question about squirrels and pecan trees

[MORTARDUDE]

We have had pecan trees in my Mom's yard for almost 55 years. I do not ever remember the squirrels eating green pecans the way they are doing now. What is the deal with this ? I don't think they are any left on our 2 trees in the front yard. I see on the Internet that old timers think this means a bad winter. I just thought it very odd. Any others see this from time to time ?

Larry

[39mto39g]

MD
http://www.backyardnature.net/n/mammals.htm


SQUIRRELS & GREEN PECANS
Ten or so years ago the woods in which my trailer is parked was not a woods. There was an old grove of Pecan trees next to a sloping field. Now my trailer is parked beneath the remaining old Pecan trees and what earlier was a field now is occupied mostly by young Sweetgum trees 15-30 feet high. As I prepare breakfast each morning I constantly gaze into the big Pecans' limbs not only because I hope to spot interesting birds but also because the trees' spreading limbs heavy with green ferns and abundantly festooned with long gray strands of Spanish Moss are profoundly lovely to look at, especially when a breeze comes along.

Nowadays squirrels spend a lot of time high in these Pecan trees working on green pecans. Sometimes they gnaw off the nuts' green husks, causing a general rain of pecan-husk particles onto the ground below, then in their mouths the squirrels carry off the tan nut for later eating. Sometimes they appear to eat husk, shell and kernel right there in the tree. Often they drop whole nuts and I'm guessing that they do this when they pick a nut that's too hard for easy eating.

Day by day the squirrels lose their haggard summer appearance and before long they will be positively fat and glossy. And day by day the litter of green pecan particles on my trails becomes harder on my bare feet.

You most likely just have more squirrels because of a good summer. But I just eat them, I hardly ever just watch.

Ron

[MORTARDUDE]

The reason I noticed them was because it was very difficult to walk in bare feet in the front yard, becuause of the number of hulls. Then I noticed half of the sidewalk covered where the first tree is. About a week or more later they did the same thing to the other tree in the front yard. It appears they have literally gnawed every green pecan in the trees. I don't recall this ever to have happened like this before.
We have a much bigger tree in the backyard. As old pecans trees do, the lower limbs will fall. They fell twice on the above ground power lines, so my Mom had most of the limbs cut. It is growing out good now though.
We always have a good supply of squirrels running around.
thanks for the links.

Larry

Don't know about a hard winter, but, if ya throw in some dumpins, it sure sounds like fixins for a fine supper.

May hafta come visit.

[Boats]

Squirrel video - if you don't get this email me and I will send it - you will love it.

[Boats]

Right click on subject - save as a temp - them open and turn up the sound a little.

[MORTARDUDE]

boats :

i got it to work that time.

larry

[QM3steve]

Holy Shi-. laughed my ass off. I took out a 12ga. insurance policy for the squirrels around here.