Squirrel Rut

Nimrod777

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Sep 28, 2003
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30,237
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Columbia, TN
It's intriguing how much geographical difference exists in wildlife behaviors, from deer to squirrels. I notice, redgineer, that you're Souther than me. Myself, I grew up in the St. Louis area, and have spent time in Virginia and central Illinois. So as far as latitude, I've spent my whole life in a fairly consistent area. I'd wager that even though you aren't tremendously further south than I, you're seeing much different activity/timing. From what I gather, your deer rut is probably different than what we're seeing towards Nashville.
 

SC Manimal

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Jan 11, 2015
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Spring City (Rhea County)
Don't give up too soon, Redgineer... I'm pretty sure those 8 male squirrels were chasing a female that had found a peanut! ;)

I had just listened to the ME podcast this morning. Well, not the whole 2 HOURS of it, but the first segment with the squirrel guy. Startling stories of squirrel sex! (And amazing stories of squirrel falls from great heights!)
When I was in school at UTC I would always watch the same squirrel while walking up this big hill (i think they called it Cardiac Hill). One day I watched him jump from a limb and in mid flight an owl came from nowhere and snatched him. I stood frozen watching the owl carry him to a different branch. The owl just held him and let the squirrel fight until he was out of breath. The owl never even went on offense, just let him struggle for about 3 minutes. It was sad and awesome.
 

redgineer

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Jan 28, 2021
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16
Location
Northern Alabama
It's intriguing how much geographical difference exists in wildlife behaviors, from deer to squirrels. I notice, redgineer, that you're Souther than me. Myself, I grew up in the St. Louis area, and have spent time in Virginia and central Illinois. So as far as latitude, I've spent my whole life in a fairly consistent area. I'd wager that even though you aren't tremendously further south than I, you're seeing much different activity/timing. From what I gather, your deer rut is probably different than what we're seeing towards Nashville.
The deer rut varies depending on what part of Alabama you're in. In the spots I hunt, the rut is early to mid January.

Does anyone know how baby squirrels are the first time they leave their nest? I'm assuming it's just a few of weeks, since that's the case for most small rodents. I usually don't see juvenile squirrels out until late March, which is why I thought they bred in early spring.
 

redgineer

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Joined
Jan 28, 2021
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16
Location
Northern Alabama
The deer rut varies depending on what part of Alabama you're in. In the spots I hunt, the rut is early to mid January.

Does anyone know how baby squirrels are the first time they leave their nest? I'm assuming it's just a few of weeks, since that's the case for most small rodents. I usually don't see juvenile squirrels out until late March, which is why I thought they bred in early spring.
I should probably clarify my definition of early spring. I don't go by the standard March 21st, because that doesn't apply this far south, in my opinion. I consider it spring when the dogwoods bloom, which is usually mid February where I live.
 

Planking

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Sep 18, 2013
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6,782
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Tennessee
If anybody has grays around their house i would thin them out. I have had two family members that have had holes chewed into their roofs.
 

Buzzard Breath

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Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
6,459
Location
Middle
I've noticed the squirrels in my yard have been going at it like...... rabbits. They look to be young squirrels, so I'm wondering if they're going into their first breeding cycle. I was under the impression they bred more towards June than August. Although it's hard to tell their exact size after having fattened them up on sunflower seeds, suet cakes, and tomatoes.
 

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