join N.A.D.S.! Everyone but Oak Kitten that is!

[RedjackRyan]

http://www.anti-squirrel.com/index.html

[Wildflower Fever]

On a side tangent, does anyone know if there is any merit to the philosophy that bees are slowly disappearing in America? I've heard all kinds of theories including the mass of airwaves from cell phones and the like screwing with their migration. Nevertheless, this seems to be a daunting prospect, especially for agriculture and the work that bees provide on it's behalf.

[RedjackRyan]

I've heard it, Ben.. Judging by the number of bees that attended my weekend break-in of a new firebox, It looks like my area is unaffected.

[Bat]

I hear they're down by 50% on the East Coast and 70% on the West Coast.
The adults have disappeared, leaving young and immature offspring in the hive. Wonder if the Borg have abducted them? Do they exhibit lemming-like behavior, I wonder? Are they allergic to Genetically Altered Crops? Certainly is something to think about--is a puzzlement!

[SongDragon]

Lol. We used to try everything to get rid of squirrels. They continuously ignored the dog because if they didn't run she didn't know what to do. Eventually she got to barking, and that always worked.

Also, red squirrels are nuts. Insane. Small fireballs that aren't afraid of the people they're trying to steal from--even though the people are about sixty times their size!

~Song

[DaveM]

Yes, it's happening. There is a lot of speculation as to why, and I will not be surprised if there proves to be more than one answer. Part of it may simply be due to certain modern beekeeping practices, which involve relocating hives every so often (leading to mature worker bees becoming "lost"). But I suspect there are other factors, seeing as it has occurred so dramatically and so suddenly.

Things shift in our environment far more quickly than they once did, and from time to time some dramatic indicator pops up. Some of you may recall when frogs virtually disappeared about a decade ago. To my knowledge, no one ever came up with a definitive reason for that. In this area, the population seems to have rebounded (no idea about other parts of the country)--and again, no one knows why.

[Oak Kitten]

I'm ready for ya. . . .

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/rbalano/machinegunsquirrel.jpg

[Darlene]

Did you see that squirrel she is shooting down bee hives and every little bee that comes near her. Be afraid bees, be very afraid!:(
Bee keeper?, :confused:
Darlene

[Rkitko]

Some of you may recall when frogs virtually disappeared about a decade ago. To my knowledge, no one ever came up with a definitive reason for that. In this area, the population seems to have rebounded (no idea about other parts of the country)--and again, no one knows why.
I always assumed that pesticides were determined to be the culprit. Because frogs have such thin skin that they use as a moist oxygen exchange organ, they're often the first to go from some hideous contaminant. "Indicator species" is what they're called.

On similar tangents, at least one species of frog in the Cloud Forests has gone extinct due to global warming. And native frog populations in the western U.S. have been decimated since the late 19th century when bull frogs were brought to the west coast (for food) and released into the wild. They're brutal.

And back on topic, I've never really liked squirrels, but that's the result of a vicious attack from one of Oak's brethren that resulted in a bit of blood loss. Don't be fooled by the innocent fluffy tails! ;)

[DaveM]

Yes....speculation ranged from thinning of the ozone layer to pesticides to invasion by exotic species. About the same time, we had a veritable plague of deformed frogs turning up for a time (haven't heard anything about it for awhile)--again, various theories including a parasite that was causing extra limbs to develop at the host site. No idea whether anyone concluded anything. As with most environmental stories that reach "the media", there's never any follow-up once the ratings start to drop.

Amphibians are indeed the canaries in the coal mine, so to speak. I can remember several "silent springs" in my own home area, and it was a bit spooky. But the frogs have come back. Why...or why they went away in the first place....who knows?

I am somewhat skeptical of accounts of "a species becoming extinct do to global warming" (or any other popular boogey-force). Fact is that species have become extinct for as long as there are species, and the more we discover, the more we are going to find that are barely clinging to existence as some invariably will be (the passenger pigeon was hunted to extinction--not a likely fate for a rare frog). Life adapts. Individual species are often unable to, a point which humans should keep in mind. Especially with so much empirical evidence such as the huge famines in parts of Africa which resulted largely from trying to "civilize" nomadic people and get them to live around central water wells--their cattle ate all of the available browse and the end result was desert. Our own agricultural systems are not indefinitely sustainable....we ignore the horrific results of earlier "experiments" at our peril.

[Rkitko]

I am somewhat skeptical of accounts of "a species becoming extinct do to global warming" (or any other popular boogey-force).
You should know me well enough by now to know that I usually have a reference for every factoid I present ;) And this example is well-documented (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0112_060112_frog_climate.html). The local herpatologist at the university read through the study and concured that the data support the conclusions. It's a well-reasoned hypothesis.

Agreed on your arguments. I wonder if I'll ever see us wake up to our bad practices and change? Or will stop-gap measure after stop-gap measure be created at higher cost to us and the environment instead of a total restructuring of the key systems (agriculture and transportation, to name two) that support the status quo?

Erk... how'd I get here? Wow, the Gods of Segue have done it again.

[Eva]

Oak Kitten, you look very cool on that picture. I think I'll join your side of this battle.

Pirate Queen

[RedjackRyan]

Oak, while that is indeed the John Rambo of squirrels, if he tries to make off with any of my delicious ribs next year.. he's in for a world of hurt!

[ponytail]

LMAO over the story of the squirrel attacking the biker....

[Wildflower Fever]

I live in a dense urban neighborhood, and thus enjoy the squirrels, mainly because they are so desensitized to human threat, they are more fun to watch. The big problem of late, though, are raccoons. Droves of fat, garbage fed raccoons live in the storm sewers, and when it rains hard, they are flushed out into the street in a dazed and threatening mood (many times with babies). I live in a condo with parking out back, and the other night I returned home around 10pm. When I was getting some items out of my car, I heard what I thought was a large, vicious dog growling at me. I looked up at a tree branch not 4 feet above my head, and saw one of the biggest raccoons I've ever seen, hissing and growling at me with 3 others behind him. He also felt cornered, as he didn't want to jump, and all I could picture was him springing on my head. :eek: I respect creatures like this with their young, and also am aware of the rabies issue. I told the two neighbors on the end of the alley (they have small children, and small urban backyards) to watch out for their children at night, as they seem to hang out outside the sewer more lately. Someone else actually saw a wild turkey down the street the other day, which proves these habitats are shrinking- how long until I see moose and coyotes wandering the streets?;) Does anyone know if animal control units would respond to an urban raccoon removal, or is this problem too common for them to be concerned?

[Rkitko]

Does anyone know if animal control units would respond to an urban raccoon removal, or is this problem too common for them to be concerned?
They might. It often depends on how agressive they're being. They pulled out all the stops here in Olympia when there was a pack of raccoons killing cats and mauling small dogs.

[lucille]

I would suggest you call the local Veterinarian. Occasionally we have kangaroos wandering into backyards or streets, and the vets know specialist rescuers who catch them with the least stress, and release them in the bush. One of the biggest animal pests we have at present is the fox - not a native, but introduced. The powers that be are cutting down the population by rendering the females barren. I think they do it with a dart, but wouldn't swear to that.

[ponytail]

This site has a lot of good information about "managing" raccoons as pests:

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74116.html

Around here, they have a lot of natural habitats because there are streams through woods all around. I find them really cute and get a big kick out of getting to see them occasionally. However, they can be very scary when they feel threatened -- and if they perceive your house as a source of food, they can really wreak havoc.

I'm sticking to feeding ducks!

[Denise]

So....I think we've got a squirrel or two in our attic....been hearing some scratching noises above our heads this past week. Several friends/co-workers have told me to throw moth balls in the attic....they don't like them, supposedly and will be driven out.

Anyone heard of that???:confused:

[Darlene]

Huh Denise, Those scratching noises could be (heaven forbid) maybe not squirrels but, I don't want to say it...................................but maybe :eek: rats! Sorry!
Peace, Darlene

[Oak Kitten]

One of the funniest things I ever saw (it was only funny because it didn't happen to ME) was when I was taking classes at Temple Univeristy in Philadelphia. There are all the lunch wagons parked all over the campus, offering all different kinds of food. Most of them have a rack in front under the counter with candy bars. The squirrels would pop out from under the cart, rear up on their hind legs and snag a Snickers bar and take off. The guy working in the wagon never saw it - probably was blaming the students for pilfering the merchandise. One time I was in line behind a guy waiting for his order, and for some unknown reason one of these squirrels jumped into the candy rack and the leaped right onto the guy in front of me. He completely freaked, and the squirrel took off.

Urban squirrels can be VERY aggressive. If you start feeding them, they regard it as an entitlement and will come at you if you don't give them what they want. The ones in my yard are the tamer rural type who prefer to avoid people, but who greatly enjoy pilfering my bird feeders.

Eva, glad to have you on the team!

Denise, I don't know about the moth balls, but I myself prefer Matzoh balls.

Oak

[hoops]

i wouldn't join the group just cause of the name N.A.D.S...inbecoming to say the least :)
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

We had a squirrel back when I live in the country that had figured out how to hang by its tail to get at a bird feeder. Chopped that branch off, and the same squirrel (I think) started taking flying leaps--and usually landing right on target.

[Rkitko]

The ones in my yard are the tamer rural type who prefer to avoid people, but who greatly enjoy pilfering my bird feeders.

Oak, sounds like you need Twirl-a-Squirrel (http://www.birdquest.com/twirl.htm)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLiasdJeoo

It is bad that I get so much joy from that short, silent film? I make my own creative commentary. Feel free to do the same.

[Eva]

Oak, you'll have a wonderful time twirling on that one. You could invite all your squirly friends and twirl together. Woohoo! :D

Eva

[Darlene]

But of course Oak, You and all your squirrely friends just may barf! Gross! Wait am I on the wrong thread? Sorry! "snicker"
Peace, Darlene

[aabram]

Just remember who you're talking to here..... Squirrels are sentient beings too, and maybe they just want to be loved?????? :eek:

[ponytail]

I love squirrels. I miss feeding them in parks in Philadelphia. The squirrels here are afraid of people...and a good thing too. In Perry County, squirrel pot pie is a very popular dish!:eek:

[Eva]

I guess they are very loved than in Perry Country.
But ehm... you shouldn't have said that out loud Ponytail. You know how Oak gets when it comes to these things... :eek:

Eva

[Darlene]

Squirrel tastes like chicken. But do they ever smell bad when you are skinning them. We are on the gross thread aren't? Sorry!:o
Darlene

[Eva]

Darlene, all this talk about skinning squirrels CAN be interpretated as an act of war by Oak Kitten. So watch your back woman... :eek: :p

Eva