Stout squirrels

[Knewmee]

I’ve recently been putting out nuts and bits of carrot for the squirrels in my garden (I’m rural, so this won’t affect any neighbours). I just felt a bit sorry for them, seeing them running around.

Earlier today I watched 2 of them eating their food, with apparent relish, chomp chomp chomp, holding the nuts and nibbling away . And I could not help but notice that they looked a bit.... portly. Well nourished. Stout, even.

Has anyone else ever fed garden squirrels? If so, what, how much, and how often? I do not want to cause an obesity epidemic and have them falling off branches.

It is impossible not to feed squirrels whether you intend to or not. Mine have been digging up my fritillaries.

I wouldn't worry too much about portliness at this time of year - they'll be less active during the winter, so need some fat to tide them through. And even when spring comes, there won't be much squirrel food around - autumn is their season of glut.

They'll self regulate, by burying surplus for later use.

And don't forget that if it's chillly they'll fluff out their fur a bit and look even fatter.

Someone in our street feeds them monkey nuts. Drives me insane as they are forever digging in my pots and borders to hide them. Argggghhhhh. Every time I do some weeding I find at least one monkey nut! They don't look portly though! Trim I would say.

Monkey nuts are unlikely to grow, I have small hazel and conker trees all over the garden. Think yourself lucky!

Haha, that is true, it might be quite exciting to find a monkey nut sprouting... Main problem is that the digging kills some of my smaller plants, including half my herbs! I think I'll need to use chicken wire or something at the top on my herb pots.

Monkey nuts! I’m going to try it.....I’ve noticed they won’t eat cashews. Obviously picky.

They may be pregnant, it's the right time of year.

My DH likes to feed the squirrels. We have been joking lately about how rotund they are looking. I wonder if they fluff up their fur to keep them warm?

I remember reading about overweight squirrels a couple of years ago when we had an especially mild Winter, pretty much like how it is at the moment. IIRC it was said that there was more food available to them, things which wouldn’t normally be growing during Winter, so they were eating more.

I just realised I have no idea where squirrels live. Do they make nests? Or would they be in holes in trees? Let’s hope all the rotund squirrels don’t get stuck!

Knewmee I had that exact realisation the other day!

They make nests in trees, called drays. Like balls of sticks and leaves.

Not your question OP but if it’s of any interest I’ve noticed a number of rather fat-looking squirrels hanging out in the local woods. I blame global warming!

Me and DD have just watched a squirrel take out a bird feeder with its massive arse! I think we need to stop feeding them!