Selfsufficientish.com

My hazel tree was being shaken violently this morning, which was a bit disconcerting. It was a while before I spotted the culprit - a grey squirrel. I find them quite delightful, so I settled down to watch as he systematically stripped every single nut from the tree, running up the garden every minute or so to hide them. Only after he'd finished did I remember that I had plans for those nuts

Anyway, I went up the garden to check and found a dozen or so freshly dug holes packed full of nuts.

No - I didn't do it. I decided that after all his hard work, he deserved them. But at least I know where they are, and if I get peckish in the winter ...

Mike

If it is any consolation, my 2 trees were stripped completely bare about 2 months ago, before the nuts had even really formed. But i suppose I shouldn't complain, the blighter didn't go for the peaches this year.

I have seriously wondered whether it would be possible to use trained squirrels to harvest hazelnuts commercially...

Nuts? Pah.

We spent several afternoons watching a squirrel carefully chewing through the twine holding up our grape vines and running off with them stuffed in their cheeks - every time we replaced them for a couple of weeks.

That was down in Manc, not seen any grey, or red for that matter, squirrels up here - we are bereft of trees, of course, which might explain it!

I would seriously consider eating the squirrel. Ive had them several times and they are delicious.

I remember once when camping in Wales as I was walking to the toilet block something hitting the ground near me. turned out to be a squirrel either discarding something or deliberately throwing it at me. As it happened several times I concluded the little bugger didn't like me.

trappa wrote:I would seriously consider eating the squirrel. Ive had them several times and they are delicious.

I believe fried squirrel was Elvis's favourite meal!

One of the`neighbors puts cobs of field corn out for the squirrels. Usually what happens is they work the cob out of the holder, then one of them runs off with it and stashes it in my parents' woodpile! We've gotten about half a bushel this year so far.

True story,A lady I did some gardening for hardly used her old Peugeot .When her cousin came to visit she went on a trip in it but it conked out after about 15 miles and got relayed home.A squirrel had stashed nearly 3kilos of hazelnuts in the aircleaner box!The damned thing had got into a wooden garage,up under the bonnet and down the air intake(just as well it wasn't at work when she drove off ,it might have had a long walk home).

I quite admire them ,but I've spent hours trying to 'squirrel - proof' Mrs OJ's many bird feeders and I'm mostly wasting my time.

MKG wrote:My hazel tree was being shaken violently this morning, which was a bit disconcerting. It was a while before I spotted the culprit - a grey squirrel. I find them quite delightful, so I settled down to watch as he systematically stripped every single nut from the tree, running up the garden every minute or so to hide them. Only after he'd finished did I remember that I had plans for those nuts

Anyway, I went up the garden to check and found a dozen or so freshly dug holes packed full of nuts.

No - I didn't do it. I decided that after all his hard work, he deserved them. But at least I know where they are, and if I get peckish in the winter ...

Mike

I'd have left him one in each hole. with a note saying I stole them from you for stealing them from me, lol.[ well he was a smart sqiggy.]

ok, maybe not said by anyone else..... but thanks...

letting nature run it's way. we all need a bit of food to keep us warm for the winter.

I look at it this way, a little good will for 'mother nature' always gets re-paid.

Small price to pay for lots of enjoyment on a dull or cold day.