We often talk about the threat posed by carnivores like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and dogs. That's why many folks cover their outdoor tortoise enclosures: to prevent these predators from preying on our pets. It's also known that rodents like mice and rats can seriously injure vulnerable hibernating tortoises by gnawing on them. But what about squirrels?
Now that spring is here (yea!), I leave my tortoises in their outdoor enclosure for many hours at a time. I've noticed that a resident squirrel seems to like watching them, and I'm wondering why. Is he afraid, curious, or is he actually thinking about biting them the way a mouse or a rat would? Have any of you had bad experiences with squirrels injuring your tortoises, and if so, what have you done about it? Or are squirrels just harmless little neighbors that can live peacefully alongside tortoises? I'd really like to know.
Now that spring is here (yea!), I leave my tortoises in their outdoor enclosure for many hours at a time. I've noticed that a resident squirrel seems to like watching them, and I'm wondering why. Is he afraid, curious, or is he actually thinking about biting them the way a mouse or a rat would? Have any of you had bad experiences with squirrels injuring your tortoises, and if so, what have you done about it? Or are squirrels just harmless little neighbors that can live peacefully alongside tortoises? I'd really like to know.