Cute, Funny, Hungry Squirrels Say Fall is Here [60 Pics]

Cute, Funny, Hungry Squirrels Say Fall is Here [60 Pics]

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October 12th, 2012

• Tagged animals, autumn, autumn squirrel, cute squirrels, fall season, funny squirrels, hungry squirrels, nature, photography, seasons, squirrel,squirrels, squirrels gathering nuts, squirrels in fall, squirrels preparing for winter

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Fall seems to officially be here, based the feverish pace of squirrels preparing for winter. When we went out and about to enjoy autumn, there was one constant other than the beautiful foliage changing colors, and that was the squirrels gathering acorns and other nuts. Everywhere we went, the squirrels were acting squirrelly, running around with nuts in their mouths, performing ninja-like gymnastics in tree branches, or digging to hide their winter stash. There are about 285 species of squirrels and the antics of these furry cute critters are fun to watch and to photograph. [60 Photos]

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Hoarder. With those long hairy ears, this squirrel might be mistaken for a bunny at first glance. In the fall, the squirrels seem to understand that very soon it will be difficult, if not impossible, to gather food, so food collection advances to a nearly feverish pace. They bring even more food into their homes, with tree squirrels stocking up inside hollow trees and ground squirrels digging new chambers for the extra storage room if needed. They then stash more food near their tunnels or tree homes. Photo #1 by Poppy

Squirrel feast. The photographer added, “Every day they come and bury some–but every day more fall.” Did you know that ground squirrels start preparing for winter during warm months and some start in early summer? Gray and fox squirrels practice “scatter hoarding” and hide their food all over the place so they can come back for it later, guaranteeing a year’s supply. A tree squirrel does not hibernate, so it must depend upon its stored food during winter storms or severe cold when it will not leave the nest. Photo #2 by Douglas Earl

With a walnut trophy in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Did you know a squirrel’s brain is about the size of a walnut? About the only thing on their minds right now is food, storing it or ravenously stuffing their faces to build up fat so they will be warm in winter. Photo #3 by Irene Mei

Busy and curious little Squirrel. The Greek first named these furry little critters as “Skiouros.” The ancient Greek liked their brushy tails and the meaning of Skiouros is “shadow tail.” Photo #4 by Mac Wallpapers

Happy squirrel. Photo #5 by Keven Law

Scored on an acorn. Like many species of tree squirrels, this one has long tufts of hair on its ears. Squirrels are born blind, but most have large eyes to help them skilfully climb trees and avoid predators. Photo #6 by Marko Kivelä

Squirrel in a magic forest. Tree squirrels are the most commonly recognized, seen everywhere from rural woodlands to urban areas and city parks as they gracefully scamper around or leap from branch to branch. Photo #7 by Bruce McKay

Greedy in Florida. Squirrels are rodents and have four front teeth that never stop growing so they won’t wear down from constant gnawing. Sometimes they chew on more than trees or limbs and bite a power line which usually results in the electricity going poof with the power outage. Photo #8 by cuatrok77

Creature of autumn. A squirrel’s bushy tail serves many purposes, such as for balance so they can maneuver quickly through the trees without falling. It is also used as a ‘parachute,’ as a blanket in the winter time, and to communicate with other squirrels. Photo #9 by Maria Morri

Gathering goodies in early fall. The photographer wrote, “This little guy was with another squirrel in a tree just outside the observatory in Greenwich, London.” Sometimes squirrels do fall out of trees. If the fall is a short distance, then they rarely get hurt. They use their tails as a parachute and usually land on their feet. Photo #10 by slynkycat

Special treat? A squirrel mostly eats a wide variety of plants and nuts, but some squirrels also consume meat when faced with hunger. They’ve also been known to eat insects, eggs, small birds, young snakes and smaller rodents. Photo #11 by Jesse Millan

Feasting on red berries. Photo #12 by Matt Katzenberger

If you’ve been outside enjoying the fall season, then you might have noticed squirrels digging like crazy in gardens, flowerbeds and yards. They make caches by hiding their extra nuts in the soil, under logs, and under leaves. Then they’ll return to hunt for them when they get hungry. Photo #13 by Magic Wallpapers

This white squirrel really stands out against the bright fall foliage. Most squirrels are varying shades of gray, shades of brown are the next most common coloring, but both white and black squirrels are variations of gray squirrels. Photo #14 by Mononc’ Paul

Acrobat squirrel hanging upside to eat and to entertain cat. Photo #15 by ~Sage~ & #16 by Major Clanger

This might be squirrel love, or they could be conspiring where to hide their acorns? They ‘talk’ through a series of shrill sounds and chirps with the pitch, frequency and duration of sounds communicating everything from alarm to contentment. Photo #17 by Desktop Hive

Red squirrel playing “peek-a-boo” according to the photographer. Red squirrels are most often found in coniferous forests. They feed on the seeds and cones of Fir trees, Pine trees, and Spruce trees. Photo #18 by Neil

Different looking squirrels all posing for a photo while gathering food. They can run fast though if they are inspired to do so. An Illinois state police officer once used his radar gun to clock a gray squirrel at 20 mph as it ran across a highway. Photo #19 by Dennis P & #20 by e_monk & #21 by OliBac & #22 by Tomi Tapio K

White squirrel nibbling under blue skies. These are commonly referred to as ‘albinos,’ but albinos have pink eyes, so most are likely non-albino squirrels that exhibit a rare white fur coloration known as leucism. Several towns in the USA use the claim to fame as being the “White Squirrel Capital of the World,” but Olney, Illinois, is home of the world’s largest known white squirrel colony. The Olney Police Department has the image of a white squirrel on its officers’ uniform patches and these squirrels have the right of way on all streets in the town, with a $500 fine for hitting one. Photo #23 by WallpapersWa

Family meeting vs alone time. Eurasian red squirrels are commonly found throughout Scandinavia and Russia. The coat color varies from light-red to black on their heads and backs, but all except the black ones have white fur on their stomachs, long tufts of ear hair, and long furry tail. Photo #24 by Vitali Bondar & #25 by Poppy

Fence walker. Tree squirrels sleep in nests, called dreys, made of twigs and leaves with the interior lined with fur, feathers or other soft comfortable material. Most nests have two exits and are built high in a tree between two strong branches to provide protection from ground predators, yet not too high or the nest will be destroyed by the winds. Other nests, called dens, are built inside hollowed-out tree cavities. If the nest becomes infested with fleas or other insects, it will move to another nest or build a new one. Photo #26 by wallfreak

The photographer wrote, “The squirrel crept to the end of a broken branch, stopped, turned halfway away as if he changed his mind, then turned back quickly and hurtled himself a couple feet forward through the air and dropped onto the railing. After landing he saw me and and jumped right back to the tree.” Photo #27 by Ed Sweeney

Demonic squirrel. Photo #28 by Tomi Tapio K

Squirrel om nom nom nom. Photo #29 by James Marvin Phelps & #30 by James Marvin Phelps

Pumpkins also make a tasty treat. Photo #31 by zenia

All that hunting, digging and gathering work might be tiring. This exhausted black squirrel is resting. It may also be sweating since there are sweat glands on their feet, located between the foot pads and on their paws between the toes. Photo #32 by gdefon

Preciously cute. On the right is a Siberian red squirrel. Photo #33 by Steve Wall & #34 by Tatiana Bulyonkova

Rowdy squirrels, probably playing. But these creatures are the most active during late winter when the mating season begins. The male squirrels will chase females and chase off other suitors. This ritual of chasing usually happens in the trees at top speed while performing some of the most amazing acrobatics imaginable. Photo #35 by Diane Hamilton

Skinny fellas, Antelope Ground Squirrels, need to think about gathering for winter? Photo #36 by James Marvin Phelps & #37 by James Marvin Phelps& #38 by Lakshman Anand & #39 by madhan r

The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including woodchucks), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. This fat prairie dog must have an easy life, shopping at the grocery store instead of running around preparing for winter. Photo #40 by e OrimO

Golden-mantled ground squirrel. Photo #41 by Only Positive

A squirrel’s work is never done in the fall season. Photo #42 by Kathy & #43 by Connie

Face wash. The photographer said, “She’s very fussy about her appearance.” Photo #44 by James Marvin Phelps

Long ear tufts may grow bushier to help keep the ears warm in winter, but can also help to camouflage a squirrel against the tree. Photo #45 by Taringa

The photographer called this, “Don’t leaf me behind!” Photo #46 by Milestoned

Drinking from a swimming pool. If a squirrel was inclined to swim, it can dog-paddle and use its tail as a rudder, but swimming is considered very strenuous for this creature. They only swim when it is a necessity instead of for fun. Photo #47 by Brit

Walking the line. Since squirrels don’t migrate, they change their diet depending upon what food is currently available. They gnaw away and chow down on tree buds and bark in early spring. By the time late spring arrives, they eat ripened seeds on trees and sometimes young birds and eggs. During summer, squirrels eat flowers, fruits, mushrooms, insects, beetles, and caterpillars as well as corn. Acorns are the most important food for gathering to serve as food during fall and winter. Photo #48 by WallpapersWA

White-throated Kingfisher. The photographer wrote, “And then, I saw a squirrel crawl on the branch where the Kingfisher was seated, one step at a time. Both the Squirrel and the Kingfisher were fearless, but finally the Squirrel won and Kingfisher flew off the branch.” Photo #49 by Pranav Bhasin

Squirrels are very curious. On the left, the photographer called this “Uncle, are you asleep?” Closeup in the upper right was titled, “Oh noes! Bad news.” Flying squirrel on the bottom right saying “Oh my!” Photo #50 by Sandeep Somasekharan & #51 by Tomi Tapio K & #52 by Heather Hopkins

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger), Bain Park, Fairview Park, Ohio. Rural squirrels may claim one to seven acres as their territory and are protective of it. They keep intruding squirrels from trespassing or invading their space by marking trees surrounding their territory. Urban squirrels have a smaller territory and will sometimes share resources to survive. They’ve learned to coexist with humans. Photo #53 by Jen Goellnitz

This black critter is an Eastern Gray squirrel with a peanut in the snow at Prince Island Park. Gray squirrels are very common and the majority of them do not live to see their first birthday due to unsuccessfully crossing roads. Some flat out race across the road, while others weave back and forth crossing highways. Or worse, they hold still as if they might appear invisible. That doesn’t work so well in the face of an oncoming vehicle. Those that do survive the first year can live to be five or six in the wild, and up to 20 years of age in captivity. Photo #54 by Jeannie

Too much beer or corn leads to fat boy squirrel. A grey squirrel has been known to squeeze its way through the bars of a bird feeder, but then ate so many seeds and nuts that it was too fat to get out again. Photo #55 by Animal Pet Doctor & #56 by James Marvin Phelps & #57 by Sweet Ambrosia

The oldest squirrel fossil dates back to about 40–35 million years ago and it’s similar to modern flying squirrels. While we thought all of these squirrels were cute or funny, and were inspired to do this squirrel post due to the feverish pitch the squirrels are working at right now to gather food for winter, plenty of people consider squirrels a nuisance. They are usually considered pests when they’ve chewed through something such as the house to nest in an attic or crawl space, eat the new buds off trees in early spring, dig up gardens or flower pots, or eat the fruit off trees. Photo #58 by CoolWallpapers

There are about 285 species of squirrels and most people enjoy watching, feeding, or photographing them. Washington, D.C. has the the largest concentration of squirrels in United States and has been called the “Squirrel Capital” of the World. The roaming squirrels of Lafayette Park, located across from the White House, are well feed by thousands of Government employees and visitors that walk through the park daily. Photo #59 by avva

“So Autumn Is Coming To All Of Us.” Sunset and silhouette taken in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photo #60 by Mohammadali f.