Red squirrels are naturally shy and cautious, ever alert for predators such as lynx and northern goshawks, specialists in hunting these tough rodents. Red squirrels have the ability to eat toxic mushrooms including these (Amanita muscaria)
From a squirrels perspective, spruce cone production is not always something to chatter about. It can fail over huge areas, making mushrooms very important.
But some squirrels have their pantries still bulging with cones buried last year in stashes around their territories. Buried cones stay cool, moist and tightly closed, their tiny seeds within.
Red squirrels often gather and store more than they will use during the six months of winter, spruce cones cached underground are good for several years.
PHOTO TIP
Hang out with them until they are quite used to your presence. (weeks to months) These photographs were taken near our wilderness home where red squirrels can become somewhat trusting but very destructive.
Photographing red squirrels is fun but challenging. I photographed the squirrels for more than a month to get these photographs. Sometimes the curious red squirrel is more interested in checking out my equipment than carrying on with its important work.
