Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => General Discussions => Topic started by: frozenice7885 on June 18, 2008, 02:44:59 AM

Title: red squirrel
Post by: frozenice7885 on June 18, 2008, 02:44:59 AM

I was just wondering if any one knows of places in Toronto where there are red squirrel populations I love these guys and would like to see a few

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Post by: Pat Hodgson on June 18, 2008, 02:48:14 PM

there are a few in Mt Pleasant Cemetery

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Post by: Dr. John on June 18, 2008, 07:54:47 PM

There is always at least one around the conifers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

-John

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Post by: Anonymous on June 19, 2008, 08:20:53 PM

Well worth the drive to Kortright...they're everywhere!

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Post by: Iain on June 20, 2008, 06:41:32 PM

There's been at least one in High Park for a couple of years, near the duck ponds.

Iain

Title: RED SQUIRRELS
Post by: Soaring Hawk on August 26, 2008, 01:17:46 PM

In the Yonge and Steeles area, there are some.  Check behind Centrepoint mall

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Post by: Axeman on November 14, 2008, 12:14:06 PM

We have lots...but I'm 2 hours nw of Toronto...I'm with you....I love them too...and detest (right or wrong) the greys....we have a few black phased greys skulking around...I understand that in England they have nearly extirpated the reds...

Title: Odd
Post by: Halton Hills on November 15, 2008, 08:35:23 AM

.


For years, we've had several resident Reds (lots of huge walnut trees - they found the mother lode....  :) )

They were here all winter as well, feasting on their stores as well as the feeder spillage.

Then suddenly, this spring, they disappeared. All summer, not one. (though lots of greys)

Puzzling  :?


.

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Post by: frozenice7885 on November 15, 2008, 10:53:58 AM

the greys killed them and toke over unfortinitly greys and black squirrls kill reds all the time

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Post by: Bluffs Birder on November 15, 2008, 11:27:26 AM

There are a number of resident Red Squirrels in Rosetta McClain Gardens.  The park is one stoplight West of Birchmount Rd on the South side of Kingston Rd in Scarborough.  Here the Reds dominate over the Blacks and Grays.

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Post by: Halton Hills on November 16, 2008, 07:45:40 AM

Quote from: "frozenice7885"

the greys killed them and toke over unfortinitly greys and black squirrls kill reds all the time

In all my observations, I've never seen any hint of that. In fact, the reds have always been the aggressor when it comes to greys.


I found this info. though:

"Red Squirrels experience severe early mortality (on average only 22% survive to one year of age)"

"They are preyed upon by Canada Lynx, coyote, great horned owl, northern goshawk, red-tailed hawk, American Marten, fox, wolf and weasel"


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Title: Myth
Post by: Iain on November 16, 2008, 09:08:28 AM

Found this on the Hinterland Who's Who website:

'Numerous myths suggest that the red and the grey squirrels are bitter enemies and that the red will castrate the grey at every opportunity. In reality the even-tempered grey squirrel usually gives way to the more aggressive red in a confrontation, avoiding a fight.'

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?cid=8&id=89 (http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?cid=8&id=89)

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Post by: Kin Lau on November 16, 2008, 09:23:54 AM

Quote from: "Dr. John"

There is always at least one around the conifers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

-John

I've had them in Edwards Gardens, which is just north of Sunnybrook.

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Post by: Halton Hills on November 16, 2008, 09:25:16 AM

Quote from: "Iain"

Found this on the Hinterland Who's Who website:

The even-tempered grey squirrel usually gives way to the more aggressive red in a confrontation, avoiding a fight.'

That's the way I've seen it.......the reds always chased any greys away.


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Post by: frozenice7885 on November 16, 2008, 11:46:51 AM

I stand corrected
sorry about that i could've sworn that the greys were more aggressive...guess I herd wrong.

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Post by: Halton Hills on November 16, 2008, 12:07:08 PM

Quote from: "frozenice7885"

I stand corrected
sorry about that i could've sworn that the greys were more aggressive...guess I herd wrong.

I've been wrong too.......  :wink:


.

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Post by: Axeman on November 22, 2008, 01:59:57 PM

I found this on the web:

http://www.overthegardengate.net/wildlife/squirrel.asp (http://www.overthegardengate.net/wildlife/squirrel.asp)

The red squirrel (Sciurus Vulgaris)
The only squirrel native to Britain, it can easily be recognised by its size, colouring, and especially in winter, its large ear tufts. The colouring can vary from bright ginger, red through dark brown, and can be tinged with grey. From nose to tail, their length is around 350 - 400mm, adults can weigh up to 350g.

The American grey squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis)
First introduced to Britain at Henbury park, Cheshire, in 1876, and introduced to other areas around the UK in the 1920s.
From these sites the squirrel population grew, and as it did, the red squirrel population began its decline.
There are no definite facts as to why the two species cannot live together, but it appears that the greys have a greater ability to compete for food. The only advantage that the reds have is their supremacy in conifer forests.

The British red squirrel population is estimated at 161 000 - 10 000 in Wales, 30 000 in England, and 121 000 in Scotland.
The grey squirrel population is estimated at 2 520 000, with two million in England.
In England, greys outnumber reds by 66:1.

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Post by: Axeman on November 22, 2008, 02:02:54 PM

And this...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthn ... -cull.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3349178/Red-squirrels-make-comeback-after-grey-squirrel-cull.html)

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Post by: Pat Hodgson on November 24, 2008, 11:42:06 AM

note that the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) that is being displaced by the exotic (to Europe) eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a totally different critter than the American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) we have here

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Post by: David Shilman on November 28, 2008, 07:21:30 PM

Note that there are also some reddish coloured grey squirrels in Rosetta McClain Gardens.

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Post by: mike on November 29, 2008, 09:23:17 AM

Earl Bales Park Bathurst entrance north of Shepherd. Stay to the right. Take a walk along the path through the forest where people walk their dogs. There was at least one little red in there last year always checking me out every time I walked through there.

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Post by: Lee on November 29, 2008, 01:08:09 PM

Quote from: "Bluffs Birder"

There are a number of resident Red Squirrels in Rosetta McClain Gardens.  The park is one stoplight West of Birchmount Rd on the South side of Kingston Rd in Scarborough.  Here the Reds dominate over the Blacks and Grays.

One stop east of Birchmount, not west, and definitely the reds rule the roost over the black and grey squirrels!  Our black and grey squrrels must be in amazing shape because they're always being chased by the red ones!

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Post by: Lee on November 29, 2008, 01:09:34 PM

Quote from: "David Shilman"

Note that there are also some reddish coloured grey squirrels in Rosetta McClain Gardens.

Not only that but lately we've seen black squirrels with brown/blonde tails.  Walter and I saw a black squirrel with a tail that was black then brown then black on the end!  They must be going through a stranged shedding period, either that or the peanuts and pine cones they're eating are of a different variety  :lol:

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Post by: David Shilman on November 29, 2008, 06:43:46 PM

Quote from: "Lee"

Chat about the Raptor watch and everything else at Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough:

http://z10.invisionfree.com/RosettaMcClain (http://z10.invisionfree.com/RosettaMcClain)

It would be nice to be able to view this site without having to register first.

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Post by: Lee on November 30, 2008, 12:22:50 AM

Quote from: "David Shilman"

Quote from: "Lee"

Chat about the Raptor watch and everything else at Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough:

http://z10.invisionfree.com/RosettaMcClain (http://z10.invisionfree.com/RosettaMcClain)

It would be nice to be able to view this site without having to register first.

Sorry, it's registration only to read or post.

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Post by: Bird Brain on December 04, 2008, 12:05:50 AM

I was pleasantly surprised to see a Red Squirrel at Rattray Marsh on Wednesday afternoon - usually mainly see lots of Chipmunks at this location.

Afterwards, saw a Cottontail Rabbit at Lake Aquitaine.

Saw almost no birds today - perhaps too cold and windy?

Title: Red squirrels in Mississauga
Post by: Linda2tall on February 05, 2009, 09:24:35 AM

Just saw a red on the weekend, 403 and Kennedy area.  Couldn't believe it, in the middle of urban sprawl!

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Post by: Axeman on February 05, 2009, 11:15:50 AM

back to who is more aggressive -- I have to say that I have always found the greys to me be more aggressive....my home borders on a camp site and we get the occasional black phased greys from there...otherwise we get almost exclusively reds....and I find that when we do get the greys, they chase the reds away pretty handily...now the neat scraps I did see recently was red v. rabbit and red v. ermine.....in red v. rabbit, the rabbit just kept doing 360's and the red eventually gave up....in red v. ermine, he got away but it was a pretty desperate flight.