Baby squirrel being eaten by mom?
Outdoor Ontario

Baby squirrel being eaten by mom?

Bird Brain · 6 · 1591
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Bird Brain

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on: April 09, 2011, 06:05:21 PM
Hi everyone. This afternoon at 2pm, I observed a female squirrel running with "something" in it's mouth. She then put it down at the base of a tree - appeared to be a lifeless baby squirrel. It then appeared that the mom squirrel was eating the baby - taking chunks out of it!

Is this actually what I was seeing?! It takes a lot to freak and gross me out but this pretty much did it!   :shock:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

feathered

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Reply #1 on: April 09, 2011, 11:01:47 PM
It may have been from another squirrel's litter. They're pretty opportunistic and will raid bird's nests for eggs and nestlings if hungry... I guess it's possible it was her own as well, though. Squirrels can be scary.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by feathered »

Rob'in'To

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Reply #2 on: April 10, 2011, 12:02:39 AM
What what what?!?!

A friend of mine on Facebook posted pics and a video of a Squirrel eating a pizza slice in a small tree.  And after seeing mine go nuts eating Cicadas last summer.  Almost nothing out there will surprise me with them little buggers and what they might consume.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Rob'in'To »
A birth certificate shows we were born.  A death certificate shows we died.  Pictures show we live.

ravynne40

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Reply #3 on: April 10, 2011, 09:48:14 AM
This is unusual but there are instances where a squirrel will do this, as in humans there are animals that have cannibalistic tendencies, also, if a male squirrel wishes the female to mate again he will kill and eat their young so she will want to reproduce again (in other words he does this so she has sex with him), another reason could be that there was something wrong with the baby, ORRR another squirrel if hungry enough will kill another for food,
also mother squirrels will kill other babies from another nest that is unattended so that their babies will have more food, one less squirrel, more food for her babies...

I know that African Lions do this often, when a new male arrives at the Pride and takes over, He will kill all the young and copulate with the females so his gene pool will rule the Pride.
Gotta love nature. :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by ravynne40 »
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Bird Brain

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Reply #4 on: April 10, 2011, 07:03:05 PM
Hi "feathered", Rob and Irene.  Thank You for your replies.

Rob ... how ironic, a friend of mine also sent me a picture and video of a squirrel eating a pizza slice.    :lol:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

Lloyd

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Reply #5 on: April 10, 2011, 11:27:06 PM
I've got the solution, let's shoot all the squirrels! Oh, sorry, I got carried away.....
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Lloyd »

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