California Study Says Squirrels Eat Meat

[4T5GUY]

Well no kidding and how much did this study cost Californians.

I started seeing “squirrels” in SE AK running up trees and killing/eating baby birds. That was if they hadn’t pushed the eggs out before.

Years ago I was back in OR and the same thing. I personally watched whatever squirrels they were climbing up our backyard trees and removing newborn birds from their nests and, well eating them. Seemed they preferred the heads.

Nut eating squirrels probably taste better than meat eating squirrels but I haven’t eaten squirrel for a while. Been tempted with the giant “grey backs “ running around here though.

Jim

 

[steelslaver]

Rats with bush tails and good press agents.

 

[soFlaNative]

Hey Jim, any chance at a link for the study?
Always liking a good "Captain Obvious" moment.

 

[DWalt]

Squirrels will eat most anything plant or animal based. We have a squirrel feeding station in our back yard. Food scraps and anything that has been in the refrigerator too long to eat goes there. It doesn’t last long. I like having squirrels in my back yard.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

The males also castrate the young males....and they DON'T use a benchmade . (The do not have opposable thumbs)

 

[venomballistics]

The males also castrate the young males....and they DON'T use a benchmade . (The do not have opposable thumbs)

so ... in other words, your stating the obvious without making the mods go nuts

 

[Heinz]

Tree rats. Like many, their good looks hide a nasty personality

 

[soFlaNative]

The males also castrate the young males....and they DON'T use a benchmade . (The do not have opposable thumbs)

so ... in other words, your stating the obvious without making the mods go nuts

What's the matter Sqrat, did the rabbi slip?

 

[30-30remchester]

I threw out a piece of burnt ham for the local fox. It had barely hit the ground before an Abert squirrel grabbed it and ran up a tree with it. I also throw my chicken bones into the yard for the fox. Often, I see deer eating these bones.

 

[SMSgt]

California is so smart.

 

[CalifEd]

Squirrels will eat most anything plant or animal based. We have a squirrel feeding station in our back yard. Food scraps and anything that has been in the refrigerator too long to eat goes there. It doesn’t last long. I like having squirrels in my back yard.

To paraphrase Robin William character in Awakenings:
"yes, you may have seen squirrels eating meat, but the State of California has proved it".

Now, if these researchers could only find a brain in the State Legislature....

 

[Mule Packer]

I personally watched whatever squirrels they were climbing up our backyard trees and removing newborn birds from their nests and, well eating them. Seemed they preferred the heads.

Well, like the regular run-of-the-mill Norway rat, I suppose they'll eat just about anything. I'll be honest...I've never tried squirrel. They just don't seem to be abundant around here for some reason. But, as some have previously alluded, they're really just rats...and their diet seems to prove that. With them being rats, I'm not sure if I really want to try 'em. On the other hand, people eat rats in many of the Asian countries. Still, when it comes to squirrel, I think I'll pass...especially after reading Caj's post.

 

[jpage]

Squirrels seemed to have changed after NY executed Peanut the Squirrel ?

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I have watched squirrels eating black birds eggs out of the nest many times. And the birds dive bombing them in return.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Not a tree squirrel, but I have seen a ground squirrel kill a bird.

 

[DWalt]

I suspect the same family of squirrels has occupied a large Oak in my back yard for many years but I don’t know how to prove it. They all look the same to me. They are nearly tame, show no fear of humans or my dog.

 

[kamloops67]

I thought it was common knowledge that squirrels kill and eat chicks in the nest
Had a horse that liked cold pork chops when I was a kid
The way my mom pan fried them with butter and seasoning salt made them delicious even cold
Went down to the barnyard munching on the pork chop and butch was really interested in what I had so I ripped a piece of for him thinking he’d refuse when he realized it was meat .
Nope that crazy quarter horse just wanted another piece - so I gave him another
Next time we had pork chops I saved him one , and he got it cold the next morning and he loved it
Probably wasn’t good for him but I don’t remember any problems