Gray squirrels

[edbone]

Ok guys and gals I would like your input on this one because i have wondered about it for 30 plus years.I do some hunting on some state land about 35 min north of syracuse near Parish called Happy Valley.In all of those years i have never once seen a gray squirrel on that trac of land(i think about 1900 acres)I have seen numerous porcupines up there though.I have seen a few reds but not an extreme amount.I have a friend who has camp near Forestport(which i have never been there) who says no grays there either.Whats the deal???

[Paula]

I could be wrong but if there is a bigger population of red and fox squirrel that could be why. ?

[turkeyfeathers]

What's their food source like ? That could be the leading factor. I hunt 70 acres and spend a lot of time in the woods there, barely see grey or red squirrels. Occasional fox squirrel. I completely attribute it to no food. 

[bushnell]

I would have to agree with Turkeyfeather. Food is the biggest reason for not seeing grays. I have hunted a piece of land for close to 15 years. First year there, there were squirrels all over. The fruit/nut bearing trees rarely produce and now I have not seen a squirrel in nearly 2 years.

[Paula]

I never thought of food source, he specifying grey so I guess I thought one of the others would still be there.

[edbone]

Could be but the reds are finding food

[airedale]

The squirrels will be where the food is, no food, no Squirrels. Stands of Beech and Oak tree produce two of their favorites. A corn field that borders woodlands is also a great place.

 

Al

[Doc]

If the land is predominantly planted with pines, there will be nothing for grays, but red squirrels have plenty to eat since they are primarily conifer feeders and dwellers.

[Pygmy]

A lot of state land has large areas of planted evergreens, like red pine.

Red squirrels are also called pine squirrels, and eat the cones of evergreens such as pine and hemlock.They often live in pine plantations and do well there.

Grey squirrels prefer hard mast such as oak, beech and hickory. If the hardwoods are absent, there won't be many grey squirrels.

Mature evergreens such as white pine and hemlock DO provide good nesting/denning cover for grey squirrels, but they need food, too.

The best squirrel woods have a mix of nut/seed producing trees for feed and large evergreens for cover.

[edbone]

Thats it lots of old pine trees in there Guys have told me there is nut trees in Happy Valley but i never saw any Not a lot of deer up in H V but there is some slob doe