Saturday, September 09, 2006

Squirrel dance

I just went outside for a morning cig and coffee on the patio. A bold squirrel came within two feet of me and stood up with his little hands in the air. (So humanlike, those hands.) Never one to say no to a query from wildlife, I went inside to get him something. A little dog kibble perhaps? No, no, might as well have brought out shit sandwiches. Hmmm. Nuts, that must be what they want. So I went back inside and found some sesame seed covered snacks, and brought those out. Bingo! I think he would have eaten out of my hand if I'd have let him, but after what happened to the crocodile hunter...... But then he took the snack and went into the yard, dug a little hole, covered the hole back up with dirt and then patted it down pattycake style. Then he came back. Another more skittish squirrel joined this dance and I fed them both, one by one, and then they buried. After burying two or three in my yard, they started going to the next yard and burying them there. As they were both burying their snacks next door, the neighbor came out with a broomstick. Shrieking and whacking at the squirrels, they fled and she chased and then whacked the fence a last time for final measure. Clack! I hid my snacks and smirked at my guilt.

They say most oak trees are born of squirrels burying the acorns and then forgetting where they buried them.

20 comments:

The Wisdom of Wislon said...

You have a meanie neighbour- hope the squiggels come back to you and make heaps of holes in the neighbours patch- hee hee

Jack said...

Ain't it just a plus when you take a quiet time to yourself and Nature jumps in.

I could picture you outside alone with them just having a little fun!? Simple pleasures!?

Have fun!?

CoffeeDog said...

I'd be the one whacking at the squirrels. We have a problem with them getting into our attic, no matter how muich we try to close up any holes. One time they got into our chimney and built a nest; Baby Squirrel fell out of the nest and came into the house. FREAKED me out. The cat got a hold of it and killed it....that was quite a morning!

Spider said...

You are a better man than I - I would have gone and gotten my broom and gone over and shrieked at the neighbor and beat her with the broom...

_Psycho said...

Squirrels are like rats in montreal, its an invasion, we need to get rid of them.

Chunks said...

I love watching the squirrels in the yard! Some lovely neighbor of mine leaves peanuts in the shell for them and they keep dropping them in my yard. Taz loves them! Oh I could watch a squirrel for hours!

Nicki said...

I used to have "pet" squirrels when I lived in Florida. Sammy, Sue Ellen, and Harry the Hairlip. Sue Ellen was my favorite, and I was crushed when I saw a dead squirrel in the street and just KNEW it was her.

dirk.mancuso said...

I love to watch squirrels but would never go near one -- fear of rabies you know. (Yeah, I'm serious.)

Anonymous said...

I have Walnut Trees and the Squirrels plant them everywhere. They plant them in flowerpots and In the garden. They usually dig up the plant and toss it out or a small tree comes up and when I try to remove it I find it has wrapped it's roots around everything and the whole clump of soil comes up. Fun times. Oh yes they chewed up my bird feeder too! You gotta love them. I love them to death.

Shauntae AuPair said...

I once had a squirrel pan-handle me in Indiana. He ran up to the sidewalk I was on, I stopped, he then walked up to me and put his hand on my leg. I could offer him nothin' so he moved on. Weird, but kinda neat.

Lemuel said...

I'm with you and Spider!

We love to sit in our dining room and watch the birds (and squirrels) come to the bird feeders and eat on weekend mornings. The squirrels are also liking to eat the apples (seeds?) on the apple tree. This summer I planted sunflowers and when the seeds ripened the squirrels went after them.

Funny how some people learn to live with our natural world and others fight against it. I reminds me of people who think there is something wrong with gay marriage.

A Bear in the Woods said...

The squirrels were probably gangsta's, and they've made you an honorary member of the gang.
They've got your back buddy, nothing can happen to you in the neighborhood now.

Lucia said...

LOL! This was a delightful read--those goofy squirrels 'n' their snacks!

Kalv1n said...

I love this idea. Just hope that they don't end up in your house as that has happened to JR and I. And as amusing as it was to hear JR squeal like a little girl, it was a little annoying.

Adam said...

I thought you quit?

toobusyliving said...

Very Cute. I remember reading (maybe erroneously) a few years ago that the squirrels were going beserk and getting really aggressive in Central Park because they were eating the "scraps" in discarded bags of crack.

Anonymous said...

OMG, I had one of those "aha moments" that Oprah talks about. That totally makes sense now. Squirrels are probably responsible for many of our trees by forgetting to find their nuts.

I also may be a wee bit tipsy.

-Jason (DJRed)

Anonymous said...

We have an oak tree and a ton of squirrels running around eating and burying. Mostly they just run through the tree, grab an acorn, eat some or it, throw it away and grab another. We usually have to sit under the umbrella to avoid the onslaught of squirrel-born ammo.

dpaste said...

Damn, Em beat me to it.

I was dining al fresco in a cafe in Greenwich Village and a squrrel came down into the seating area and one fellow gave it some food and it took it right out of his hand. I held out my hand to the squirrel and it hopped right in and let me pick it up and put it on my shoulder.

One of my favorite memories.

Patricia said...

did they put their post-it notes up to remind them where they buried the stuff?

(gosh i hope you've seen that commercial...)