My neighbors hate squirrels..I can't help it..I think they're cute..they come to us like dogs..

Oh my goodness nicholsworth ... they must be more of a problem here than where you are.

I would not be a happy neighbor if anyone around here did that!

A few neighbors and I have an agreement that if they want to shoot them I'm fine with it. I had some family out of state that would shoot and cook em up in gravy.

nicholsworth, I'm in your camp. We don't have tree squirrels, only ground squirrels, but are very fond of them. They're not that destructive, and the local predator population keeps them in check. The same goes for the wild rabbit population. As you say, they were here long before us. I always have fresh water for them in different places, which also benefits the birds and any other thirsty creature.

I love squirrels too - they are so funny! They build elaborate houses (nests - there is a special name for them, but I forget it) in our large trees. The nests built by a breeding pair contain several rooms, including a nursery which only has an entrance from below - a sort of tunnel. The teenage squirrels who come out in the Spring are much more curious than the adults - they come down the tree trunks to look at our cats when the cats are out on their leashes for walks. the young squirrels keep just out of reach, but are obviously intrigued.

The single squirrels make nests too - one year one made one in the roses on our house, just under one of our windows. Every night you could see it climb up and go to bed in its nest. It would stay there until time to get up in the morning.

The only annoying thing they do in our garden is to bury peanuts (which is my fault, because I put out the peanuts) in my pots. Sometimes they dig holes in the pots (looking for other people's peanuts?). Overall, they are adorable. In the morning when I wake up there is usually a young one on the outside of our window, starting at me or the cats - great entertainment for them too.

Jackie

I must be the squirrel Scrooge of the group then. I see them as flea ridden vectors of disease, like rats.

Their population has probably gotten worse due to urban sprawl. They really do spread diseases that we can catch, so be careful encouraging them. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74122.html

I'm not charmed by their fluffy tails.

This one squirrel who is using the stone wall as a nutcracker is pretty darn smart though. I do have to admit that.

we have never touched them..as I was tipping the jar the friendliest one stuck his face in..was just so anxious..thought it was cute so now I let him get the first one..we keep those nuts in the garage..I always wash my hands after I give them nuts..I would be more frustrated if they wrecked my garden..but it's so rustic here any digging they do isn't noticeable..would be nice if they didn't eat the bird food but I can't harm them or use pepper like some do..just can't do it..

Every morning I put out food for the birds. I put some peanuts in a cup on top of a rose support for the blue jays, so they don't have to compete with the crows to get the peanuts on the ground. Every morning for about a month a young grey squirrel (we have both grey and brown ones) climbs up the rose next to me, to wait for me to put the peanuts. He sits about 10 inches away. As soon as I walk away he jumps over and gets a peanut. I look forward to our daily visit.

Jackie

I really enjoy reading about your squirrels, Jackie. Our ground squirrels aren't nearly as interesting or trusting. However, their home is on a steep hill across from several windows so we can watch their antics. One of the funniest ones was a squirrel trying to carry a huge piece of packing paper up the steep hillside which she must have thought would make good nesting material. Another time a squirrel was trying to carry a large grapefruit up said hill and he'd lose his grip and it would roll all they way to the bottom. It took five tries but he finally managed to wrestle his treasure all the way up to his ground burrow.

"Nutty"(one of our squirrels) broke into the nut jar once..left the jar on a bench and went in the house..when I came out his entire head was in the jar..scared me and I screamed..was afraid his head might get stuck in the jar..when he heard me scream he pulled his head out and took off..he was able to chew the lid off!!..

Squirrels are cute. Wish I had them in my garden but no squirrels here, just tree rats I'm afraid.. I put some food out for rats... in the rat-zapper..

I also love the squirrels and never noticed and garden damage. We aren't in a tree filled lot anymore so I only see them around the neighbors with lots of trees . I had one regular in Pa that loved to tease my dogs by the front door , it was fun!

I lived in London for about 6 years and most of my English friends were either amused or dismayed at my squirrel fascination ( there are no squirrels in Aus). I worked right near Brompton Cemetery and often used to buy peanuts to feed the squirrels there whlle wandering around the gardens and searching for historical graves. I do admit to bolting when I suddenly realised there were no more nuts left to hand out while being completely surrounded by a steadily growing multitude of expectant and insistent squirrels tho..

Curdle, I hope you weren't feeding those squirrels while holding the peanuts with your fingers. I got bit severely years ago at the Portland Zoo (Oregon) while doing that kind of hand feeding--very stupid of me. Then I got to worry about rabies which squirrels occasional carry. Diane

And ticks (Lyme disease), fleas, ringworm and all sorts of other diseases/parasites that can affect humans and pets. They are vectors of disease like rats, but with fluffy tails. But like I said, I'm the squirrel Scrooge.

I would never hand feed squirrels..I'm careful and aware of germs..but if being in the vicinity of squirrels was dangerous I would be dead by now..I've lived 12 years in a woodland with squirrels..I read that humans and squirrels usually coexist without issues..CA is so crowded (lived in San Mateo 5 yrs)..here they have more space and are further away from us..