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| Author |
Message |
bad
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Strange Squirrel doings
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Mar 6 22:16 UTC 1992 |
What is this instinct squirrels have, that leads them to run across
one's path?
If you come up on them at speed, they'll notice you and dart away -
but ofttimes they dart directly across your path.
All I can figure is that they have some notion of a "safe tree" that
they always head directly for at any sign of danger. Some sort of weird
homing mechanism or something.
One specific tree, I mean - I've seen squirrels sitting in the shadow
of perfectly good trees, only to take off for some other random tree when
I come by.
A Squirrels stupid, or what?
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| 59 responses total. |
bad
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response 1 of 59:
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Mar 6 22:16 UTC 1992 |
That should be, "Are squirrels stupid".
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steve
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response 2 of 59:
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Mar 7 05:03 UTC 1992 |
This is on your bike, right? I ask because whenever I've gotten
near them in a car, they generally scurry about and get away from me
as fast as they can. Perhaps with a bike, becuase of the noise, its
different?
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jdg
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response 3 of 59:
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Mar 7 13:47 UTC 1992 |
On the same subject, why do Kildeer run in front of your car and "navigate"
for you around the parking lot?
Ken once called 'em, "Ring necked car greeters."
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arthur
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response 4 of 59:
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Mar 7 16:24 UTC 1992 |
They are trying to lure you away from their nests. If you are really
close, and on foot, they will pretend to have a broken wing.
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bad
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response 5 of 59:
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Mar 8 02:49 UTC 1992 |
re #2 - Yeah, on a bike. But in a car, you'd be on a road, and they
might be likely to stay on the same side of the road as their tree. On
a bike path, maybe it'd be small enough that they'd stray over it.
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fes
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response 6 of 59:
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Mar 8 22:10 UTC 1992 |
squirrels are stupid. They have the same type of disaster avoidance mechanism
as sheep and rabbits (run down the road in front of the car instead of cutting
off at a 90 deg. angle - probably an evolutionary adaptation to eluding bad
things that couldn
t quite outrun them but could corner well).
Other towns have smarter squirrels and dumber pigeons ( more squashed pigeons
than squashed squirrels).
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klaus
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response 7 of 59:
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Mar 9 12:48 UTC 1992 |
While out on my bike, I got tired of having the squirrels always run
across my path, no matter which way I tried to go around them. I
solved the problem by aiming directly at them. They always move,
thought I care not wich way.
(I know a person who had a squirrel run through his front wheel during
a bicycle race. Bent his wheel, fork and
sent him to the ground. Quite a mess!)
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bad
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response 8 of 59:
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Mar 10 06:29 UTC 1992 |
Sheesh!
I never try to go around them, either - just isn't worth it.
I hope I never lose a race that way, though...
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fes
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response 9 of 59:
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Mar 11 02:34 UTC 1992 |
I always brake for squirrels on Geddes, particularly when driving my truck. Its
a very effective way of slowing down the tailgating scum that can't seem to
understand the 25 mph speed limit.
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bad
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response 10 of 59:
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Mar 11 05:39 UTC 1992 |
I always sort of mutter to myself when I'm riding my bike somewhere that
there's a 20mph limit, and going 20mph, and people act like I'm in their
way when they pass me.
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craig
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response 11 of 59:
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Mar 15 15:21 UTC 1992 |
If a infant human was crawling out into the street from the front
lawn of that infant's house, would we aim for it with the front
wheel of our bike?
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craig
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response 12 of 59:
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Mar 15 15:22 UTC 1992 |
And furthermore.... what are you doing out on your bike if you think
you're still in a cocoon? Getting fresh air and enjoying nature or
out to go zoom-zoom?
Stop and say HI! to the squirrel.
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fes
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response 13 of 59:
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Mar 15 18:29 UTC 1992 |
... or at least kick the stupid rodent out of traffic
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bad
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response 14 of 59:
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Mar 15 23:55 UTC 1992 |
Sorry, Craig, I do have places to be. :)
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klaus
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response 15 of 59:
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Mar 16 12:46 UTC 1992 |
r.e. #11. If you want to hit a squirrel, dont aim for it. If you
don't want to hit it, aim for it
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bad
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response 16 of 59:
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Mar 16 13:09 UTC 1992 |
Little kids are slower, and you can just go around them.
Or hit them if you want.
I'm often tempted, if they're being stupid.
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danr
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response 17 of 59:
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Mar 16 17:25 UTC 1992 |
I suppose it makes sense that they do this. If something is going to
attack them, they are going to go directly for the squirrel. trying
to go around the squirrel probably just confuses it.
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bad
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response 18 of 59:
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Mar 17 01:02 UTC 1992 |
I don't think they need any help in that department, but that does make
some sense...
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craig
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response 19 of 59:
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Mar 17 01:53 UTC 1992 |
So, the human infant as well may become confused if I try to avoid them,
so... just in case... might as well aim directly for them.
Ahh... ok!
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danr
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response 20 of 59:
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Mar 17 01:55 UTC 1992 |
Go for it, Craig. Just make sure irate parents aren't close by.
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craig
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response 21 of 59:
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Mar 19 01:16 UTC 1992 |
if they are... should I run them over too? or shoot a gun at them?
or maybe throw and rock?... watch them run around to the other side
of the house and run after them because it's funny?
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bad
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response 22 of 59:
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Mar 19 04:32 UTC 1992 |
Just stay home, Craig.
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craig
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response 23 of 59:
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Mar 19 22:20 UTC 1992 |
It would seem more prudent that the animal killers stay home.
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bad
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response 24 of 59:
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Mar 20 02:41 UTC 1992 |
I think it would be a good idea for you *and* any animal killers to
stay home.
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