The red shouldered hawk that grabbed one off my tree's branch.

 

Sitting here in my driveway this summer, I saw a couple of squirrels get taken by some hawks. I live in town and it was quite a show. My neighbors think it’s not safe to go out of the house. They put out bird seed, the squirrels raid the bird feeders, and the hawks sit in the trees and drop in for their lunch…squirrels. Many of the weasel family will kill and eat them as well as any fox or coyote that gets a chance. If man is a “natural” predator add him to the list.

 

Bobcats, coyotes, fox, feral cats, red tail Hawk ,and Eagles around here. I had a Redtail in my yard last week. I was thirty yards away and he ignored me. Sat in the tree for 15 minutes of so. I find a lot of dove feathers in the winter.

 

Al...

 

squirrels

Raccoons when the tree rats are still in the nest..

 

Crows...

I was in Heber, Arizona and saw crows surround a squirrel so he couldn't get back to his tree. They were hungry and saw a chance for dinner. But the squirrel slipped through them and made it to the tree.

 

Here in NE Florida, any of the larger raptors, including owls will take squirrels.
Bobcats, assorted canines and larger venomous snakes also. Big Eastern diamondback
will take any rodent that gets close enough, including gray squirrels.

I have been known to stew a few too.

 

In my area. foxes, coyotes, bobcats, blacksnakes , weasels, mink, 'coon, hawks and owls. Blacksnakes kill more than some other predators . They will climb trees and eat the young from the nests whether they be in dreys or tree cavities. This time of year with snakes not available for a hawk's dinner along with chipmunk activity being curbed a good deal by winter, rabbits not stirring in daylight as much as at other times of the year, and mice working under cover , Redtailed and Red shouldered hawks work hard for a squirrel dinner. Northern goshawks are here this time of year and go to work on them also.

This is prime time for hawk attacks. Good numbers of squirrels will draw hawks in. Used to live by a city park when first married . In the winter hawk attacks on the squirrels there were common.

With all of the predators mentioned none reduce over-all squirrel numbers to a noticeable level and in my opinion have very little effect on a squirrel population. Lack of food and den trees will decimate the population!

 

In my area. foxes, coyotes, bobcats, blacksnakes , weasels, mink, 'coon, hawks and owls. Blacksnakes kill more than some other predators . They will climb trees and eat the young from the nests whether they be in dreys or tree cavities. This time of year with snakes not available for a hawk's dinner along with chipmunk activity being curbed a good deal by winter, rabbits not stirring in daylight as much as at other times of the year, and mice working under cover , Redtailed and Red shouldered hawks work hard for a squirrel dinner. Northern goshawks are here this time of year and go to work on them also.

This is prime time for hawk attacks. Good numbers of squirrels will draw hawks in. Used to live by a city park when first married . In the winter hawk attacks on the squirrels there were common.

With all of the predators mentioned none reduce over-all squirrel numbers to a noticeable level and in my opinion have very little effect on a squirrel population. Lack of food and den trees will decimate the population!

Yeah, I watched an owl try to catch a squirrel one time but then the owl gave up and sat and watched me for an hour. I was deer hunting.

 

what are squirrels natural predators?

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Car Tires.

 

Car tires reminded me of how indecisive squirrels are when approached by a vehicle.

 

Just about anything with claws or sharp teeth.

 

Don't forget lead pellets! :snipersmi

 

Hawks generally do not take squirrels here in GA. A squirrel can cause serious injury to a hawk. Might be our squirrels are mutant attack rodents.

A larger bird perhaps.

I have a coopers across the street and she will often sit on the utility lines in front of my house, and take small snakes. The squirrels run back and forth along the fence without any worry.

A friend of mine is a falconer. She brought her red-tail to our property (my ex's) to hunt one time. Absolutely amazing.

 

Hawks generally do not take squirrels here in GA. A squirrel can cause serious injury to a hawk. Might be our squirrels are mutant attack rodents.

A larger bird perhaps.

I have a coopers across the street and she will often sit on the utility lines in front of my house, and take small snakes. The squirrels run back and forth along the fence without any worry.

It's definitely the smaller hawks, we've got Red Tails around here and they'll take anything cat sized or smaller, but interestingly, not cats. We've also got Great Horned Owls here, which are just as big, but the only thing I've ever witnessed one assault was a chicken, no idea if they also eat squirrels?

 

Me if anywhere near my house.

 

I have seen a fox carrying a squirrel in its mouth while turkey hunting. I have also witnessed a hawk fly low and fast through trees at a barking squirrel, although I could not see the squirrel it stopped barking and I didn’t see the hawk anymore. While hunting a couple weeks ago I saw a possum, got me thinking about possums and raccoons and squirrel baby dens.

did not know if it was worth taking possum raccoon fox coyote etc. that are natural predators to squirrels… To increase squirrel population and my squirrel hunting opportunities. same line of thinking as to coyotes to deer hunters. I know deer hunters will whack a coyote.


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Bug, Owls most often seem to give it one shot get him or not. That owl must have thought you were acting a little squirrely .Hawks will take more shots in general. squirrel goes around the tree the hawk will often follow. Lot of barred owls around here I like to hear them calling. They will hunt during daylight hours especially winter time. I think they may have a better kill ratio on squirrels than do hawks, but hard to say. Too small of sample size .

Anyhow, It would be highly unlikely that predators are going to be a determining factor in over all squirrel numbers.

 

Anyhow, It would be highly unlikely that predators are going to be a determining factor in over all squirrel numbers.

I'd guess food would be the ultimate factor of squirrel numbers.

 

Good sized Tree Snakes.

 

Hawks are top of the list as foxes etc would have a problem once they get up in the branches.

 

The foxes keep the bunny population down, I saw a fox carrying a dead squirrel, but it must be rare, as the back yard is full of squirrels, the neighbor lady throws peanuts in her back almost daily.

 

Al, food and den trees will go hand in hand for good squirrel numbers but even with plenty of den trees lack of food will do them in. The lack of den trees will introduce another factor, weather. And it will also increase predation. As it currently stands I doubt if shooting predators will show any increase in squirrel numbers, practically a non-factor. Unless you are my Aunt, she had a fox squirrel at her feeder all the time and a hawk killed it. Wiped the entire population out and that is a fact!

 

Wife and I went for a little hike this morning. Saw some gobblers, deer, couple hawks and this little predator thinking he was hid.

 

Picture didn't come out very good. phone doesn't do too well . Little screech owl sitting in the cavity, watching us pass.

 

Thanks for the clarification, could not see a predator in the photos!

 

In my area of suburbs, I have personally seen the following kill squirrels: Cats, dogs, redtail and red-shouldered hawks, foxes (very common and #1 enemy of the squirrels), and black snakes. Of those, only the house catsdo not eat them. .

I have seen bluejays drag infant and real young gray squirrels from a nest and eat them.

 

i may have to also become a fox hunter on squirrels behalf…..

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Mr. Squirrel Esq.

I've been an avid Squirrel hunter for 70+ years and have gained considerable respect for the for the little rascals during that time. However, if his feet touch asphalt he becomes even dumber than a chicken or possum, although much faster. Once, years ago I shot a grey from a large hickory, it fell and immediately a mature Red Tail swooped down, grabbed the squirrel and flew back into the same tree. Unfortunately (for the hawk), both fell on the next shot. The statute of limitations has long since expired on this infraction and I've become more law-abiding. I've also witnessed a large Black Racer, high in a tree with his head inside a den opening. For whatever reason, he/she failed to grab any infant squirrels, fell from the tree and was DOA. Again, this was a long time back.

 

What I have witnessed during my many hours in the squirrel woods are hawks and bobcats. The most dramatic was the one snatched by a bobcat while I watched thru my scope. I was trying to get my crosshair on the right spot when a very large bobcat leaped out of the brush and grabbed MY squirrel. That event was the best experience that year.
Hawks are adept at grabbing young dumb ones. But, I've not witnessed such captures often. Must not be too much of a problem; where I hunt there are dozens of squirrels seemingly not worried about predators.

 

Hoosier state has bobcats…. cannot be hunted. people calling for a season tho. id love to take a bobcat.

Think a stinger be enough for fox?


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Hoosier state has bobcats…. cannot be hunted. people calling for a season tho. id love to take a bobcat.

Think a stinger be enough for fox?

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Probably, but I'd choose Velocitors.

Stingers are designed to hit 1640 fps from a 26" barrel, but Velocitors, besides having a 40 grain bullet, unless I'm mistaken, will hit its 1400 fps from a standard length barrel.
I guess it all depends on how each one shoots in the rifle you choose.