This weekend we came across a Fox Squirrel making a meal of an Osage Orange. Osage Oranges like the one this squirrel is eating, are also commonly referred to Horse Apples or Hedge Apples. The squirrel had obviously discovered a real treat, and was eating with notable gusto. Whenever the squirrel would come up from munching on this Osage Orange, its mouth would be comically covered in the fruit’s yellow, sappy meat.
Love this! We have osage oranges here in NYC, but they are apparently not native to our area. I enjoyed watching fox squirrels when I lived in Dallas. Here in NYC, Eastern gray squirrels rule.
The Osage has a surprisingly limited natural range. It’s an interesting plant, with a special place in American history: Wikipedia