New York Squirrels

While in NYC the first few days of the year, we were walking in Union Square where back in November I reported feeding squirrels with big thick coats and white tufts of fur behind their ears there (click here to see). Now it was really REALLY cold compared to that last visit -- about 22 degrees and I wondered if the squirrels would be out.

I only saw one on the ground, and of course, I threw him/her a nut (I always have nuts and bread in my pocket, just in case). I scanned the tree tops but didn't see much until we were at the southernmost end of the park.

High in the branches was all kinds of activity.

I noticed that someone put a little squirrel house up in a tree, and there were two crawling on top/around it. I snapped a few pictures, since they're so fast I've learned that you have to take several in hopes of getting one that's good. I didn't know until I got home and reviewed the shots that there was also one inside the house, peeking out. I laughed out loud. Hopefully you can click on the picture to enlarge it and get a better look. This is very similar to the little houses we have Boy Scouts make for us in spring and fall at the Wildlife Rehab and Education Center. That is the time we get a lot of baby squirrels who have been hurt or abandoned. It takes weeks to months of care til they get to the point where they are big enough to release into the wild, but we start them out with these kinds of houses (stuffed with their favorite soft flannel rags inside so they have some protection while making the transition.

I have some more from Central Park that I'll put up later in the week. Hope you'll stay tuned!