How Did It Get There????

[Stemar]

Got to the boat late Friday night. As I lift the cockpit cover, something leaped out and scurried off towards the bow. Frightened the life out of me – I nearly fell off!

Investigation revealed a rather sad and bedraggled looking squirrel, rather than a rat, so some oats (all I could find that it might eat) and some water were provided and a truce declared. Next morning my attempts to catch it only provoked it to jump ship, when it proved that squirrels can swim, as it made it to the shore safely.

But I’ve got 2 feet freeboad and I'm on a mooring that’s 100 yards from “dry” land even at low springs, so… HOW DID IT GET THERE????


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

You've confirmed the things can swim, and we know they can climb. Mystery solved.

Of course, the question 'why' is more interesting than the question 'how'.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Neraida]

Awww,LOL!!!

Maybe it swam out to the boat after seeing you eating Tracker bars or something similar onboard and waited till you'd gone to try and find something for itself!

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Neraida on 02/09/2003 00:22 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[MainlySteam]

I recall from reading of their exploration across the USA that Lewis and Clark saw a lot of grey squirrels swimming across a river (the Ohio I think it was) but I don't recall if they knew or the book said why. Strange thing to remember?

I think the grey squirrels in Britain are introduced american ones, but may be mistaken, so if it was a grey maybe it was swimming for the same reason (not suggesting it was trying to get back to the USA though you understand!).

John




<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Neraida]

Yep, the grey squirrels are american ones, they duffed up the native red squirrels hence their decline in population.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Little_Russel]

A kestrel dropped it. Happens all the time.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sail the Se7en seas...

 

[graham]

I would be more inclined to set traps than offer it food and water.Small animals can do serious damage on a boat.

A Trintella 29 moored near me had a few dozen small holes gnawed in the mainsail by an unidentified visitor and a rat did major damage to another boat and took a lot of removing before peace was restored.

The electrical system was damaged beyond repair.Along with upholstery .

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ecudc]

maybe it was a flying squirrel as well.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[MrG]

Did it find your nuts?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Guest]

There seems to be schools of thought..

I once saw a documentary on Squirrels and they said it was a fallacy that Grey's had destroyed Red .... as they live in different habitats ..... having lived in country I can say that seemed to agree with what I saw as a kid.

They also claimed that WE Humans were mainly to blame as we were changing tree types prevalent in re-forestation etc. Also we were cutting down prime locations of the Red. The Grey was more adaptive to human's being around and near ... witness the old grey in a park when people are sitting out ......

So I don't know whether Grey is the reason for Red decline or not ..... all I know that it's a pity that species / types are becoming extinct and basically humans do little to stop it .....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Neraida]

Re: There seems to be schools of thought..

Very true, the only ones really left are on the Isle of Wight which is unspoilt. The grey squirrels are a lot tougher and adaptable than the much smaller red ones though so maybe it's just coincidence that they pick on em as well. They are nuicances and and cause a lot of damage wherever they are. My parents are constantly trying to get rid of them as they have destroyed a lot of young oak trees by stripping their bark.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ohdrat]

Re:the only ones left are on the Isle of Wight

eerrrr and Scotland.. and some parts of Northumbria / Cumbria..

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Neraida]

Re:the only ones left are on the Isle of Wight

Opps, sorry, I aint no squirrel expert!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Guest]

In fact you can see them..

in many areas ...... there's just so few of 'em !!!

But IoW is well known to have a reasonably healthy population - but it is in decline I believe ...... bit like IoW human popualtion I think !!!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !