Saturday, January 14, 2012

Stripping Bark

With winter getting colder dead branches with shredded bark are becoming much more commonly seen.  Here I caught the culprit in the act as she stripped the dead cambium layer.

Squirrels will strip bark from living branches for food and/or water but when they are stripping dead limbs as they are doing now it is to line their nest.  The bark provides padding and insulation.  It will be a few weeks before the first young of the year will be born but this squirrel will have her nest ready to receive them.


A little chewing softens it up just right before she scampered away to her cavity nest.



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10 comments:

Ruth Hiebert said...

Great shots. I have never seen them do this,but I'm sure it happens here as well.Actually I have very few squirrels around and that is fine by me,the bird food lasts longer that way.

TexWisGirl said...

she's adorable.

lv2scpbk said...

Beautiful shots. I love squirrels.

DeniseinVA said...

Wonderful photos of the squirrel doing what a squirrel does best, nibbling away.

Brian King said...

Beautiful shots!

Chubskulit Rose said...

What a hard worker.


My critter post. Please come and see.

Carole Barkett said...

Wonderful capture and good thing you knew what she was doing too

Montanagirl said...

It's to be prepared!

Elaine said...

Very nice captures! Squirrels are always busy chewing on something.

FAB said...

Super shots Coy. You've just got to admire their resourcefulness ... that is providing they are not tearing upo my garden!