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What's eating my fir cones?
Lily Pilly
Posts: 3,845
A few weeks ago I noticed beautiful fur cones very high up a conifer in the garden. I imagined how nice they would be for Christmas but yesterday noticed they now look like corn cobs that have been eaten. What's doing this? We are a grey squirrel free zone and the reds haven't been spotted in the village....yet!
Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
A A Milne
A A Milne
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Posts
I would think this would be the work of red squirrels. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. They are much shyer than the greys and spend very little time on the ground. They strip the scales from cones to feed on the seeds - rich in fat and protein.
Yes, red squirrels
your description reminded me of this article I read some while back
"Pine cones are stripped of seeds in a manner that we would eat corn on the cob."
http://www.burrennationalpark.ie/nature-reserves/dromore-mammals
How exciting
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Ooooh I am pleased. Thank you.
hope they hold on tight tonight tho, these trees are very high and exposed
A A Milne