It Is Good to be a New England Squirrel

It is a great time to be a squirrel in New England. In the fall, squirrels are busy gathering foodstuffs for their winter larder, and last year there was a bumper crop of mast (nuts, fruits and seeds).  Now there are farmers' delectables such as apples, peaches, blueberries, pumpkins, and corn to feast upon. The fury, frenetic rodents are booming in population as a result of the plenty. Wildlife rescuers are seeing two distinct breeding cycles instead of the usual one.  New England is home to both red and grey squirrels; their bushy tails seem to be everywhere this fall.

Evidence of the explosion can be seen on the side of the road littered with roadkill. This summer there was not as much food, so squirrels are looking for food wherever they can find it, mostly in farm fields, orchards and gardens.  Sometimes they take only a single bite, but one bite is enough to ruin good fruit.  Farmers can look forward with hope though because it is unusual to have a boom year in nuts and squirrels coincide.  Normal attrition--including those squirrels who die in traffic collisions--will reduce population to a normal level.  The high squirrel population will benefit their predators--owls, hawks and foxes.  Farmers learn to have patience if they are not born with it.  They are constantly coping with natural events.  It is what makes farming challenging, and rewarding.  So. it will not cost you anything to give a New England squirrel a break on your way.