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Squirrel he
by loiswakeman @ 28/12/2006 - 11:35:54

I've just been watching some grey squirrels in our wood. Four of them were chasing from tree to tree uttering rather bad-tempered chirping noises all the while. Do squirrels play "he"?

Or perhaps spring is early and they are engaging in some courtship rituals. It's certainly very warm today: enough for lots of midges to be about.

Ah: a quick Google gives the answer: it's all about It rather than he!

Breeding behaviour

Postscript: when I was a kid, we played "he" in the playground or on the streets. Then the game was called "it" - perhaps for PC reasons, and most US readers will probably know the game as "tag". Wikipedia lists lots more names too.

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Tags: courtship, grey squirrel, midges,

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deleted user [Visitor]

28/12/06 @ 11:49

I wonder if they have not been able to hibernate this year because of the weather.

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loiswakemanloiswakeman [Member]
http://lois.co.uk
28/12/06 @ 13:39

Aha: a common misconception! They don't hibernate (unlike dormice or hedgehogs for example) - they do sleep a lot more in cold weather though.

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deleted user [Visitor]

28/12/06 @ 13:58

I didn't know that - thanks.

UsksiderUsksider pro
http://www.usksider.co.uk
28/12/06 @ 18:40

I don't know much about behaviour patterns in squirrels, but I do love watching them 'play'. They seem to entertain themselves for hours chasing about, but I don't doubt there are deep rooted reasons for their activity. I'd love to think they were just enjoying life though, wouldn't you? :)

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