Baby squirrel
I have two squirrel tales to tell this month. You may remember my story (Ramping it up) in the April 2019 issue of Ohio Cooperative Living. In the story, I highlighted cooperative members Dave and Jane Kunkler, who have developed a home-based business of selling ramps, a leek-like plant they discovered growing in profusion on their rural property in Perry County.
Well, I recently heard from Dave again about a wildlife encounter that occurred in his woodlot that I just had to share because of its “cuteness factor.” Take a look at Dave’s accompanying squirrel photo, then read his account. Also below is the saga of a possible state-endangered species encounter, sent in by cooperative member Mallory Madison.
Dave Kunkler, South Central Power Company
I was in my woods mushrooming recently and felt my jeans move. Looking down, I saw a baby squirrel climbing up my pant leg! I reached down and he jumped to my arm, so I brought him on up to my chest with my other hand. I didn’t have my phone with me, so we walked to the house together so I could take his picture. He must have thought my leg was a tree trunk. Anyway, he befriended me. I’m just wondering what other surprises people have had with wild animals that might make an interesting article. And, yes, I released the squirrel after taking its picture.
Mallory Madison, Adams Rural Electric Cooperative
Q. On our rural property we have a large barn, and inside we have had a string of lights hanging for nine years and never had any problems with animals chewing the electric cords until this past fall and early 2021. In total, we had eight to 10 strands of lights. About November, I started noticing that the lights’ cords appeared to have been cut. At first, I thought it may have been the work of vandals, but in December and January, I noticed that nearly all of the cords had been severed into small lengths and pieces were lying around the entire barn. The cuts don’t appear to be chewed that I can see, and all of the cuts were made at a 45-degree angle. I also noticed some type of nest in the barn in December that has never been there before. I’m wondering if somehow the nest and the light cords being cut may be related — any idea what’s going on?
A. To make a long story very short, I contacted Mallory and told her that by the large size and unkempt look of the nest in the photo her barn may have attracted an Allegheny woodrat, a state-endangered species! Her location in Adams County also made that a very real possibility. Subsequently, I contacted biologists with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, who notified a biologist at the Edge of Appalachia preserve in Adams County to go take a look. (In other words, I called out the cavalry.)
Unfortunately, Mallory and I were both disappointed; the nest turned out to be that of a squirrel, probably a gray squirrel, the same species Dave Kunkler encountered climbing up his pant leg. The electric light cords had also been cut by a squirrel(s). Here’s what the biologists had to say:
“Woodrats do use barns, but if it were a woodrat, you’d also see large caches of nuts/seeds/plants/collected bits, as well as a single latrine somewhere. And those electric lights would likely have ended up in the nest if it were a woodrat, as they tend to collect things, earning them their alternate name: packrat. But the incident was worth checking out ... thanks for letting us know.”
If you ever have a question about wildlife tracks, nests, or other evidence of wild critters that you are unfamiliar with, please take a photo and send it along to me. I’ll get to the bottom of it!
