Squirrels

[NannyG]

Is it normal to get 6 (six) squirrel's in the garden at the same time?

[Chipchopper]

Not at all Nanny, they breed like arboreal rabbits!

[ladybirder]

Quite normal NannyG, even more depending on the size of your garden.

[paddywak]

Reds are beautiful,cute animals if you're lucky enough to have them do everything you can to encourage then to stay.If they're grey tree rats shoot them.

[chaptazbru2]

Rather shoot you to be honest !

[melv16]

Kill, kill, kill!:)

[MargoTester]

We get anything up to 8 at a time as we back on to woods, not helped by the fact that our next door neighbour feeds the little blighters with biscuits!

[paddywak]

Chaptazbru,you're welcome to your opinion as long as you remember greys are legally classed as vermin.lf for instance you trap one it ILLEGAL TO RELEASE IT ALIVE.

[Clanad]

I can only relate to squirrel behavior here in the western U.S., but, with that as a guide we find that all varieties generally have to "sets" of offspring each yera. Here, it's in April and then again in September. The young ones don't leave the nests until they are fully furred and can exist without their parents.

So... our April is likely much colder than your's and the young wouldn't appear outside until mid May or so. The nestlings that do come out tend to stay close to each other and we've seen 4 or 5 chasing one another up and down trees. We will see numerous squirrels together after late April or so and then again in October.

Since they don't hibernate, they often stay "indoors" until it warms up enough for all of them to venture out at once...

[Chipchopper]

I have one squirrel (Alien grey) that comes into the garden and keeps digging up my Jerusalem artichokes.
I've put some rocks around the roots, hoping that might stop it.

[chaptazbru2]

You are right, I am entitled to my opinion and I'd STILL rather shoot you !!!

Not vermin imo, mankind is the bigger vermin .....

[melv16]

Squirrels are fluffy things when they're in your garden. Not so when your neighbour gets them in the loft or I got them nesting under my bath! Pest control dealt with them armed with a sack & a hammer.

[paddywak]

It's another case of humans interfering in nature and getting the wrong result,the classic case being the introduction of rabbits to Australia.
Chaptazbru if you think that mankind is the vermin why don't you set us an example of how to deal with it,while I continue dealing with it my way.

[chaptazbru2]

Well said naval. Not their fault they were brought over to our country. Lovely little things. I can't really say what I think about a big man (and I us the term 'man' loosely) shooting a little animal with a gun just because they think it's vermin, I'd get banned !!!

divebuddy 'twisted' - what a weird comment !!! You're the 'twisted' one ...

[tinkerbell23]

They are sweet..i could never ever intentionally kill any animal...except a spider ...but not a wee squirrell x

[gness]

Glad you couldn't kill a squirrel, Tinks...but let the spiders live too....they really are the good guys.....and remember Blood Brothers!...Ma......x

[mrs.chappie]

I have a regular squirrel in my garden, I call him Squizza. He's a fat little booger as he keeps nicking the bird food. He sometimes has a stand-off with my regular pheasant, Fred. It's so funny to watch them both.

[tinkerbell23]

Im just terrified of them ma!! I know thats no excuse....i get someonelse to do it i cant even get that close xx