OK, so what happened to all the little animals?

[Maxx]

I've been to Russia 8 times, traveled about by train, bus and automobile (and plane). I've probably spent about 3 to 4 months total in Moscow, Ekaterinburg and Saratov. I have also been here in Georgia for almost 4 months now. Yet all that time I have as yet seen a squirrel, chipmunk, rabbit, ground squirrel or any other mammal other than man, woman, dog or cat. The zoo and circus animals don't count. So where is all the little animals? Also can you see any entrepreneurial possibilities in stocking Eastern Europe with little animals? I know Russian-Ukrainians who seem to have some fascination with America's little animals.

[Bruce Lee]

So where is all the little animals?

Probably shashlik

[andrewfi]

Dunno if you noticed but the places you mentioned all get quite cold in winter. Over here it is the same. Not too many little animals scurrying about, the winter knocks 'em off. Compared to back home it is quite a noticeable thing - there we have animals wandering through the garden all the time, here - not so much, and I live next to a big park.

[Maxx]

Minnesota and Wisconsin where I'm from, their winters are pretty close to that of Moscow's and it is filled with little critters. Here in Georgia the weather is like North Texas (I've live there too) very mild and not a varmint to been seen. I wonder if they all got ate off from the famines in the past?

[Steveboy]

There are also no or very few spiders in Russia 

Thank god I hate the critters!! I remember stamping on them when I was little and hearing the legs crunch

[Steveboy]

I never used to kill insects 

This is me when I was five years old, I was the star of the primary school and even featured in the local news paper with my butterfly collection..   

[andrewfi]

What famines?

Anyway, unless the famine(?) happened only a couple of years ago they'd have bred back. The little fellas breed, like, well, rabbits.

[tonton]

Kangaroos, rabbit, foxes, snakes in grassland opposite my house....suburb in Melbourne.

[Gipsy]

There seems to be many rats around, especially Southern Russia, where the winter has been very mild this year..

[Gipsy]

I never used to kill insects 

This is me when I was five years old, I was the star of the primary school and even featured in the local news paper with my butterfly collection..   

You haven't changed much at all over the years.. 

[andrewfi]

Steve, were you thinking of the region around Sochi?

[WestCoast]

Maxx if there are lots of cats in the area you live in that could be the reason. Cats that are allowed outside and feral cats are notorious for depopulating the areas they inhabit of small animals.

[msmoby]

Steve, were you thinking of the region around Sochi?

Lot's of little critters in Sochi... it is mild, with a micro-climate.... befitting a latitude similar to Nice, France..don't see urban foxes, though

[Steveboy]

Steve, were you thinking of the region around Sochi?

Ooo will have to be careful there , probably those big house spiders around in the warmer climate..

Those spiders ain't stupid!! Have you seen the look they give you just before you crush them? And have you noticed when they crawl out of a hole as soon as there is any noise or movement they freeze up and just stare at you

[Gipsy]

Steve, were you thinking of the region around Sochi?

Ooo will have to be careful there , probably those big house spiders around in the warmer climate..

Those spiders ain't stupid!! Have you seen the look they give you just before you crush them? And have you noticed when they crawl out of a hole as soon as there is any noise or movement they freeze up and just stare at you

Make a very enjoyable shashlik.   

Naturally with a little mayonnaise.. 

[NS1]

Over here, you look around for Chinese restaurant. 
Maybe Shashlik  is closer to the truth than most wish to admit.

[Gipsy]

Over here, you look around for Chinese restaurant. 
Maybe Shashlik  is closer to the truth than most wish to admit.

mmmmmm

Nothing like a good rat shashlik, with onions, mushrooms, all marinated overnight in garlic..

Yummie..