Squirrels, cute little creatures or tree-rats?

1. 58

   Originposted 8 years ago

   Some people seem to really love squirrels, and others seem to view them as rats that live in the trees, that spread disease and sickness much like sewer rats.
   
   Do you like squirrels? Or do you view them as disease spreading rodents?
   
   

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   1. 71

      Jeramiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Squirrels are cute little tree rats. You can teach them that it is safe to come up and eat out of your hand. Wasn't aware that they carried any diseases? 
      
      If times ever get tough enough; I know from my childhood that they make great stew and gravy.

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      JulesGeromeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think they spread more diseases than humans. LOL

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         rebekahELLEposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         probably very true!
         
         I have a number of them in my trees. they're kind of cute to watch scamper through the trees, over the screen to the roof to the front yard trees and back.

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            JulesGeromeposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            I like all kind of animals. Even humans.

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      Justine76posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I don't care either way. so long as they leave my food and house alone. The whole "spreading sickness" is lame. What sickness do they spread? They ARE gross to have in your walls, but if they stay outside they dont bother me. I wouldnt say they are cute, but I can ignore them.

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   myownworldposted 8 years ago

   
   
   you mean these little guys???!

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      Originposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That's more like it Uh huh..

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   torimariposted 8 years ago

   I'd consider us more the disease-spreading parasites of the world before a lil' squirrel (or rat!). :]

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      myownworldposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      lol... so true!

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   Randy Godwinposted 8 years ago

   I love squirrels, they taste great!  Yep, big rats with bushy tails.  Flying squirrels are fun to watch though!  A friend raised some once and they only get active at night.  I was surprised at the different color patterns of these fascinating creatures. 
   
   Down here we have fox squirrels.  These black, gray, red, and other colored animals are many times bigger than a gray or red squirrel.  I will try to take some photos of them for those unfamiliar with this species.  They are becoming very rare in some areas of Georgia.

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   rebekahELLEposted 8 years ago

   
   
   what's this about tree rats??

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      Originposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Haha good one

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   Simple Timposted 8 years ago

   They are quite cute...I prefer the red tailed ones to the grey ones which seem to be more rodent like.

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      Originposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I have an albino squirrel that runs around my neighborhood, pretty cool looking.

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7. 71

   Jeramiposted 8 years ago

   I had a dozen little gray squirrels I was feeding until a red tailed hawk started perching about 20 feet away from their feeder. Quit feeding the squirrels.  Goina start doing the corn again sinse I haven't seen the hawks for a couple a weeks.
   
      I've heard that the Fox squirrels chase the gray ones away??

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      Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I've never witnessed a fox squirrel interacting with gray ones.  They both love pecans and raid our trees in the fall.  The males of both species (no red ones here) will sneak into the nests of young baby squirrels and castrate the males of the litter to keep them from competing with them in breeding season.  Still sound cute?

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         Jeramiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Just their way of avoiding conflict in the days to come.
         Lets congregate that old fart for his wisdom????
            I do at least.

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8. 94

   Polly Cposted 8 years ago

   I think they are lovely, and there are lots around here. Though it is a shame the grey ones have threatened the native red ones with extinction here in Britain.

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   Sage Williamsposted 8 years ago

   I absolutely adore them, they are wonderful creatures of nature.  While my daughter sees them quite differently.

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10. 77

    Greek Oneposted 8 years ago

    i don't like them, but I can live with squirrels...
    
    it's these guys i hate...
    
    

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       Jeramiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       A friend of mine found six of um in a storage shed; about six weeks old. He is raising them to sell as pets.
         Are ya sure you don't want a baby one??

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          Greek Oneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          Living in Canada, I can probably round up a couple hundred of them in a day or so.
          
          Where does your friend live?  Maybe we can set up an export business

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             Jeramiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

             He is thinking being trained for a lap pet they will bring more than that.  For food yea about $25 should be about right.
             
               Farm goats taste like venison if ya clean them right.

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                Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                They parboil the coon and then cook them with assorted peppers, spices and onions. 
                
                Bar-be-cue goat is wonderful if prepared right.  Mmmm...gotta get a drool bucket!

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          Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          Raccoons bring $25.00 a head down here in late fall and winter.  Some people I know eat one a week.  No raccoon problem here!

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             Greek Oneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

             cougars up here fetch $100 per head

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                Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                Get them to eat the coons!

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                   Greek Oneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                   they just like young meat.. more of the human boy variety

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             Jeramiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

             I remember eating raccoon as a child.  tasted kinda like rabbit if I remember correctly.  I bet seasoned right they would be tasty slow smoked over pecan wood, or hickory for that matter.

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11. 58

    Originposted 8 years ago

    That reminds me of...
    
    
    
    

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       Greek Oneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       what the hell is that?  a rat ? a possum?

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          Originposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          A possum I think

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          Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          A gray opossum will bite the heck out of you.  Filthy creatures!  They will live inside of a large dead animal while they consume the carcass.  People say they taste like pork and lots of them were consumed during "Hoover Days."

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             Greek Oneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

             how did this forum become about my ex?

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                Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                Gray opossum not gray "cougar," Greek!

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                   Greek Oneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                   

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                      SomewayOuttaHereposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                      poor avril! I won't be able to look at her the same way again........  too bad the opossum didn't have a bow too.

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                         Greek Oneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                         I got the bow in the divorce

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12. 58

    JulesGeromeposted 8 years ago

    

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    K Partinposted 8 years ago

    I wrote a hub about a little squirrel friend of mine....they can be pretty darn intelligent, more then some humans I know!

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    mega1posted 8 years ago

    Eddie Izzard - adults only squirrel imitation:
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e_88G4TY_w
    
    "did I leave the gas on?"

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15. 71

    Jeramiposted 8 years ago

    Smoked a duck once; stuffed it with oranges cause that is all I had, Turned out pretty good.
    
    Smoked  A 5 lb. catfish stuffed with onions to take out the oily fishie taste was also great.
    
      With the Goat you just can't let any of the hair touch the meat while butchering it is all.

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       Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I have always heard this said but I'm not sure this is true.  Old timers have said this but didn't give any indication why.  It's almost impossible to butcher a goat, deer, or any other animal with fur or hair, without some getting on the meat. 
       
       
       Do you know the reason?

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          Jeramiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          Cleaned quite a few of both back in the good old days.     With goats we always kept a water hose ready for rinsing off the hair. Didn't with deer.
          Tasted some bad tasting goat once that they said was because of not keeping the hair off it.  Don't really know what the diffrence between deer and goat hair ?????

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             Randy Godwinposted 8 years agoin reply to this

             We always use a water hose on any animal we process.  Deer are just goats who can jump higher and run faster, IMO!

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                Jeramiposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                When we butchered deer They were Butchered then washed and  covered in ice within 30 minutes. With Goats we kept hosing them down while shinning, then same process as with deer.. ????

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    Kathryn LJposted 8 years ago

    I tried some cajun squirrel crisps once.  They were quite boring.  We have squirrels that invade the house from time to time and something much larger called a gliss gliss.  It uses the mouse traps to curl its eyelashes.  I hide when I hear it.

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17. 0

    ralwusposted 8 years ago

    

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       Uninvited Writerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       That is both funny and sad...

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          lightning johnposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          That was a mama squirrel, bad soldiers!

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18. 0

    ralwusposted 8 years ago

    LOL and sick, twisted? I know. Had to share it tho'.

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19. 0

    ralwusposted 8 years ago

    

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       Justine76posted 8 years agoin reply to this

       "It is funny, cuz squirrel is dead" from UP.....

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20. 0

    ralwusposted 8 years ago

    If it ain't dead I am sure it is in severe pain. Poor thing.

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21. 75

    Mishaposted 8 years ago

    Cute little creatures
    
    Deers are flowers eliminating monsters though

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    Glimmer515posted 8 years ago

    SUPER CUTE!!
    

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