Forgetful gray squirrels good for trees

Reuters ^ | Wednesday, November 26, 2003

[presidio9]

Gray squirrels' faulty memories turn out to be good for forests, but the nut-hoarding habits of their red cousins are not, according to scientists.

The bane of suburban gardeners and backyard bird feeders, the ubiquitous gray squirrel buries walnuts, acorns and other nuts across the landscape in a pattern called "scatter hoarding," a Purdue University researcher said Tuesday.

[presidio9]

ping

[b4its2late]

[bigfootbob]

I just love how the pointy headed illiterati at university spend our tax money.

[Buck W.]

We need a few more Senate Republicans so endowed...

[SquirrelKing]

Then there are those wussy albino squirrels.

[presidio9]

This guy can't keep his eyes off the fella in post 3.

[Conspiracy Guy]

We must ban the red squirrels. Like the red democrats they are bad for America.

[The Radical Capitalist]

It was so cold here this morning that out in the back yard I saw a squirrel roasting his nuts.

[js1138]

[presidio9]

I'm not amused.

[ElkGroveDan]

Do I detect a bit of INTOLERANCE for red squirrels and the alternate lifestyle they choose to lead?

The authors of this study need some sensitivity training.

[Old Professer]

The red squirrel, which invaded the U.S. Midwest from higher altitudes, within the past century, usually piles nuts in a few above-ground caches, where the seeds dry out or are eaten.

If one is going to write, it behooves one to have a grasp of the language; it would be much more accurate to say that the red squirrel invaded from higher latitudes.

[Search4Truth]

Looks like a gay squirrel. ;)

[wideminded]

A close friend of mine feeds the squirrels in her back yard. The funny thing is that her dog finds this incredibly entertaining and will watch the squirrels coming and going for hours. It's like TV for dogs. He recognizes the word "squirrel" and the phrase "feed the squirrels". When he hears the latter he gets very excited and goes to where the extra squirrel food is stored. He is a Brittany Spaniel, I think they are trained for hunting. He will chase after squirrels at the park but at home he mostly just observes them.

[curmudgeonII]

... needed to regenerate steadily retreating hardwood forests. ?

Someplace in the last week I read where there are now 90% more hardwood forest trees than there were a century ago. Some retreat!.

[Gritty]

A close friend of mine feeds the squirrels in her back yard. The funny thing is that her dog finds this incredibly entertaining and will watch the squirrels coming and going for hours.

We have cats that do the same thing. The squirrels seem to recognize the cats (who can't get to them) and they climb up to look for the cats when the nuts aren't there. We believe they think the cats have something to do with the nuts mysteriously appearing. Very entertaining for all.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[HairOfTheDog]

Forgetful gray squirrels good for trees

Well of course they are!