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When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

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Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#31

Post by globular-toast »

ckastner wrote: post #29
soapdog wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rare in Europe? I'm looking out of my window in central London and there are at least three squirrels arguing about brexit or something. In warmer months, I need to be careful not to kick one of them as I go by on the sidewalk. They are everywhere.

Well, one can hardly generalize to Europe just from London. To give just one counterexample, I grew up in a very rural/mountainy part of Austria, surrounded by forests everywhere, and I can count the times I have seen a squirrel on one hand.

I saw lots of squirrels in Prague so it's not just London. They also have these massive rodents in the river. They are very tame, can be up to the size of a small dog and have big, red teeth.

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#32

Post by malcsm »

soapdog wrote: post #28
dukeofdoom wrote: post #15

So is this why they are so wide spread and a pest? Squirrels are much rarer in Europe. Like you only see them in the forest rare and they are orange. The black/grey squirrels here are a real problem for backyard gardeners. Like they will pretty much steal every fruit tree bare.

Rare in Europe? I'm looking out of my window in central London and there are at least three squirrels arguing about brexit or something. In warmer months, I need to be careful not to kick one of them as I go by on the sidewalk. They are everywhere.

The squirrels in London, and most of the UK, are American greys - imported as pets in the 19th century. The rest of Europe has the much more timid red squirrel.

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#33

Post by mtts »

cockatiel_day wrote: post #19

I have a good bunch of squirrels I feed outside my home office... I can attest they are delightful creatures when you get to know them. They’re smart, gentle, engaging, and all have a different and developing personality. Yes, they’re rodents, but rodents are a big family!

> They're [...] gentle [...]

No they're not. They're brutal, vicious killers (a trait they share with lots of others of members of the rodent family, such as rabbits).

Here's just one example:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/03/red-squirrel...

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#34

Post by silveroriole »

zikzak wrote: post #7
nine_k wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rats are apparently also smarter.

A friend of mine kept them as pets. I was there once and watched one eat a piece of spaghetti. It held the noodle with both paws, sitting on its hind legs, and took bites while feeding it into its mouth "hand over hand". I have never really forgotten that. There was something so deliberate and skilled about this. No dumb beast, this, face down in a pile of food. This was an intelligent, fastidious creature enjoying a…

Give them a dish of water and you might see them wash their hands after eating too! They’re very human sometimes.

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#35

Post by playworker »

globular-toast wrote: post #31
ckastner wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, one can hardly generalize to Europe just from London. To give just one counterexample, I grew up in a very rural/mountainy part of Austria, surrounded by forests everywhere, and I can count the times I have seen a squirrel on one hand.

I saw lots of squirrels in Prague so it's not just London. They also have these massive rodents in the river. They are very tame, can be up to the size of a small dog and have big, red teeth.

I thought you were joking at first, but apparently not!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coypu

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#36

Post by pjc50 »

dukeofdoom wrote: post #15

So is this why they are so wide spread and a pest? Squirrels are much rarer in Europe. Like you only see them in the forest rare and they are orange. The black/grey squirrels here are a real problem for backyard gardeners. Like they will pretty much steal every fruit tree bare.

The grey squirrels are an invasive species; even in wild parts of Scotland you'll see them far more often than the native red squirrels.

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#37

Post by harperlee »

dukeofdoom wrote: post #15

So is this why they are so wide spread and a pest? Squirrels are much rarer in Europe. Like you only see them in the forest rare and they are orange. The black/grey squirrels here are a real problem for backyard gardeners. Like they will pretty much steal every fruit tree bare.

At least in Madrid they are not uncommon even in city parks; and there are plenty at the sierra.

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#38

Post by coldtea »

soapdog wrote: post #28
dukeofdoom wrote: post #15

So is this why they are so wide spread and a pest? Squirrels are much rarer in Europe. Like you only see them in the forest rare and they are orange. The black/grey squirrels here are a real problem for backyard gardeners. Like they will pretty much steal every fruit tree bare.

Rare in Europe? I'm looking out of my window in central London and there are at least three squirrels arguing about brexit or something. In warmer months, I need to be careful not to kick one of them as I go by on the sidewalk. They are everywhere.

Parent did say Europe. Assuming the UK even wants to be called a part of Europe, it's just a small part...

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#39

Post by tomfanning »

coldtea wrote: post #38
soapdog wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rare in Europe? I'm looking out of my window in central London and there are at least three squirrels arguing about brexit or something. In warmer months, I need to be careful not to kick one of them as I go by on the sidewalk. They are everywhere.

Parent did say Europe. Assuming the UK even wants to be called a part of Europe, it's just a small part...

Europe is a continent.

Re: When Squirrels Were One of America’s Most Popular Pets (2017)

#40

Post by mutatio »

mtts wrote: post #33
cockatiel_day wrote: post #19

I have a good bunch of squirrels I feed outside my home office... I can attest they are delightful creatures when you get to know them. They’re smart, gentle, engaging, and all have a different and developing personality. Yes, they’re rodents, but rodents are a big family!

> They're [...] gentle [...] No they're not. They're brutal, vicious killers (a trait they share with lots of others of members of the rodent family, such as rabbits). Here's just one example: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/03/red-squirrel...

Rabbits surprisingly not being rodents.
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