Time For A Peanut is a photograph by Robert Bales which was uploaded on October 3rd, 2015.
Time For A Peanut
We have many squirrel in Emmett, Idaho and this one seems to like the peanut.
The fox squirrel's natural range extends throughout the eastern... more
by Robert Bales
Title
Time For A Peanut
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
We have many squirrel in Emmett, Idaho and this one seems to like the peanut.
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
October 3rd, 2015
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Comments (7)
Linda Phelps
LF Perfect capture of this squirrel. I line the background and it's placement on the limb of the tree. The light area really shows off the squirrel off nicely. Excellent composition, color and detail!
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Linda for the very nice review! My wife feeds these so I waited until it was in a good spot for the capture. Thanks so much for the LF and great comments!!