Squirrels and wolves

[davidees]

I don't remember ever killing a squirrel with wolves in the delta, but used to kill them in the hills all the time that had wolves. I quit hunting the hills/bluff years ago because if this. Since I started hunting the delta exclusively, I can't remember the last time I killed a squirrel with wolves in it. Has anyone else noticed this? Does anybody know why? I've always wondered.

[Agua]

I remember when I was a kid we would never go squirrel hunting until after a heavy frost because of the wolves / wuvs / howeveryouspellit: usually mid-late October.

[Edited to include the following:] Is it a larvae of a bot fly? I think those have something to do with cattle and I don't guess there are a lot of cattle in the Delta.

[davidees]

It is the larvae of the bot fly. They leave their larvae on twigs and limbs and what not and when the squirrels brush against these twigs, the larvae attach to the hide and make their way under the skin. As to why they don't seem to be in the delta, my theory is all the pesticides in be delta may keep them killed off, but I have no evidence to back that up

[ducks&bucks]

I do a lot of squirrel hunting with my dogs. As a kid (20+ years ago), it seemed that nearly every squirrel I killed before a frost had these. Now, it's a rarity in the hills where I hunt.

In the past 5 or so years, I would figure us killing well over 300 squirrels before the 1st frost and I can remember about 3-5 that had them. I don't know if something has changes over the years, but it's not as prevalent now as it was.

[Wingman]

Delta squirrels have coyotes.

[nipntuck]

Interesting observation. I am equally puzzled by the absence or at least the paucity of crows and buzzards in the delta. Anyone who can enlighten me as to why?

[Northbigmuddy]

Interesting observation. I am equally puzzled by the absence or at least the paucity of crows and buzzards in the delta. Anyone who can enlighten me as to why?

I have seen crows around sometimes. Buzzards...those things are everywhere. At least on the North end of the delta.

You beat me to it Wingman. Good call.

[Wingman]

Closer to the hills I get the more crows I see. I see vultures pretty regularly here. Found a nest in a hollow tupelo gum tree in a swamp last year.