|
 Florida
is home to three species of squirrels, the eastern
gray squirrel (Sciurus carlinensis), the
fox
squirrel (Sciurus niger), and the southern flying squirrel
(Glaucomys volans). The most common in urban areas is the
eastern gray squirrel (pictured here). Squirrels occur in woodland and
urban areas, especially near oaks and hickories, and are active during
the day, often feeding on the ground.
During late summer squirrels may be seen rolling on the ground, biting
themselves, and jumping up and down. This is usually due to skin
irritations from bot fly larvae, which are parasites that appear as bumps
on the skin, often in places where the squirrel cannot scratch.
The parasite is located only in the skin and does not affect edibility
of the meat in harvested squirrels.
Squirrels can cause problems by chewing on plants, tree bark and ornamentals
as well as plastic items, like electrical wiring insulation or even wood
siding on houses and out-buildings. It is often impossible or impractical
to eliminate the source of their chewing. Potted plants can often
be moved out of reach. PVC pipes and electrical wires can sometimes
be covered with a insulation material that is soft and, therefore, less
attractive to chew.
Taste repellents are designed to stop chewing. They seem to work in direct
proportion to the animal's desire to chew on the object. In other words,
if they want it badly enough, no repellent will stop them. Taste
repellents will not work on large areas, are impractical for inaccessible
things like tall trees and cannot be used on objects that you intend to
eat.
A landowner may lawfully live-trap or humanely destroy nuisance gray
squirrels without a special permit or license. A permit is required to
transport live-trapped wildlife and landowner permission must be obtained
before captive wildlife can be released on private land. It is unlawful
to release captive wildlife of any kind on public lands.
Relocating wildlife is seldom biologically sound, the
animal often does not survive.
You can receive technical assistance for squirrel problems by contacting
your nearest FWC regional office.
More information
Window on the Woodlands
Squirrel info
Wildlife Resources Handbook
information.
The Squirrel Place
|
