Photos by Barry Wallace
Linda and I have had many squirrels at the backyard birdfeeders this summer, but since we changed to a new 'squirrel-proof' feeder, they have mostly disappeared into neighbouring yards. The exception is the grey squirrel with the extravagant black, white and grey ringed tail pictured here. The new birdfeeder does drop a few seeds to the ground, and this critter with the distinctive tail is there to gather them up.
The new feeder is working so well, especially for the small birds, that we have decided to get a second one. We'll probably buy a bigger model also, of the same kind, for the larger birds. The feeders are not cheap, but neither is wasted bird seed (courtesy of the squirrels), which we are always raking up and throwing out with the yard waste.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace
I am glad you guys feel the bird feeder is an investment, it sure has made a difference in our
ReplyDeletegarden too, we do get a flock of starlings every day and they have managed to get seed
after a few practice runs even though we have another feeder.
So glad to learn about that grey raccoon tailed squirrel it was so weird
DeletePlease post photo and info about feeder. Ellen
ReplyDeleteWe have a squirrel with a racoon tail. Is it a particular kind of breed? I've never seen or heard of one before.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie Beacham
I have one as well and just noticed him today. So cute
ReplyDeleteWe just saw one in our backyard on Flowery Branch, Georgia. First one we have ever seen in Georgia and we've lived here over 40 years.
ReplyDeleteWe are in Louisiana,Pineville to be exact and today we saw a black ringed tail squirrel, never saw this before in all my 60 years living here. Where are they from? What are they called? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteUpdate to above...the rings are solid black and light brown going a complete circle around tail...at least 9 circles.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am from Wisconsin. The first batch of kits have arrived and one entire litter has ringed tails like raccoons! I thought there was one, which we named Crockett - as in Davy Crockett. Today, I saw him/her with 2 more - all with ringed tails!!! I was probably seeing different ones, but until I saw them together, I only thought one existed - thought it was a singleton. I have at least 4 different litters in my yard and some from across the street. The ones from across the street are not part of the family and are chased off - that includes adults that meander over. This is a constant worry for me. Anyhow, I am thrilled that I found another person who has a “raccoon’ squirrel! I was trying to find out if this is genetic. I have one with a blonde tail we named, of course, Blondie - turned out to be a male.🤷🏻♀️ I know that’s a harmless recessive gene, though makes them more visible to predators. Do you have any info on the raccoon tail?
We are in Waukesha, WI. Have 2 ringed tails. We feed them breakfast EVERY AM.Our cat will not eat until they're fed
DeleteAlso, the ‘racoon’ tail is not squirrel-like on mine, anyhow. They are longer and straight. This makes it that much stranger.
ReplyDeleteColumbus, Ohio. Just saw a squirrel with ringed, racoon-like tail. The tip was also more pointed than conventional squirrel tail.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Manchester UK and I just had the same ring tailed squirrel in my garden. Never seen one like this before. Like mentioned, its tail was very different from the normal grey squirrel
ReplyDeleteI saw my first ever squirrel with a raccoon tail yesterday, here in NW Chicago suburbs. The night before there was an actual large raccoon raiding the bird feeder in the middle of the night. When I saw the squirrel the next morning I thought I was halucinating! The tail was also much longer as others have noticed. Cute but also very strange to me!
ReplyDeleteWe have seen our first racoon tail squirrel today. Never seen one before.
ReplyDeleteI just found two in my yard today. I have many grey squirrels, a few red squirrels, and many chipmunks. I know them very well as they have lived in my yard for years (i even have names for them). These two are new as of today and have never seen them before. I agree with you all: tail is longer, pointier, striped, and flicks around more sharply than their ‘cousins’ when they are asserting themselves. I live in New Brunswick Canada, though. Is this a new species?
ReplyDeleteI am in SE Pennsylvania and have a brownish squirrel - a little longer and leaner than the typical Eastern grays that are everywhere- with a long, skinny, striped tail that frequents my yard. I’m wondering if it might be a hybrid of a gray and red? (Somewhere in its lineage?) I couldn’t find any information or images of squirrels that look like the one I saw on informational pages.
DeleteI am from Collingwood Ontario. I saw a ring tailed grey squirrel run past my patio door. I have never seen a squirrel with those markings. Its tail was not bushy. It was also pretty skinny. If anyone has seen or heard of this breed of squirrel please post the information. Is this a cross between a squirrel and a raccoon? Very curious.
ReplyDeleteLe 1er septembre 2023, nous avons vu un écureuil gris à queue rayée à Laval au Québec.
ReplyDeleteJust in Broomfield Park, north London saw a racoon tail on a Squirrel! Hundreds of other Grey Squirrels here, but this one was different. It was so slow and relaxed as it slowly walked past. Very different. What was it?
ReplyDelete