Dead Squirrels.

sylvester1954

sylvester1954

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North Devon
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Autosleeper Kingham
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Has anyone noticed the rather large number of grey squirrels sadly victims of road accidents lying on our roads?
I know they are considered to be pests but looking beyond that, we have noticed a disproportionate number of dead Squirrels as we drive about here in Cornwall and Devon though l believe this is more widespread around the country. Another twist is many of those that we have seen dead in the road are no where near any trees either which only adds to the mystery.
Has anyone else recognised this phenomenon?
 
I counted 8 within 50 feet in cross hands {near swansea} it did seem odd :Eeek:
 
Very few dead ones on the roads here unfortunately. More than usual in the woods though. Perhaps their higher numbers combined with local food shortage have made them venture further and cross your roads.
 
There are quite a few around here. Although I’ve noticed a real population explosion of them in the last couple of years.

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yes hundreds round here in cornwall.
i go on country ride outs on my m,bike and try and only use the real narrow lanes.
dead squirrels and rabbits seem to be every where.
mind in some places they run beside the bike as i drive very slowly down the lanes , i think some come out to say hello.
there was a big fox cull a couple of years ago and foxes seemed to almost disappeared but a few are around this year so hope they are now on a come back.
also noticed lots of big hunting type birds around this year, many more than normal.
nature is doing a good job keeping life and the wild veg,flowers growing well.
 
I've noticed more greys that appear to have drowned. May be linked to the need to swim on their backs to keep their nuts dry ... :unsure:

Steve
 
Quite a few hedgehogs attacked by magpies here
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sedge said:
o what a shame (not) - tree rats. Sill hope they were quick deaths.
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They're no more 'tree rats' than red squirrels. As usual humans brought them here and they're simply doing what animals do. A bit like the pigeons and seagulls that our filthy habits encourage.

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Listening to a talk on Hedgehogs at a Countryfile live. The guy said a good way to monitor the health of the population is the amount of "Road kill".He also said it applies to most wild mammals. As someone else earlier mentioned increasing numbers result in wildlife searching further afield for food which usually necessitates crossing roads.

So it probably means the squirrels have had a good reproductive year.

ps Hedgehogs are doing well this year I have at least 3 roaming around my back garden.
 
My ex boss who was notorious for not making decisions was in my phone as "flat squirrel" ;)
 
sylvester1954 said:
Has anyone noticed the rather large number of grey squirrels sadly victims of road accidents lying on our roads?
Click to expand...

It's been a bumper year for breeding I think, We've seen more young squirrels running around than ever before.
 
Red squirrel at Tentsmuir Forest 26th August. We also stayed at a CL just outside Banchory, and assumed that the regular 'pings' on the Van roof were from twigs and small branches falling at the start of Autumn. Then we spotted the Red squirrel, who had been sitting higher up in the tree, stuffing his fat little face with nuts and lobbing the shells/husks onto the roof ... :LOL:

Steve
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Geistguy said:
Living in rural Aberdeenshire we have never seen a grey squirrel in 17 years of being in our house. When we lived in the Midlands we were always getting them in our loft, quite destructive in mating season.
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I guess more bird tables with a food supply for them in an urban area.
 
Of course if it was a load of dead Badgers it would confirm rumours of farmers killing the animals and dumping the bodies on the road.
 
Does this coincide with young squirrels leaving or being driven away from their parents territory to search for their own patch?
 
We have lost entire crop of courgettes /cucumbers/butternut squashes to the squirrels this year . They only eat the seeds and kindly leave us the outer skins :cry::cry:. Gardens here awash with them

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