Squirrel Migration

Has anyone ever heard of a squirrel migration? I've found a bunch of old newspaper articles describing thousands of squirrels suddenly moving from one area to another since the early 1800s. They often crossed large bodies of water, even the Mississippi River, and people just clubbed them or picked them up in nets. The last big one was along the east coast in 1968, but officials reported one in North Louisiana in 1917. There was also one reported on Arkansas' Lake Norfork in 2011. No one knows why they do it.

Never heard of it. They'd have to move a long ways now days to find standing timber that hasn't been clear cut...

What's the limit on netting and clubbing squirrels? :dono:dono:Rofl

I have seen it, not on a grand scale, but have when there is a big acorn failure they left in less than a week. Next spring they came back in.

That would have to be a sight to see

This is from one article: "Squirrel migrations across the upper Midwest, New England, and the Carolinas were observed in 1809, 1819, 1842, 1852, and 1856. In southeastern Wisconsin in 1842, a gray squirrel migration lasted four weeks and involved nearly a half billion squirrels. . . .September 1881, another large migration occurred near Reelfoot Lake: 'Squirrels are crossing the Mississippi River south of Hickman in fabulous numbers. They are caught by the dozens by men in skiffs. They enter and pass through cornfields, destroying everything as they go….'"

I had an older man from Sterlington that I hunted with many many years ago tell me about a squirrel migration that took place close to Sterlington once. I don't remember if he mentioned what year, but he said that thousands of squirrels swam the Ouachita River near Sterlington.

I would sure nough like to be at the front end of one with my 10/22. Shore nuff be going through some biscuits then.

I saw it once around 1975. Just north of Quitman. What looked like a kagillion squirrels. It took about 15 minutes for the squirrels to get by. It was loud. Kinda would remind you of a bunch of blackbirds in the winter time. I don't have any idea why they moved but I'll never forget it.

Around 2007 in TN we had hard freeze in late April looked like fall again. The squirrels left then for couple years.

I admit I have never heaar of it. But I am sure it would be a sight to see.

I thought they left here because of Hawks, Owls and other Predators.

Biologists speculate that they migrate en masse when the mast crop fails but no one knows for sure. Even if that's the case, how do tens of thousands of squirrels make the decision at the same time and how do they know which way to go (especially in the old days when there were unbroken forests in every direction)? Maybe they're like lemmings and just follow the leader.

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Originally Posted by Tbone

how do tens of thousands of squirrels make the decision at the same time and how do they know which way to go.

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GOD tells them!!

bflowers, that's undoubtedly true--just like migrating birds.

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Originally Posted by bflowers

GOD tells them!!

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your exactly right!

They follow St. Patrick..
No wait. That was snakes.:biggrin

Mac -- you had to dig to bring this one back

Heard old timers telling of it. Now I'm an old timer and have never witness'ed it. I have noticed that squirrel camp used to be
second only to deer camp. Folks don't seem to be hunting them like they use to. I still get them when they get too close to my
tomatoes.

Ummmm Sqirrel, gravy, tomatoes and biscuits... Now what are talking about? :scratchhead Oh yea crappie fishing, almost forgot...

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Originally Posted by huntinslabs

I would sure nough like to be at the front end of one with my 10/22. Shore nuff be going through some biscuits then.

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My favorite sport is squirrel hunting and I use a stevens 10/.22 the PERFECT gun for them. I have seen squirrels move out from areas with nut crop failures and have almost none for couple years and then move back in on a localized situation. Heard of large migrations from old timers but don't think we have the woods acerage to have a huge one again.

Squirrel hunting is a fun sport and an excellent one to introduce novice hunters to sportsmanship and gun safety. About a year ago I picked up Crosman Phantom .177 cal. airgun for squirrels and have really enjoyed the much improved sport of airguns. This gun is a "springer" but the PCP airguns are lethal and legal, in many states, for larger game such as hogs and whitetail deer. I was quite surprised, a few years back, to learn that Lewis & Clark carried an airgun on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. They had it designed to shoot, I believe in .54 cal., the same size minnie balls that their black powder guns shot to make it easier only having to cast one size ammo. Couldn't believe none of my teachers had ever taught us anything about such a revolutionary weapon for the times. As far as migration, I have read or heard of Red Squirrels moving in hordes before.