“Do all squirrels have bushy tails?” Such was the question down the phone some time ago. I explained, that as far as I knew, the answer would be yes. I asked why. It seemed there was a bald tailed squirrel on the bird feeder. Bushy-tailed grey squirrels are regular visitors, of course, Bald-tailed ones were a new one on me.
“It’s probably a rat.” Given the tree-lined alleyway that backs onto the house, the old industrial sites in the vicinity and all the green spaces between, it was hardly a surprise. We are told that in urban areas we are never more than a few feet from a rat and the current rat population in the UK is somewhat higher than the human. Our urban landscape, with its sewers, forgotten cellars and plentiful food supply, provides a perfect environment for the brown rats who like to live in safe burrows as family groups.
There are a good many myths about this creature which has, of course, been demonised because of its supposed responsibility for the bubonic plague that decimated Europe in the 14th century, although it is now known the Brown Rat was not the culprit at all. It is true that rats may carry a number of diseases, but so do other less unpopular rodents, like squirrels. They also themselves provide food for predators, spread seed and aerate the soil. So what do you do about wild rats living outside? You wouldn’t want them living in your home, of course, and the damage they can do to property is well known. It has, however, been shown that exterminating part of an outside population only increases the reproductive rate of those that are left, so the population quickly comes back to its original numbers.
I wonder if we are we really justified in killing wild creatures ‘just in case’? It is from the Brown Rats that our pet rats have been bred, as well as those used in laboratory experiments, and their intellect is apparent to anyone who takes the time to watch or get to know these creatures. Watching this youngster explore the flowers this morning, I for one, could not find it in my heart to be responsible for its death.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Whatever it is, the photos are adorable. 🙂
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It was a delight watching him explore 🙂
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..oh, look! …..is that a …?
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Coudl well be… 😉
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I don’t have the intense hatred (fear?) of rats of many people, but we already have a mouse problem every fall when they try to move in because it’s cold out there. I know there are rats in the area too because the terriers sometimes catch one. I don’t know who said if you have mice, you don’t have rats and vice versa. Not true. Both do horrendous damage inside, so I prefer they remain in the woods. Sorry about the weather, but my house, my rules.
I have known a fair number of rats, both two and four-legged. I like the four-legged ones better.
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I prefer the four legged ones too 🙂
As long as these remain outdoor rats, I’m happy to see them occasionally. If they seek warmer quarters, on the other hand, my son may have to take action.
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My son is also my “action guy.” Sons. Make you crazy, bring you joy. Crazy joy?
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Well, it’s his house and garden, so… 😉
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This makes me feel terrible! I’ve had to take measures against rats because I have a wooden house and the little critters kept eating their way in and using my home as a toilet – but I don’t feel good about it. 😦
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I think that’s a different matter. We had them in an old house where we lived when I was a girl and could watch the lights swinging as they chewed the wires. My parents had to take steps too. These are outside and we assume happily ensconced in a burrow. While that remains the case, I’m happy to catch the odd glimpse.
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Great photos, Sue. Aren’t squirrels just furry rats?
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There’s not a lot of difference, is there? Except the rats get such bad press.
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Nick is so funny…lol! I’m afraid I am conditioned to cringe when I see a rat, especially foot-long adults they have in the inner city. I know they must have a purpose, but gosh, do they have to be such successful reproducers and cause such destruction? I admit the beady eyes and whiskers are pretty cute. 😉
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These will be that size… Nick lives in the town, though you wouldn’t think so with all the wildlife he gets.
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Wildlife can surprise us. They say one of the best places to birdwatch is in Central Park, NYC, a green oasis, which is what he provides!
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It really is incredible how much he sees thre 🙂
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He – or she – may be a rat, but he/she is sorta cute. We actually have a family of squirrels who visit our bird feeder, and I can tell them apart by the bushiness or lack thereof, of their tails. I’ve named them all Robert: Junior, III and IV!
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Very cute… I rather like rats. Just not as univited housemates.
Nick gets squirrels too… an awaful lot of wildlife in fact for a tiny urban garden.
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I must confess… it looks very cute and wholesome out playing in the garden among the flowers in the sunshine. But I have seen, and heard a whole other side to them. If they would only stay out of my home, I’d be satisfied. I am fond of wildlife beyond my four walls. But like any she-creature, I will defend against invaders!
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This one’s Mum also went into defense mode when a local cat was stalking… I don’t think it will do that again in a hurry, the rat leaped on the cat and saw t off, defending her family, no doubt.
Still, if they stay living elsewhere and outside.. 🙂
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I remember when I was a kid our dog had a fight with a rat. Our dog was 6 times as big as it, but it leapt for the dogs throat with no fear whatsoever. Ill never forget that.
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They are pretty fearless when their young are threatened.
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Yes… I guess we all are. 😊
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🙂
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Like ?? But your photos are beautiful, and make them look a lot prettier than they are. ☺
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Honestly… this one was this pretty 🙂
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Okay then. I still think about the one that they called a sewer rat that stopped traffic when I was a child…about the size of a cat and moved with purpose across that road. Chills….
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I don’t mind seeing them in the wild. Or having them as pets indoors. But wild and indoors would be too much.
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Great Post! Reminds me of the favorite definition of weed, “Plant that profusely grows where you didn’t want it to” – – LOL – – and while wild mustard is the bane of my existence, for so many reasons – if I give it some space to grow in different areas around my property, I don’t have near the mosquito issues my neighbors have – – 🙂
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Most of my garden is wildflowers… the bees love them, and they are free , as oppesed to cheap 🙂 At present, it is full of weeds… but only because it is waiting for me to rein them back 🙂
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Have my own foot+ tall jungle left in one area – after 3 weeks of steady rain and only 3 days of about 2 hours between when stuff dries out enough to be mowed/trimmed but before next gully washer hits – – not used to this Mother Nature schedule that wasn’t expected – here – this time of year – – LOL
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My problem is that the birds decided to nest in numbers in the honeysuckle hedge that spans the garden. Till their babies have flown I don’t want to disturb them as house sparrow numbers have fallen dramatically over the past few decades.
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🙂 Makes perfect sense to me – There can always be a case made for ‘waiting’ a while – 🙂
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The lawn may not be able to wait much longer… it is more of a miniature meadow 🙂
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I’m donning my safari hat, dressed in ‘roughing it gear’ and seizing my weed whipper, off to blaze a trail through the Wilderness, aka, my back yard – – 🙂
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That was my plan for today, but what the hell.. if I can’t do it, the birds won’t mind.
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Is it possible that they have inter-bred, rats and squirrels? This what I was told while walking through the parks in North Oxfordand seeing squirrels with seemingly partially bald tails…
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Ah, the whole squirrat debate… I wouldn’t have thought there was a close enough genetic relationship to make that possible.
But if it keeps this youngster from extermination… yep. He’s a squirrat 🙂
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Yep! Who knows, I googled it but no clear answer…
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No, I had to too 🙂 You never know, given all the experimentation that has been done… reminds me of the children’s book, Secret of Nimh 🙂
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Had a look on Amazon, didn’t know about it, will try to get the video for my niece M to practice her English, thanks…
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I haven’t seen the video, but if it follows the story, it should be worth looking at. Hope your health is better now?
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OK, I’ll take a look, thanks. Yes, health seems to be back to normal, mystery, they suggest it’s stress, but I feel particularly unstressed. Time for observation and diet…
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Glad to hear. I can live without that kind of mystery 🙂
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Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
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Live and let live, I say, but didn’t know they were that good at climbing trees! Wonderful pictures, Sue!
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They climb the bare metal pole to the feeder too.
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Reblogged this on Anita & Jaye Dawes.
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These are amazing pictures Sue! Well done. Definitely highlight the intellect of this little fella too. 🙂
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I watched them working as a team to steal eggs when I was a girl. I’d never question their intellect 🙂
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my acquaintance with rats came from growing up in the city – nothing cute about them
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I grew in the city too for the most part and I would have to agree. But this one was still a delight to watch as it explored.
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I can live around anything that stays in its place. We once had a house near a corn field, and the mice kept getting in under the closed garage door since it wasn’t flush with the driveway. They went into the basement, since the entrance was in the garage, then ate their way up into the house.. We had to hire pest control.as they were getting into everything. There were probably hundreds in that field. The man from pest control said they sometimes eat through car wires.
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That’s pretty much my take on it too. As long as they only come to visit the bird table occasioanlly…
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