Squirrels fancy frozen crabapples

                                                                                                                      Photos by Barry Wallace

Pictured here is an eastern grey squirrel gorging on partially dried and frozen crab-apples in my King City yard.   There are over 55 species and over 700 cultivated varieties of crab-apples but it is the Asian crab-apple specimens that are usually preferred for ornamental purposes.   The colourful fruit of the Asian crab-apples last well into the winter and provides food for squirrels, like the one pictured here, as well as for over-wintering birds.   It's been such an open winter so far that the grey, black and red squirrels are not hibernating in their nests, but are out foraging every day so far.  

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace