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Moth4Moth t1_j6yx4t2 wrote

Reply to comment by ThatWillIgnite in How to Help Squirrels Stay Warm? by ThatWillIgnite

Hey don't worry about it. They are made for this stuff.

Little chipmunks and squirrel do some psuedo hibernation in the winter, if they are well fed, they develop brown fat tissue that feeds them while they shut their body down. Heart rate slows, body temperature of the little fella can go down to 40F, sometimes lower.

There bodies are made for it. A well fed one will make it through comfortably.

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Don't feed em though, not ideal but I get it

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Necessary_Cat_4801 t1_j6z07zo wrote

I can see not feeding bears, but depending on where you are, some squirrels exist on bird food. I feel like feeding a city squirrel isn't a big deal. Could be wrong.

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Moth4Moth t1_j6z0ri5 wrote

Yeah I could see that definitely being true, makes sense to me

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one little squirly can be a fun friend anyway, i get it

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Necessary_Cat_4801 t1_j6zsqm8 wrote

I just feel like animals like city squirrels, city raccoons, pigeons, etc. are already adapted to humans and depend on them for food to some degree. Whereas w/ bears and wolves, etc, we try very hard to avoid that. I could be completely wrong. I do leave nuts outside for squirrels sometimes but I live in urban VT. seemed like a bird feeder to me. I put water out on hot days, they seem to like that. Again, could totally be wrong.

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Moth4Moth t1_j6zyl9m wrote

I won't judge ya

I've been feeding the moose up here magic mushrooms trying to get one to be my friend

so far, just a slightly more insane local moose population

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