Nuts is awesome. I didn't know the Grey's carry a disease that's affecting the reds, that's so sad, the red squirrels are beautiful.
I took my daughter a few years ago to the company gardens here in Cape Town to see and feed squirrels for the first time, she absolutely loved it. We even saw the rare albino ones, they are quite fascinating in white.
The reds are beautiful aren’t they? It’s on my to do list to see one - although I’ll have to do some research to find out where I can. I believe they are all in nature reserves here.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about grey squirrels and seeing some of Nutsy's adventures. You always bring such interesting anecdotes and facts to your posts, Melissa. I feel like I learn something new every time. Squirrels bring such an energetic and uplifting quality to the garden. 💛✨
Thanks so much Kim, and for the restack. I’m glad you like the interesting facts. I make it my mission never to write about a creature I don’t have a personal story about, and always look for the interesting facts to add. I always learn so much myself - it’s great!
The squirrels can be such a joy to watch, they seem to love repelling upside down on the feeders, don't they? It's so magical to get to know the local wildlife and watch them grow. Also, I love the name, Nutsy is inspired!
super profile of as you say a much maligned species - who could not love a grey squirrel after reading your post. I am thrilled it brings you so much joy, that is what nature is all about - I call my squirrel boots.
It was so nice to read a fresh perspective on a creature I feel so familiar with. I think only people who have never really taken time to observe squirrels up close will dislike them as they are truly wonderful animals. I'm glad it has brought you so much joy!
We’ve adopted a resident squirrel too: Cyril. He has a glorious rusty-red head with a grey body and is currently keeping a very close eye on our cherries. 😂 I’m convinced one day I’ll find him beneath the tree, gloriously overindulged, too full to climb, and happily sunbathing. I think that’s what I enjoyed most about your essay. The longer we pay attention to the ordinary creatures around us, the less ordinary they become. X
Love these carefully crafted stories about all these little individuals that share your garden. I instantly have to think of the many squirrels in our backyard when I was a child, as we lived in a street with many old horse chestnuts. They chased each other in the top of the trees and like skilled acrobats seemingly flying from canopy to canopy. We used to watch in awe.
And where I live now, we have a few red squirrels that come to visit, too. And I do think they are deciding to stick around for a bit longer as the little forest in the back of the garden is maturing with walnuts, oaks and hazels.
Thanks so much for writing another inspiring post.
Thanks so much Micha, and for the kind restack. I am so pleased for you that you get red squirrels where you are. Please do share a photo sometime if you ever manage to get one - I would love that.
What a joy to read and see, Melissa! Of course I like squirrels, it's just a pity there don't seem to be any around where I live, but that makes me enjoy your post all the more. I was surprised to have watched the whole Mark Rober video, but it's a lot of fun. I hope you'll have your happy Nutsy-family-cohabitation wish come true!
Hi Sheryl, I imagine that the fact you can’t feed them must mean experiencing wildlife is all the more enjoyable when you see it - as they are not influenced by our behaviours and just in their natural habitats doing their thing?
I love squirrels. We have Stumpy, a squirrel with no tail, who comes into our conservatory wanting peanuts. Our cat chases him half-heartedly. He waits til the coast is clear and comes back. Front paws raised beseechingly. Such an adorable little face! We can’t resist him.
Squirrels are a common sight over here, but in all my many years on this planet I’ve never seen on swim. I had no idea they could! I love learning new things from your posts!
Thanks Lopi! Me too :-) I didn’t know they could swim before researching this either. I’ve definitely never seen it. I’m not sure I know anyone who has? That’s something to look into…. 🤔
I agree that grey squirrels are clever-when I lived in New England I spent a lot of time revising my bird feeder layout to foil them. It was okay because they were local natives and belonged
But the situation in the UK is so different. You are faced with the potential loss of a native species that is equally (possibly more) cute and clever, but smaller and soon to be outnumbered. I would mourn the disappearance of red squirrels, which is still a possibility without serious control of grey squirrel numbers.
With the number of species being lost on this planet for a variety of reasons (many human caused) I suggest caution in praising the grey squirrel.
They are wonderful acrobats and always a thrill to see them, had 6 in the garden at one time devouring the bird seed, and once I saw a gigantic male fighting with an enormous rat over some seeds on the ground! Unfortunately had to stop feeding the birds at that point as there were too many and they learn quickly how to open the squirrel proof feeders at the top or gnaw underneath! xx
Yikes! I can imagine seeing a rat fighting a squirrel at your feeder was a bit scary. Six at once is a lot - even if they are cute. I think I would have loved seeing them all though 💚
I tend to take the same approach, it’s ok until it gets overcrowded then it’s time to give the feeding a break.
I can imagine!! 😆 I had a similar situation at my old house, when I created little log piles and put up bird feeders. We had a resident mouse, which was adorable. She used to come to the same spot every day and eat the fallen seed whilst my dogs barked at her from the window. Then I spotted a second mouse, and that was ok. Even the day when I was gardening and a baby mouse popped its head out from beneath the fence - I was content (I mean how cute?!) But the day that four or five baby mice were running around me… I decided it was too much.
Nuts is awesome. I didn't know the Grey's carry a disease that's affecting the reds, that's so sad, the red squirrels are beautiful.
I took my daughter a few years ago to the company gardens here in Cape Town to see and feed squirrels for the first time, she absolutely loved it. We even saw the rare albino ones, they are quite fascinating in white.
Thank you 💚
The reds are beautiful aren’t they? It’s on my to do list to see one - although I’ll have to do some research to find out where I can. I believe they are all in nature reserves here.
The albino ones sound cute!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about grey squirrels and seeing some of Nutsy's adventures. You always bring such interesting anecdotes and facts to your posts, Melissa. I feel like I learn something new every time. Squirrels bring such an energetic and uplifting quality to the garden. 💛✨
Thanks so much Kim, and for the restack. I’m glad you like the interesting facts. I make it my mission never to write about a creature I don’t have a personal story about, and always look for the interesting facts to add. I always learn so much myself - it’s great!
The squirrels can be such a joy to watch, they seem to love repelling upside down on the feeders, don't they? It's so magical to get to know the local wildlife and watch them grow. Also, I love the name, Nutsy is inspired!
Thank you Gina! And yes, I love the upside down nut feeding - it seems kind of unnecessary sometimes, I think they just enjoy it.💚
Wonderful post.. I absolutely adore squirrels. Nutsy is a little sweetie! xo
Aww thanks Jaime 💚
I hope you’re well.
super profile of as you say a much maligned species - who could not love a grey squirrel after reading your post. I am thrilled it brings you so much joy, that is what nature is all about - I call my squirrel boots.
Thank you Mark 😊 Boots! What an excellent name!
It was so nice to read a fresh perspective on a creature I feel so familiar with. I think only people who have never really taken time to observe squirrels up close will dislike them as they are truly wonderful animals. I'm glad it has brought you so much joy!
Thank you Eliza, and I agree with you, it’s impossible to dislike them if you get to know them 💚
Lovely to hear you have baby nutsies, Melissa!
Thanks Simon! I was lucky, as I haven’t captured them on the camera (or seen them) since.
Hope you see them again soon.
We’ve adopted a resident squirrel too: Cyril. He has a glorious rusty-red head with a grey body and is currently keeping a very close eye on our cherries. 😂 I’m convinced one day I’ll find him beneath the tree, gloriously overindulged, too full to climb, and happily sunbathing. I think that’s what I enjoyed most about your essay. The longer we pay attention to the ordinary creatures around us, the less ordinary they become. X
Thank you Claire, that’s exactly how I feel x
I absolutely love the image of Cyril (great name by the way!) under the cherry tree having overindulged!!
😂 Thank you! I shall let Cyril know. I suspect he’ll consider it a life goal to eat his body weight in my cherries one sunny afternoon. X
😆😆
Love these carefully crafted stories about all these little individuals that share your garden. I instantly have to think of the many squirrels in our backyard when I was a child, as we lived in a street with many old horse chestnuts. They chased each other in the top of the trees and like skilled acrobats seemingly flying from canopy to canopy. We used to watch in awe.
And where I live now, we have a few red squirrels that come to visit, too. And I do think they are deciding to stick around for a bit longer as the little forest in the back of the garden is maturing with walnuts, oaks and hazels.
Thanks so much for writing another inspiring post.
Thanks so much Micha, and for the kind restack. I am so pleased for you that you get red squirrels where you are. Please do share a photo sometime if you ever manage to get one - I would love that.
What a joy to read and see, Melissa! Of course I like squirrels, it's just a pity there don't seem to be any around where I live, but that makes me enjoy your post all the more. I was surprised to have watched the whole Mark Rober video, but it's a lot of fun. I hope you'll have your happy Nutsy-family-cohabitation wish come true!
Aww thanks Vincent. I’m sorry you don’t get squirrels where you are. But I’m glad you enjoyed Nutsy’s antics! (and the Mark Rober video too) 😊
I share your love of squirrels. Nutsy is adorable and so smart!
Thank you Sherry 💚
I have watched several of Mark Rober's videos! His first one also used the Mission Impossible theme. They really cracked me up!
I like birds and squirrels, since I don't have any way to feed them, I can enjoy both!
They are amazing to watch!
Hi Sheryl, I imagine that the fact you can’t feed them must mean experiencing wildlife is all the more enjoyable when you see it - as they are not influenced by our behaviours and just in their natural habitats doing their thing?
I believe that to be true for me.
I love squirrels. We have Stumpy, a squirrel with no tail, who comes into our conservatory wanting peanuts. Our cat chases him half-heartedly. He waits til the coast is clear and comes back. Front paws raised beseechingly. Such an adorable little face! We can’t resist him.
Aww bless him! What a sweetheart. Stumpy is such a cute name. Do you have any pics of him?
He manages well without his tail.
Aww he’s gorgeous!
Squirrels are a common sight over here, but in all my many years on this planet I’ve never seen on swim. I had no idea they could! I love learning new things from your posts!
Thanks Lopi! Me too :-) I didn’t know they could swim before researching this either. I’ve definitely never seen it. I’m not sure I know anyone who has? That’s something to look into…. 🤔
I agree that grey squirrels are clever-when I lived in New England I spent a lot of time revising my bird feeder layout to foil them. It was okay because they were local natives and belonged
But the situation in the UK is so different. You are faced with the potential loss of a native species that is equally (possibly more) cute and clever, but smaller and soon to be outnumbered. I would mourn the disappearance of red squirrels, which is still a possibility without serious control of grey squirrel numbers.
With the number of species being lost on this planet for a variety of reasons (many human caused) I suggest caution in praising the grey squirrel.
They are wonderful acrobats and always a thrill to see them, had 6 in the garden at one time devouring the bird seed, and once I saw a gigantic male fighting with an enormous rat over some seeds on the ground! Unfortunately had to stop feeding the birds at that point as there were too many and they learn quickly how to open the squirrel proof feeders at the top or gnaw underneath! xx
Yikes! I can imagine seeing a rat fighting a squirrel at your feeder was a bit scary. Six at once is a lot - even if they are cute. I think I would have loved seeing them all though 💚
I tend to take the same approach, it’s ok until it gets overcrowded then it’s time to give the feeding a break.
Felt a bit like an invasion 🤣
I can imagine!! 😆 I had a similar situation at my old house, when I created little log piles and put up bird feeders. We had a resident mouse, which was adorable. She used to come to the same spot every day and eat the fallen seed whilst my dogs barked at her from the window. Then I spotted a second mouse, and that was ok. Even the day when I was gardening and a baby mouse popped its head out from beneath the fence - I was content (I mean how cute?!) But the day that four or five baby mice were running around me… I decided it was too much.
🤣 Definitely, I think 3 would have made me run in no matter how cute as they dart around so fast