Jackson Heights Life

Probably someone is putting poisoned seed out.  It happens occasionally in many parts of the city.  Some people's hatred of pigeons causes them to take drastic action and, as you can see, not only pigeons are affected.  It's a shame!

I believe, from my Google searches on the subject, that this comes under the jurisdiction of the DEC or Dept. of Environmental Conservation.    I would call or email them and ask exactly how you should handle this.  I would also stress that other birds besides pigeons and mammals are being killed by the suspected poison.  They can do a necropsy to determine what poison is being used and further investigate..  It is not legal to poison urban wildlife.

Unless it's really extreme, which our weather has not been for this area of the world, wildlife are perfectly suited to withstand cold weather.  It's not easy sometimes, but they have adapted to their environment.  Squirrels don't hibernate.  I see them running around every day out in Long Island, where I work.

Unfortunately, there have been several cases of people poisoning birds on a large scale in the city.  The target is usually pigeons since many people would like to see them eradicated totally.  The poisoners don't realize or perhaps don't care that other creatures besides pigeons will eat the poisoned seed.

The other possibility is that there is some kind of virus or pathogen that is killing the birds but it's unlikely that it would then affect a squirrrell as well.

Which of course flies in the face of this:

http://www.tv.com/spongebob-squarepants/pre-hibernation-week--life-of-crime/episode/53340/summary.html

Guess that darn sponge has messed us up again!