Red & black squirrels have vicious fight at bird feeder

Red squirrels and black squirrels do not tolerate each other very well. They compete for food and for territory and they will chase each other at every opportunity. The black squirrel has the advantage over our red furred friend. It is bigger, more aggressive and more territorial.

Black squirrels are actually grey squirrels with a genetic mutation that causes them to have black fur. They are more aggressive and territorial than the grey squirrels too, and the result is that the black squirrels will usually run all the other squirrels out of an area. Black squirrels are even more impervious to the cold than the other squirrels.

A camera mounted at this bird feeder has shown that the black squirrels rule the roost. They will chase the other birds away as well, and even crows will wait until the black squirrel leaves the feeder, unless they can gather in numbers to add some pressure.

Black squirrels are cheeky and greedy and will actually sit at this feeder, leisurely eating peanuts while the other animals wait for a chance to sneak in, grab a peanut and quickly make off to eat it or store it. When this black squirrel stakes his claim and tries to hog the feeder, he didn't count on one very feisty red squirrel interfering with his plan. The red squirrel zips in under the black squirrel and launches an attack that happens so quickly we can barely see what is happening. After a vicious skirmish, baring claws and teeth, the black squirrrel runs off the little red underdog and quickly returns, but he is now under great pressure and he frantically tries to stuff three nuts in his mouth. With his mouth full, he is run off by the red squirrel.

Cheekier than we would expect, the red squirrel screams at the black squirrel not to come back. She then sits and munches on a peanut, but not for long. The black squirrel attacks from above and the fight is back on, as vicious as ever. They end up rolling and clawing at each other. The black squirrel rapidly kicks the red in the face with his back legs. The red squirrel is more agile and knows enough to stay partially under the branch for cover.

The result is a respectable show of spunk as the red squirrel dishes it out almost as well as the black one. In the end, the black squirrel gets more than his share of the peanuts but you can't help but cheer for the red squirrel and her persistence.