Thursday 9 January 2014

The red squirrels have been estivating

They are so pretty. Wicked tempers, and bullies, even with larger squirrels! But that lovely red fur!
They are busy little beavers. Red squirrels estivate, they do not hibernate. They go into a torpor over the winter, a dormant state, arising to eat, from time-to-time. You can tell how hungry they are by whether they eat found food on the spot, or take it home to store it.
The video (below) shows how frantic they are: up, down, across, over. The cats love chasing them, but they're too quick for my feline buddies.


12 comments:

Debbie said...

cute little tree rats....i adore mine!!

Hootin Anni said...

cute, cute, and more cute!!! I was gonna ask you here what estivate is ---new word for me--- but you explained it already. I learned something. And, in all honesty, I appreciate this.

That one close up just left of your cardinal shot on the right side of your blog...I LOVE that one most of all.

Anonymous said...

The red squirrels must like the cold as we have seen them around the garden more frequently lately. Great series of photos.

Unknown said...

The squirrels are adorable! Take care!

Christine said...

they are so cute, good the cats can't get them.

Carver said...

They're adorable with their red fur and attitude.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

You got such cute pictures of them!

Red said...

I have a resident squirrel neighbor. I don't like him. He runs on the side of my brick house and sometimes is running across the door when I open it it. I get an unwanted surprise. So now I begrudge him every sunflower seed he steals from me.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Chubby little charmers (they do look well fed). Thank you for my new word of the day.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

Oh these are just adorable!!!! Big squirrel fan here :)

Pearl said...

aw, the cuties. we have only grey and black here.

Kay said...

Love these gorgeous photos! I love the color of those little creatures.