Thank goodness, our incisor teeth are far different from those of squirrels. While our teeth reach a certain length and do not grow any longer, such is not the case with squirrels.
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BACKYARD SECRET – GRAY SQUIRRELS CAN BE LEFT OR RIGHT-HANDED
I am willing to bet you have never wondered whether gray squirrels can be ambidextrous, right, or left-handed. I know I didn’t. However, research conducted by scientists at the University of Exeter found that gray squirrels can indeed be ambidextrous, right, or left-handed.
Interestingly, those squirrels that show a paw preference are not as adept at learning tasks as those that are ambidextrous.
Since the gray squirrels that call my backyard home have no problem quickly figuring out how to raid any new feeder I put out, they must be ambidextrous!
LOOK FOR SNAKE SKINS WHEN CHECKING NEST BOXES
Since it is November, it is time to begin checking, cleaning, and repairing nesting boxes. Since you never know what you will find when you open a nesting box, I find the task exciting. When I peek into a box and spot a shed snakeskin, I consider it a real prize, since in most cases it means a bird brought the skin to its nest.
The chances of you finding a snakeskin in bluebird nesting box are slim unless a squirrel has enlarged the entrance hole. However, if the whole is at least 2 inches in diameter, the presence of snakeskin means a great crested flycatcher nested there.
The only other cavity nesting bird in our neck of the woods that brings a snakeskin to its nest is the tufted titmouse, however they only do so occasionally.
The only other bird that regularly includes a snakeskin its nest is the blue grosbeak. Since the does not nest in a cavity, look for its nest in low trees in shrubs along the edges of fields.
The birds supposedly adorn their nests with the skins and even drape them over nesting boxes in an attempt to deter animals such as flying squirrels from entering the cavity and devouring the eggs.
At times, pieces of plastic bags are incorporated in nests. Are they substitutes for snakeskins? Who knows?
HOW MUCH FOOD DOES A GRAY SQUIRREL EAT AT A BIRD FEEDER?
It seems that most people that feed birds fuss about how much food gray squirrels eat at their feeders. However, few of us have any idea how much food a squirrel actually consumes. Some will say anything a squirrel can gobble up is too much. Others say they do not mind it if squirrels eat some food, however, they are of the opinion bushytails eat too much.
How much is too much? I will let you decide for yourself. Studies have shown that a gray squirrel will eat approximately 1.5 pounds of seeds and nuts per week.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMOVAL OF A DEAD DEER ALONG THE HIGHWAY
It seems that the number of deer killed by motorists on Georgia byways is increasing every year. Consequently, those of us that have yards bordering these thoroughfares have an ever-increasing chance that one of these unfortunate animals struck by a motorist will end up on our front lawn. If this happens to you, do you now is responsible for its removal?
After living along a highway for a half century my wife and I recently had to deal with this problem. We found a mature doe white-tailed deer stretched across our driveway. The first thing we had to do was find out if a government agency would remove the unfortunate animal. After searching for information online and making several phone calls we finally had an answer.
If your property borders a state highway, the Georgia Department of Transportation will remove the animal if it is on its right of way. This is the 40 feet of land that runs parallel to the centerline of the highway. The removal of a deer located beyond the right of way is the responsibility of the landowner. Therefore, if the deer is on the state right of way, you need to call the GDOT office in your county for assistance. These offices are listed on the GDOT website.
If your property borders a secondary road, you need to check with the municipal or county road department responsible for the maintenance of the roadway. Based on our limited research concerning such roads, we found that the rules governing the removal of dead deer found along such highways vary from county to county.
I hope you never have to face this unpleasant task. However, if you do, perhaps this information will make the job a little easier.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU FIND WILDLIFE YOUNG?
Spring is a wonderful time to be outside and enjoying wildlife. However, it is also a time when you are likely to encounter young wildlife. If you ever come across young birds or mammals, do you know what you should do?
When most folks find them, they quickly let look about to see if a parent is nearby. When they don’t see one, it is natural to assume the youngster is an orphan. According to Kaitlin Goode, wildlife biologist and program manager of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Urban Wildlife Program, “While it may appear that a young animal is alone, the adult animal is usually close by even though you may not be able to see it. Adult animals, such as deer, spend most of the day away from their young to reduce the risking of a predator find the young.”
Although it is only natural to think that your best course of action is to rescue it. According to Goode, “Wildlife, even young animals, rarely need interference from humans.” She goes not to say, “Taking wildlife out of their natural environment and bringing them home often takes away the animal’s ability to survive in the wild, where it belongs.”
If that is true, what should you do? The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) recommends that you should walk away and leave the animal where you found them. Then wait at least 24hours before returning. Upon your return, if it is still there, contact your nearest WRD office for guidance at GeorgiaWildlife.com.about/contact. For more information, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/living-with-wildlife
EASTERN COTTONTAIL RABBITS CAN HELP CONTROL DANDELIONS GROWING IN LAWNS
If you have an aversion to spraying herbicides on your lawn to control dandelions, the eastern cottontail rabbit just might help provide a more environmentally safe approach to weed control.
It just so happens, that cottontails are fond of dandelions. They eat the leaves, bright yellow blossoms and even the plant’s seeds. This approach works for some homeowners. These individuals report that the rabbits cause little or no damage to ornamental and garden plants. On the other side of the coin, many folks are afraid taking the risk cottontails might damage their cultivated plants.
You might want to try this control technique. If it does not help solve your problem, explore other approaches. If it does, this member of the leporidae family might be the answer to an often-perplexing problem. If you try it, you can tell your friends that you are controlling dandelions using a technique that has been around for a long time—weed control by leporidae.
FUNNEL WEAVER SPIDERS ARE ODD BACKYARD NEIGHBORS
I think it is safe to say, we went talk about our backyard wildlife neighbors butterflies, moths, bees, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians come to mind. One reason for this is these are the wildlife we most commonly see. However, in truth, they are but a small portion of the animals that inhabit our yards. Once we begin noticing our “other” backyard neighbors, it quickly becomes clear that they are fascinating creatures and play a key role in the health of backyard environment. One group of these critters is the funnel weaver spiders.
One of the ways in which you can often tell a funnel weaver spider is close by is to take a look at their webs. The webs of many of these spiders are horizontal instead of vertical. Some of these spiders also place their webs above ground in shrubs and elsewhere.
Regardless of where you find them, they all feature a funnel along the edge of the web. These webs are often fairly large. If you closely examine the web of a funnel weaver spider, you are likely to see a spider lurking at the entrance of its funnel (sometimes call a retreat). When an insect lands on its web, the spider darts out and capture it.
My wife found the web of a funnel weaver spider in a camellia bush outside our garage. The funnel was directly below an outside light. If I was a funnel weaver spider, I would weaver my web there too. I am sure insects drawn the light routinely fall or land in the web and thus provide this predator was a great source of food.
If you look around your yard, I am sure you will find one or more funnel weaver spiders in your yard too.
BACKYARD SECRET – ARMADILLOS EAT FIRE ANTS
Some 50 percent of the armadillo’s diet consists of invertebrates such as ants, termites, beetles and the like. In fact, ants are one of this odd creature’s favorite foods; an armadillo can consume 40,000 ants in a single day.
However, many homeowners want to know if armadillos eat fire ants. While many animals that consume ants shy away from eating fire ants, armadillos do dine on these dreaded imported pests. In fact, they will dig into mounds to reach the hidden insects.
Some studies have shown that armadillos prefer to consume the defenseless broods that are often located near the top of a mound. Consequently, they do not eat the queens or enough of the members of the colony to destroy it.
HOUSTON COUNTY HOMEOWNER DISCOVERS ODD CREATURE
We homeowners are familiar with the birds, butterflies, squirrels, chipmunks, reptiles and other critters that inhabit our yards. However, few of us realize that many of our backyards can be home to salamanders too. One of the reasons for this is we rarely seen them.
The salamander this Houston County homeowner discovered is known as the marbled salamander. It is one of the most commonly seen salamanders in Georgia backyards. However, if you are going to see one of these secretive critters it will probably be on a rainy night from September through November at this time of the year, marbled salamanders migrate from their summer homes to nearby breeding sites. When this happens, they show up in all sorts of places such on driveways, in carports and even in gardens and lawns.
These small (about 3 inches long), harmless creatures live in a variety of woodlands across most of Georgia. Here they make their home in the leaf litter blanketing the forest floor, beneath rotten logs, or in root or rodent holes. Marbled salamanders occupy a summer home range measuring only about 17 yards in diameter.
