Squirrel Report

[Captmikestarrett]

This weekend I fished the Northern Neck area and targeted red and specks. Three weeks ago I had squirrel swim right in front of the boat. It happened so quick I forgot to get the camera out and so many of my fishing buddies just thought it was a story. Well it happened again in the widest part of the river. Poor little guy was exhausted from the long swim and clinged onto my trolling motor all wide eyed and wet. Oh and we caught lots of reds and specks. Most under size but a few keepers each day.






Kinda hot this weekend but the fishing was decent.

Capt Mike

[lilmule]

Nuts! Nice of you to give him a lift.

[bassboogieman]

I saw a tree rat swimming across an arm of our local reservoir last fall, first time I ever saw one IN the water. I watched, waiting for a muskie to snatch him but he made it to the other side, lucky little bassturd.

[keithdog]

That's a pretty squirrely story! Lucky for the squirrel you were around. Nice fish too!

[joedog]

Mike I have to tell you. Ever since you posted that squirrl pic, every squirl I see, I think of that tuckered out little guy hanging on for dear life.

[Captmikestarrett]

Well a biologist posted this on the same report.. kinda deep...but I had six other reports of squirrels swimming on that post.

We are getting a fair number of calls concerning what some call squirrel migrations. I am sending a couple links that describe historical mass squirrel migrations generally thought to be in response to high squirrel populations and low food supply – either locally, or on a massive scale. In the days of Lewis and Clark thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) of squirrels were known to occasionally move in mass, swimming rivers as large as the Ohio and Mississippi. These movements seem to be restricted to gray squirrels, with fox squirrels not known for large migrations. It is theorized that this might explain why the gray squirrels physical appearance throughout its range is very similar, while there are numerous color varieties and sub-species of fox squirrels (large migrations of gray squirrels spread and mixed their genes more evenly throughout their range reducing the chance of population isolation that leads to differences in appearance and other traits).

Large migrations have been reported as late as 1998. This year, we are receiving reports, particularly along the I-64 corridor, about large numbers of squirrels seen (and road killed) along that interstate. And we are getting a few questions from staff and constituents. Our oak mast surveys are under analysis at this time, but it appears from ancillary observations and reports from constituents that oak mast is highly variable this year. Some sections appear to have ample mast, but there are large areas where it appears a mast failure occurred. On our farm in Prince Edward County – we have what looks like a total oak mast failure – not even the reliable Chestnut Oaks have produced. This happens to coincide with the 17 year cicada hatch we had back in June (largely confined to south central Virginia this year). I cannot say for sure whether the cicadas caused this failure, but they do prefer oaks for egg laying, and that process kills the outer stems of the majority of the oaks branches – generally 8 to 15 inches of the tips – where a lot of acorns would occur – are killed by this cicada egg laying process. It does not harm the trees health over the long term. This may be only correlation – and not be the cause and effect it appears to be. Other things like late frost, unfavorable weather for pollination, etc. can affect acorn crops.

Surprisingly, cicadas are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, birds, frogs, toads, skunks – just about everything takes advantage of this temporary feast, and ironically this boost of energy can help young squirrels thrive – perhaps adding further to a localized over-population? I find the whole thing a fascinating example of the complex intricacies of an ecosystem. So I am sharing these links for those of you who may want to look further into this phenomena.

Well it is confirmed I am not that krazy..

Capt Mike

[joedog]

Thanks Mike!
That kind of knowledge fascinates me.

Thanks!

[Jrob78]

Very interesting.

[Bassboss]

Now that's something you don't see everyday! Had something similar happen when a deer swam 10 feet from out boat while fishing in the UP.

[3dkicker]

SQUUIRRRRRRRRLL!!!!!!!!

Um, so, you never really said what happenend to the little guy.....stew or saute???

We've got to push back that Labor Day weekend event a month or so to get into those better Reds.