Hunting Squirrel number's

[BmBusa]

Been on my perm again this evening and not seen a single squirrel, and I'm not seeing them much elsewhere in places I would expect to. Quite happy with that, just wondering if it's just me, this area or are the numbers down a bit this year?

 

[HunterH]

I think numbers are down a little in Wiltshire but no where near last year. For me they peaked the year before.

 

[career707]

Don't know what the temperatures are like where you are but apparently they don't like the heat?

 

[ChrisHobbs]

With most animals, be they mammals, birds or fish, it’s a basic energy consumption equation.
When the weather is like this, they are using much less energy. Therefore they can get away with eating/foraging less.
They can eat enough earlier in the day, and then spend most of the day just sleeping (they will actually build day nests, an open dray up in the branches).
Also we are right in the middle of the period where (other than walnuts) there is much less food about.
Once it cools down a bit, and things like acorns and hazel nuts are ready, they’ll become more active.

 

[Bordertwo]

With most animals, be they mammals, birds or fish, it’s a basic energy consumption equation.
When the weather is like this, they are using much less energy. Therefore they can get away with eating/foraging less.
They can eat enough earlier in the day, and then spend most of the day just sleeping (they will actually build day nests, an open dray up in the branches).
Also we are right in the middle of the period where (other than walnuts) there is much less food about.
Once it cools down a bit, and things like acorns and hazel nuts are ready, they’ll become more active.

Sounds like me

 

[Dr B]

There is another thread in the section, posted a bit earlier, explaining why you might be seeing fewer numbers at the moment......

Hunting Thread 'Some Recent Observations I Thought I'd Share.'

Saturday at 10:49 PM

Evening all
Apologies I've not been around much the last 10 days or so. Still shooting a plenty though. Just thought I'd share some observations and see what you are all experiencing around the country at the moment. Since my last few hunting posts from a particular permission I've had a couple of 3s, two 2 pairs, three blanks, and a two (all greys). The food is now going down very little and the camera just catching some fleeting images of the odd straggler. I reckon this region of the wood is now almost clear again. It took 6 weeks to get back on top of this section of the woodland...

• Dr B
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Hunting & Pest Control Discussion

• 

 

[Gixxerrob]

I think numbers are down a little in Wiltshire but no where near last year. For me they peaked the year before.

I'm in wiltshire and id say numbers are defo up over last year...2024 was a bumper year for me

 

[Mike Woody Watkins]

With most animals, be they mammals, birds or fish, it’s a basic energy consumption equation.
When the weather is like this, they are using much less energy. Therefore they can get away with eating/foraging less.
They can eat enough earlier in the day, and then spend most of the day just sleeping (they will actually build day nests, an open dray up in the branches).
Also we are right in the middle of the period where (other than walnuts) there is much less food about.
Once it cools down a bit, and things like acorns and hazel nuts are ready, they’ll become more active.

I agree. I hardly saw a single squirrel during the heatwave but now it’s cooled down a bit they are starting to reappear