This little guy was eating crabapples in a tree near the Ravine. He was one of 5 red squirrels seen at the garden today. One of the others was feeding on the last few Manitoba maple seeds left on a small tree not far away.
Several grey squirrels were eating Manitoba maple seeds on other trees in the garden. The maple keys are fast vanishing, as are the crabapples and sumac seeds. It has been a poor year for conifer cones and the red squirrels haven't been able to store as many as they sometimes do. Times could be tough for these guys, and other birds and animals. Fortunately we have two feeders at the garden which are kept filled all winter long. This helps a lot.