Red Squirrels

In 2011, we had many mature white pines removed from our yard, trees that were shading our driveway and house in winter and others that had the potential to fall on our house during a storm or high winds. It was a good decision, but it changed the habitat. A few favorite animals that visited close-in regularly, became less common, especially two favorites: brown creepers and red squirrels. Both prefer conifer forests, although not exclusively.

The sawyers that day (Urban Tree Service) did a fine job on a incredibly cold winter day (similar to today), climbing the trees, hanging off a trunk with a chain saw, lifting the tops and then the trunks off with a tall crane.  

Urban Tree Service lifts the top of one of our pines after it was cut by the sawyer.

Brown creepers and red squirrels are still plenty common in the surrounding woods so I get to enjoy them regularly. But I did miss seeing them in our yard. So far we've had a real winter -- cold, regular snowfall, and now a big storm and sub-freezing temperatures on the way. Whether it is the weather or other conditions, I do not know, but both of these animals are visiting our front yard again. Such joy!

The red squirrel might be my favorite mammal, well, at least my favorite yard mammal. I love their perkiness, their reddish-brown fur and white belly, and the white ring around each eye. A week ago three red squirrels (maybe a family group) foraged among the perennials and shrubs, along with gray squirrels and an array of birds. Lately, one visits every day, scurrying through snow tunnels then popping up to feed on a seed. In the photos below you can see the little ear tufts that they grow in winter.

The red squirrel is reported to be very territorial. I have noticed this in non-winter seasons when they scold at any intruders to their territories including humans. In winter, in our yard, they are deferential to the gray squirrels and a little skittish when there are quick movements by birds or others.