Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!uwvax!umn-d-ub!umn-cs!julius!papowell
From: papowell@julius.uucp (Patrick Powell)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Squirrel Questions (really cats)
Message-ID: <8022@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU>
Date: 2 Oct 88 13:10:17 GMT
References: <22811@mordor.s1.gov> <14804@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> <3519@phri.UUCP> <3768@boulder.Colorado.EDU> <14847@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> <8150@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> <414@husc6.harvard.edu>
Sender: news@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU
Reply-To: papowell@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Patrick Powell)
Organization: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
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In article <414@husc6.harvard.edu> gallaghe@husc8.UUCP (Paul Gallagher) writes:
>I saw a television show about squirrels, which showed a squirrel being killed
>by a fall from a tree (~50 ft.?).  Most squirrel nests I've seen are in
>shorter trees.

Firstly,  most of my observations are based on Big City Squirrels, rather than
Country Cousin Squirrels,  and my relations with those $%^^& Garden Rats
are rather coloured by several decades of trying to keep them out of my
garden plot.

The original posting asked why squirrels chase each other.   They are
territorial,  and antisocial (or is it "asocial?"),  and don't like to
share their territories too well.  This can even be seen in high food
supply areas,  such as most University Quads,  where the garbage cans
provide a more than abundant food supply.  Near here,  the local red
and black squirrels appear to compete quite viciously for nesting sites.
I have observed a particular site change possession several times,
and have observed several squirrels locked in battle on the ground
near it.  These fights have led to one squirrel having its tail chewed
off,  giving it a rather odd appearance.

As for falling from heights,  I have observed our local squirrels drop 45 feet
from a high voltage line to the top of our bird feeder with little if any
damage (dammit.).   Next year I will try putting a conical hat on it.
If they miss,  they hit a flagstone patio (or our flowerbed),  and appear
to be ready for another go at the sunflower seeds.

Patrick ("Flying Squirrels?  Just what I need") Powell
Prof. Patrick Powell, Dept. Computer Science, 136 Lind Hall, 207 Church St. SE,
University of Minnesota,  Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612)625-3543/625-4002