Good Peanut
by Robert Bales
Title
Good Peanut
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
This Fox Squirrel just took the peanut from the feeder and decided to eat it on the fence.
The fox squirrel's natural range extends throughout the eastern United States, excluding New England, north into the southern prairie provinces of Canada, and west ern part of the United States. They have been introduced to both California and the Pacific Northwest. While very versatile in their habitat choices, fox squirrels are most often found in forest patches of 40 hectares or less with an open understory, or in urban neighborhoods with trees. They thrive best among trees such as oak, hickory, walnut, and pine that produce winter-storable foods like nuts. Western range extensions in Great Plains regions such as Kansas are associated with riverine corridors of cottonwood. A subspecies native to several eastern US states is the Delmarva fox squirrel.
"Eastern Fox Squirrels have long, foxtail-like tails, which they flick when they are excited. They and Eastern Gray Squirrels are alike in many ways. They breed at the same time of year, nest in the same kind of places, and eat the same foods. However, Fox Squirrels prefer more open habitat, whereas Grays prefer good tree cover. Fox Squirrels spend more time foraging and running about on the ground than do the grays, and may be encountered in fields quite far from any trees, where gray squirrel would not stray. Both species feed on acorns, which are rich in tannins. Tannins are poisonous to many animals, including worms, and keep the squirrels free of roundworms and tapeworms. Fox Squirrels accumulate another chemical compound, porphyrin, in their bones and teeth, which makes their bones and teeth pink and bright red under ultraviolet light. Here's a mystery: Gray Squirrels eat the same foods and this does not happen to them nor to any other healthy mammal."
Uploaded
December 29th, 2017
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Viewed 2,405 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 03/29/2024 at 4:46 AM
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Comments (24)
Malanda Warner
Great capture and presentation with excellent details and colours, Robert! I was just watching a squirrel and a couple of chipmunks outside my window this morning but by the time I grab the camera they vanish. LF
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Malanda for the nice comment and sorry about missing the ones today. I hope we find then when we get back to our Idaho home next month!
Charlotte Nunn
Too dear and delightful and charming and, and, and!! SUPERB capture, Robert!! Like you and your wife, we feed 'our' squirrels, too!! HOW could any of us not?! LF
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Charlotte for the comments and the LF!! She always gets a few to take it out of her fingers.
Anita Pollak
Aww, he's so cute Robert! Wonderful capture and beautiful tones and bokeh! l/f/tw
Robert Bales replied:
So glad you liked the image and thanks for the wonderful comments and the LFTw!!
Mr Bennett Kent
Superb portrait of this handsome fellow feeding, Great pose, lovely detail and the most delightful background,,,,,,,,,,,,,L+F
Tami Quigley
This is wonderful Robert, and love the bokeh too! Happy New Year! L/F
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Tami for the nice comments and the same to you and your family!! Thanks for the LF!!