Night Time Visitor

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Boy does that picture bring back a certain memory.

When I was about 12 I went out one night to fill up a hanging feeder about like the one in your photo, little did I know that on the back-side "Rocky" was having a snack.

As soon as I touched the feeder Rocky vacated his diner heading for a tree directly behind me.
That little bugger flew / jumped by within inches of my face :eek:

After that I always checked to make sure the coast was clear before I even got close :o
 
Looks like a flying squirrel. Around here we have the southern flying squirrel. Every night one (or more) of them cleans out any remaining sunflower seeds from the bird feeder.
 
Normally we have to pull the feeders in at night to avoid bears...I was a little tardy that night. These flying squirrels are so nocturnal that they have little or no fear of man - I could reach out and touch him while he ate seeds. I just love that flat tail for gliding...
 
James, No flying squirrels in West Texas probably because there are not many trees. Come to think about it the several times I have drove thru West Texas and New Mexico what few trees I did see on the side of the roadway or in the median ALL had the bark knocked off of them. I guess drivers in that part of the country aim for the trees.
 
Last encounter I had with a evil saber toothed rabid infested flying squirrel was not a good one. Was turkey hunting in some big woods in south Arkansas and was sitting next to a big beech tree right at daylight. I was fully camo dressed including a camo head net. I'd noticed several of the vile creatures moving about in a big white oak, when one of them took flight in my direction.

I thought to myself, "self, I hope that vampire rat ain't coming over here." As in slow motion, the little creature was all spread out and sailing in my general direction, getting closer and closer . . . and as I sat mesmerized the durn thing landed on my chest. Scared the living **** out of me. I jumped up and hollered and flailed about like a little girl and as I reached for my holstered .22 pistol it took off down my torso and run down my left leg to about my knee and jumped over to my right knee and headed back up. It's a miracle I didn't trigger off about half a dozen rounds into myself in an attempt to ward off the attack.

After the vicious attack went on for what seemed like hours (probably about 6 seconds) it bailed off onto the beech tree I'd been sitting against, ran up about 8 feet and dropped off into a den hole. I still had sense enough to recall there were several more of those things up in the white oak tree where this one come from and I decided to get the hell out of there before they determined to mount a mass attack.
 
Last encounter I had with a evil saber toothed rabid infested flying squirrel was not a good one. Was turkey hunting in some big woods in south Arkansas and was sitting next to a big beech tree right at daylight. I was fully camo dressed including a camo head net. I'd noticed several of the vile creatures moving about in a big white oak, when one of them took flight in my direction.

I thought to myself, "self, I hope that vampire rat ain't coming over here." As in slow motion, the little creature was all spread out and sailing in my general direction, getting closer and closer . . . and as I sat mesmerized the durn thing landed on my chest. Scared the living **** out of me. I jumped up and hollered and flailed about like a little girl and as I reached for my holstered .22 pistol it took off down my torso and run down my left leg to about my knee and jumped over to my right knee and headed back up. It's a miracle I didn't trigger off about half a dozen rounds into myself in an attempt to ward off the attack.

After the vicious attack went on for what seemed like hours (probably about 6 seconds) it bailed off onto the beech tree I'd been sitting against, ran up about 8 feet and dropped off into a den hole. I still had sense enough to recall there were several more of those things up in the white oak tree where this one come from and I decided to get the hell out of there before they determined to mount a mass attack.



i'm getting a mental picture of this HAHAHAHA!!!!:D:D:D:D:D
 
Funny thing... I was just looking a two that are in my own feeders right now as I write this! No Kidding! They sure are cute little buggers...Faulkner's experience not withstanding!

When I had my farm, the place had flying squirrels in the attic. They would come out every night from a hole in the wall behind the stove at precisely 10:00 PM and scamper across the kitchen floor. My boys and I would turn the lights down and be very still. They became quote bold and after a while we got to know them pretty well. They boys would stack up Ritz crackers in the center of the kitchen floor and the little guys would wrastle with them like a person would with a man hole cover. Then precisely at 10:30 they would disappear, not to return until the next night.

We had no cable, no internet, no TV, no video games, no computers. These little guys were the best entertainment going... I missed the flying squirrels when we moved back closer to town. I am so pleased to see that a few have decided to follow me down here to the flat lands... :)

Drew
 
***CAUTION***BORING OLD GUY CONTENT***CAUTION***

When I was young.(see, I warned ya!) We had a flying squirrel get into the house.
My older brother captured the little monster and decided he would keep it as a pet. He nailed hardware cloth to an old bookcase, added some critter comforts and installed his new roommate in this rent free condo. He then announced that the squirrel's name was 'Rocky'.(Always original, my brother Charlie.)
All was well. Charlie and Rocky got along famously. I, being the youngest, was FORBIDDEN to enter his room under PAIN OF DEATH OR WORSE! ( There was a reason for this, that involved flash burns, loss of eyebrows and singed hair. That's another story.)
One fine morning we were awaken by a BLOOD CURDLING SCREAM.
My Mother.
SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED!
We all, cautiously, made our way down stairs to inspect the latest disaster.
We found Mom pointing at the maple dinning room table.
It appeared that some small four legged something with Very sharp claws had landed and spun across the length of the table, taking Mom's Waterford crystal bowl along for the ride.
Mom, in her light and sweet voice (that could be clearly heard at a range of 500 yds,) said,"THAT FLYING RAT HAS GOT TO GO!"
We retreated to brother's room to fine Rocky sound asleep in his cage. After a quiet discussion, violence was averted.
Over the next 3 months, this strange event recurred. Twice!
One afternoon, we returned from school to find Rocky mysteriously missing.
Mother said nothing.
 
When I was about 8 or 9, one of those critters got into the church house where a buddy and I went all the time because his Mom was the preacher. I chased it around the back room until I got it cornered near the ceiling. I got up on a bench and grabbed it. Don't ever do that! It bit plum through the end of my thumb near the end of my thumb nail. Bled real good. Had to wrap a handkerchief around it till I got home. It was sore for a month at least.
That's right MG, they do look delicious, but they are mean little dudes for sure. Who knew that they are wild animals?
Peace,
Gordon
 
I had been chasing these critters out of my attic for a couple of years before I found their entry. They're not hard to catch, as they would wander downstairs every once in a while. I did find out that they don't bounce...
 
Well, I had a few daytime visitors this morning... two bag limits in this photograph! :)

IMG_4558.jpg
 
My 80 year old neighbor lady was banging on my door 3 days ago. She was in a panic. She lives alone. Somethings in my house she says. So I go over and sure enough something's been gnawing on the front room window frames. After about an hour on the hunt I found Mr. gray Squirrel under a couch in the back room of the house. Squirrel did not like the intrusion and flew by me headed for some where else. This lady is not a "hoarder", but the house and basement is packed with stuff. I advised her to get a squirrel remover pro. She did. Squirrel took 3 days to catch. I can't believe what damage has been done to her house by one juvi squirrel in 3 days.
 
thanks for the pic, i kinda wish we had em in Iowa. interesting little critters.
 
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