turning the apple as it took another mouthful keeping the apple fairly round.
Apple Eating Squirrel
The squirrels spent another day busily collecting bitternut and acorns off my lawn as well as some sunflower seeds that the birds spilled from the feeder. They might have heard the forecast mentioning snow which means the cold is coming.
Day of Gathering
The acorns and bitternuts have been falling around in my yard and the squirrels and chipmunks have been busy hiding the treasures. The chipmunks with a full cheek, race down into their tunnels, but the squirrels are digging holes in the lawn to bury the nuts. And for a while, researchers felt the squirrels found their caches of food by smell, but new studies revealed that squirrels do use spatial memory to locate their stored food. This squirrel didn’t like being caught hiding his food stash.
Squirrel Stash
The rain yesterday melted a lot of the snow, but there was a light coating of snow this morning. The squirrel didn’t have to wait too long this morning before the sun melted the new layer so he could find some acorns that the melting snowpack revealed.
Squirrel Snack Time
