Princess "Bandit"

Each morning as the sun is rising, we enter the barn through the big sliding door to prepare meals for the animals in our care. Carrots, apples, other fruits and vegetables need to be chopped, seeds and nuts measured out, fish and meat defrosted and weighed. This is all accomplished under the scrutiny of our diligent and very impatient supervisor, Princess Bandit.

Bandit, a very tenacious and determined little red squirrel has become Queen of the castle or at least the barn at AVWS. Numerous attempts have been made over the last months to encourage Bandit to find a home elsewhere – to no avail. She’s here to stay or at least until she finds someplace she likes a whole  lot more.

Red Squirrels are known to make virtually any forest of North America their home. These little creatures are around 6 inches long plus a tail of another 4 to 6 inches have fur of a brownish  or olive red colour with a  tummy of creamy white. Red squirrels are solitary, diurnal (daytime marauders) dawn till dusk animals that are active throughout the entire year.  The little darlings are a true testament to “no rest for the wicked”. They  make the energizer bunny look like a real slacker. They den in old woodpecker holes, tree hollows, or any other small crevices. In the northern part of their home range, red squirrels often spend the winter in a system of underground tunnels or in Bandit’s case running from one secret stash to the next anywhere from the ceiling to the cracks in the walls to comfy little spots behind blankets or bins.  These little guys are very vocal and loudly scold intruders especially AVWS staff interrupting  day’s activities. Vocalizations consist of rattles, screeches, growls, buzzes, and chirps. It just would not be a reular day without having been thoroughly chastised and sworn at by Bandit with her high pitched TCHTCHTCHTCH!
Red squirrels are far from being picky eaters. They will consume seeds, fruit, nuts, bark, buds, shed antlers, reptiles, insects, tree sap, pine cones, fungi (including mushrooms that are poisonous to humans), eggs, young birds, mice, and young rabbits. Red squirrels store many seeds and nuts underground, in piles, or under rocks for the winter. Bandit is rather partial to depositing her caches wherever she feels so inclined, returning to them  for a quick nosh as she scampers from one hideout to the next.
Red squirrels will mate twice a year if conditions encourage a second mating season. They may have one to eight babies that mature very quickly. The greatest risk of predation for red squirrels is by owls, hawks and pine martens.  The red squirrel is an incredibly bossy, often ill tempered and noisy little creature. Quite the bullies, it is not unusual to see a red squirrel chasing a much larger grey squirrel away from a food source or a nesting area. They are brave, cheeky little animals that will stand their ground twittering and tail twitching with the nerve of an animal one hundred times its weight and size. Given that they are reputed to live up to seven years, we have had to shrug our shoulders and get used to Princess Bandit. Until such time as she decides to move on to another castle, we shall continue to enjoy her fun antics and her royal presence.

.