Bet you didn't know that the proper time for red squirrels to harvest Norway spruce (Picea abies) cones is between 5 and 7 am, did ya? These are the largest cones of all the spruce, and are about 6-7" long. At this time of year, they are still closed and more smooth than they will be later, so when they drop, there is comparably little drag -- their landing is noticeable, even on soft earth.Most mornings for the last week, we have been awakened early by "bam!" "pop!" "whack!" as these heavy cones hit our wooden deck, the metal bulkhead, the house, etc. Sometimes, it's like waking up to the sound of a gun being fired, since these things are dropped from 50-75 feet up in the trees.
Back when we first moved into this house (20 years ago) where the bedroom is shaded by four of these trees, the squirrels would prefer to drop the cones on the soft grass. Occasionally, one would land very loudly on the deck and all activity would cease for a few minutes while they (and we!) recovered from the sound. Now, I think they're AIMING at the objects that make the most noise. And if they hit one noisy spot and it ricochettes to hit another louder one, I suspect there's extra gleeful in squirrelville. I don't know what caused the change in their methodology -- too many hours spent playing video games? I donno...
The little buggers also eat the heck out of certain cones as they sit up in the trees, leaving only the core (like a cob on an ear of corn). It's all too often that one of us steps out of the greenhouse and under the spruce trees, and one of these cores lands right at our feet. They must be intentionally throwing them at us. But in the end, once all the early morning bombing runs have ended, the really big squirrel with her blue wheelbarrow gathers up all the cones and takes them away to the compost, where we pile other stuff on top of them. Revenge is a dish best eaten cold...
Photos: Courtesy of WikiMedia Commons
