Grey squirrels (1 Viewer)

[106birds]

Yesterday I was admiring the speed with which a grey squirrel was climbing a beech tree, scattering pigeons. It then jumped to a silver birch, ran up and down a few branches, then jumped to an atlantic cedar.

At this point, a bird shot out of the cedar and attacked it. The squirrel was lucky and escaped to another beech tree, where it was again attacked. The raptor was again unsuccessful, and flew off into the distance. It all happened so quickly, I couldn't recognize it.

We have had sparrowhawks hereabouts for several years. Indeed, 4 years ago a pair nested in the aforementioned cedar, producing 3 offspring. In general they do not do very well - they get mobbed by crows and magpies, and I have even seen one attacked by a blackbird!

Question: was it a sparrowhawk, or something else?

 

[Henry B]

Welcome to Birdforum..

 

[salty]

hello, welcome to bird forum!

the raptor was possibly a sparrowhawk. they are known to take other prey apart from birds, and could be more than capable of taking squirrel.

 

[Gill Osborne]

Hello and welcome to Bird Forum.

Never heard of anything like this before though no reson why a Sparrowhawk couldn't take a Grey Squirrel.
What about a Goshawk? Or is the wrong area/type of territory?
Will be interesting to see what others think...

GILL

 

[arthurgrosset]

Interesting. I came home last night at about 9:00 pm to find a rather nasty mess in the garden. It was a Grey Squirrel head and neck with a bit of blood but no body. I thought that I might have disturbed a predator and decided to leave it till this morning. As I suspected, there was nothing left.

Possible predators that have been seen in my garden are foxes, domestic cats and Sparrowhawks. As far as I am aware Sparrowhawks feed mainly on birds but occassionally on small mammals and BWP mentions squirrels amongst "at least 17 species of mammals recorded."

 

[The Tom]

Interesting. I came home last night at about 9:00 pm to find a rather nasty mess in the garden. It was a Grey Squirrel head and neck with a bit of blood but no body. I thought that I might have disturbed a predator and decided to leave it till this morning. As I suspected, there was nothing left.

Possible predators that have been seen in my garden are foxes, domestic cats and Sparrowhawks. As far as I am aware Sparrowhawks feed mainly on birds but occassionally on small mammals and BWP mentions squirrels amongst "at least 17 species of mammals recorded."

I recently had a pair of crows begin nesting in a large tree in my garden and they seem to delight in attacking the local squirrels trying to knock them from the trees as they dash about , dont know if they could kill one though . It is more likely to be a Goshawk (if you have any in your area) than a Sparrowhawk that took the squirrel .

 

[esmondb]

What about tawny owl? Would be aggressive towards squirrels if it had eggs/chicks.

 

[sparrie]

I personally cant see a sparrowhawk killing a squirrel. They are very viscious and bite back. If it was a Sparrowhalk it was probably just trying to chase it away from a nest.

Gary.

 

[106birds]

grey squirrels

Yes, that seems the best theory. But there is no sign of a nest, and why, if
protecting her nest, would the raptor fly away. Up to 3 weeks ago there
were fresh pellets under the cedar almost every day, but then they stopped.
In the last few days we have seen a pair and the (juvenile?) female has
rather indistinct markings,which may explain why I didn't recognise it then.
Most hawks around here tend to be strongly banded. At this very moment,
I can see her on look-out, right at the top of the cedar.

 

[egret3]

Hope you get to the bottom of this..
I am in Canada.. and a few weeks ago
there was an article in the paper
and a full size picture of a whole bunch of squirrels
on a line.. they had been killed.. by humans..
apparently.. I believe this might be in England.
now.. not positive.. do not have the article..
but why would they be doing this to squirrels
I found it very cruel.. it seems they are overrun
with them.

We have black squirrels and grey ones here..
not sure which are meaner. I think they are
cute.

Interesting post

 

[Keithec]

I personally cant see a sparrowhawk killing a squirrel. They are very viscious and bite back. If it was a Sparrowhalk it was probably just trying to chase it away from a nest.

Gary.

They can look after themselves can't they! You have reminded me of that old adage "Never buy a dog that chases a squirrel."

Keith

 

[tburke]

They can look after themselves can't they! You have reminded me of that old adage "Never buy a dog that chases a squirrel."

Keith

I've seen redtailed hawks take hundreds of grey sqirrels and they do so with great caution.
A grey squirrel is formidable and redtails that are adept at taking them gain immediate control of the head.
I can't imagine an accipiter smaller than a gos taking squirrels on a regular basis.
I believe young accipiters harass and stoop at animals that they have no intention of preying upon.

 

[tasha55403]

Hope you get to the bottom of this..
I am in Canada.. and a few weeks ago
there was an article in the paper
and a full size picture of a whole bunch of squirrels
on a line.. they had been killed.. by humans..
apparently.. I believe this might be in England.
now.. not positive.. do not have the article..
but why would they be doing this to squirrels
I found it very cruel.. it seems they are overrun
with them.

We have black squirrels and grey ones here..
not sure which are meaner. I think they are
cute.

Interesting post

If it was in the UK (England) they are non-native pests (like our house sparrows and european starlings) over there. They're more aggressive than the native species of squirrel and have brought devastating diseases with them. I think the native squirrel is very rare over there now. Squirrels are also very tasty if cooked up right.

 

[OwlTalon]

Squirrels are also very tasty if cooked up right.

I want the recipe! Anything to get rid of the varmints! they jsut figured out a way into my wire-surrounded, baffle-topped, squirrel proof tube feeder(the holes are about 2 inches wide)!!!!!! They squeezed into a tiny hole between the lid and the wire and ate all teh seed. Fortunately, they have a hard time getting out, so i get a chance to terrorize them a bit and show them that this is NOT a good idea. They seem to have gotten teh picture, they haven't tried all day.

Mangy little creeps! Undeniably resourceful, with great ingenuity and sometimes cute, but still varmints!!!!! You can obviously tell me feelings towards the aboreal rodents. A winetring Red-tail took out teh biggest resident last year, and I thought that was the and as he was teh only squireel who treid at the feeders. But no, what do we have now? BABY squirrels, every bit as troublesome!!

I'm sorry if I offended everyone, I don't hate squirrels, but I don't like them hogging my expensive seed!

 

[ceasar]

It apparently is safe to eat Squirrels with the caution to avoid eating their brains which have long been considered a delicacy in the Southern Appalachain region of the U. S. This practice has been linked to a fatal disease in that area which has symptoms similar to Mad Cow Disease and Kuru.

Gut Essen!
Bob

 

[talon_dfa]

My Grandfather's squirrel stew recipe:
2-3 squirrels (or 1 rabbit), 1 chicken, large onion, carrots, celery & package of egg noodles...
Squirrel meat is tasty, but is tough, so needs to boil until tender, then add noodles..

An adult grey squirrel is a tough nut to crack for small Accipiters...
If you have ever held one in your hand, they are nothing but muscle and teeth...

It would be very very hard for a female Coop to handle, even harder for Sparrowhawk... The "hide" of a grey squirrel is very tough, and I have seen captive Cooper's Hawks have a very difficult time trying to break into it.

Goshawks & Buteos can and do take grey squirrels, but as mentioned by several people above, squirrels can deliver a vicious bite.

Austringers that hunt grey squirrels in US (with Red-tails & Harris Hawks) make special jesses to protect the feet and legs from bites).

 

[OwlTalon]

I'm sitting, watching the feeder right now, with a container of hot water (don't worry, its not cold out so he won't freeze) next to me. I'm now prepared. I may also try putting hot pepper spray on the seed, which the birds don't notice but irritates the squirrels. According to The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible, letting peppers sit in water for two days makes the water just as spicy. Spray it on the seed, or treats, or nuts or whatever, and you've got squirrel-proof food!!

 

[tasha55403]

I like to cook up most game this way. Fry up some bacon and onions, then I add the meat (cubed is easiest) and rehydrated dried shitake mushrooms. When the meat is cooked I add a jar or two of sweet jalapeno pepper jelly (I like the medium, just spicy enough, but not hot) or red currant jelly. Simmer for a bit, then put it over white rice. Bad for you, I'm sure, but very tasty

 

[ikw101]

I watched a Buzzard in the Forest of Dean grab a grey squirrel out of tree a couple of years ago. It carried it off and then dropped it onto a tarmac path next to Christchurch campsite. The squirrel was knocked out or possibly already dead not that it mattered because it was soon beheaded before the carcass was carried off.

 

[danehower]

My feelings are getting hurt here ! I understand the UK's concern about greys and their impact on the native reds - that is really sad to me. - However, I love the greys - I used to hate them - but those little critters have won me over in a big way. I am sure they are destructive in many ways - but their success is most likely a result of human activity - and therefore the blame lies with the most destructive of all animals - us humans! - If you watch them with an objective eye, you will certainly see there amazing qualitys - and they are damn cute also - sorry - just had to put that out there. o PS with all the muscles - how could they be a good meal - I mean come on !