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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 13, 2008 17:39:40 GMT -5
Rumor came out last year that squirrel numbers could be in a downward cycle.
Numbers were pretty bad for me last year until the early fall when they all got together. I didn't seen but a couple during turkey season.
Might we have a shortage of squirrels for a few years?
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Post by jimh on May 13, 2008 18:34:50 GMT -5
Red i would agree with you on that. they peek in numbers every so often then there's a big decline one year (disease or harsh winter?)and for what ever reason i would say that we're on a down turn from where we were two years ago. heck i hardly saw any during deer season  that was the tell tale for me. |
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Post by deputydon on May 13, 2008 20:00:36 GMT -5
As w/ alot of other small wildlife, the squirrel numbers on my place are up... Again I feel this is in direct relationship w/ my not using ANY chemicals on row crop OR pasture... Another benefit of being organic...
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bounce
Royal Member
Posts: 5,727
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Post by bounce on May 13, 2008 21:51:53 GMT -5
When I was a kid squirrels mostly had large nest in large cottenwood trees mostly but some ash & etc, and some in woodpecker holes, Today I do not see many woodpecker holes and few nest & what nest I see are very small as to the huge nest of yesterday? anyone have any thoughts as to the change? or is it just me?
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Post by deputydon on May 13, 2008 22:20:20 GMT -5
Your exactly right Bounce..... My answer ? Tell if I'm right.... NOT AS MANY SQUIRRELS!!!! So no need to make leaf nests as all the hollow trees are not taken...
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Post by jimh on May 14, 2008 6:16:30 GMT -5
i thought i also read where the west nile virus was affecting squirrels. could the#'s being down also be contributed to that? again wehave always gotten cycles of these highs and low populations on the tree rat so it may just be nothing more than normal cylcling of the population.
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Post by Bill on May 14, 2008 7:21:54 GMT -5
The part about the woodpeckers makes me think that with the use of pesticides the numbers of bugs could be down and thus the number of woodpeckers. I have seen that up there for a number of years and always wondered about it. Use to be that that area had a huge number of birds around.  |
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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 14, 2008 9:19:30 GMT -5
NOT AS MANY SQUIRRELS!!!! So no need to make leaf nests as all the hollow trees are not taken... I definately don't see as many leaf nests. This could either be a product of less squirrels or even less birds. |
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Post by dovehunter on May 14, 2008 9:21:14 GMT -5
Based on the (low) numbers of I have seen in my usual squirrel hunting spots for the last couple of years, I'd have to agree with Red. I hope it's just a temporary thing. About 20 years ago I drew the same conclusions about bobwhite quail and cottontail rabbits and now both are durn near extinct in my neck of the woods.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 14, 2008 9:26:42 GMT -5
Rabbits are probably at a high here...that is unless their numbers have peaked as well...
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Post by jimh on May 14, 2008 9:54:47 GMT -5
If you google west nile and squirrels together you'll see where they were getting hit pretty hard by it in some states. i still think it may a little to do with it on top of the usual stuff.
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Post by jimiowa on Jun 16, 2008 12:29:53 GMT -5
From what I can tell, the decline in Squirrel populations is directly related to Urban Migration. Just as the Rural residents are migrating to urban areas to find work, Squirrels are finding easy pickins and no hunting pressure in urban areas so have moved out. It seems I see more in town than i ever have.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Jun 16, 2008 12:59:56 GMT -5
Could be
Of cats, dogs, and car tires can play havoc on squirrels in the city though. You would think eventually they would learn not to cross the street --- nope, not here anyways.
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that was the tell tale for me.
