Critters 2
I just love to watch chipmunks and squirrels. They’re aerialists, they’re industrious, and they’re determined. They exude confidence in their abilities, and they show an intelligence in figuring out how to raid man-made inventions created to deter them.
I’ve often had birdfeeders, which seem to magnetically attract squirrels and chipmunks. Their antics always amuse me, except financially. Once they invade, they eat every available piece, never seemingly to say even a minimal “Thank you!” Their swishing tales scatter the seed, their tiny front paws circulate from surface to mouth with seemingly infinite speed, and their little jowls puff enormously as they stuff their little orifices for instant gratification or for burying their treasures for later consumption. They’re downright thieves, but they’re engagingly cute while committing their predictable crimes.
Our latest pair, little Florida ground squirrels, with wispy tails no northern squirrel would own up to, climb the stuccoed walls of our house, scamper across the roof, jump from preposterous distances, tightrope the wires connecting our house like umbilicals to poles in the distance, and shimmy up to hanging baskets to attack the feeders. They’re amazingly agile and fearless, and provide us with moments of sheet delight in their abilities. They stare down the woodpeckers, cardinals, doves, and thrashers who usually own the space, and with reckless abandon take ownership of the outdoor kitchen they think of as their personal kitchen or workout gym. They will not be deterred until they’ve had their fill.
Last week I put out some stale trail mix. We watched this little pair bury the pretzels and almonds for future use. I know I’ll never grow a pretzel tree, but wonder if the almonds might sprout!
These little rascals are planning for the winter, even though Florida doesn’t suffer as we did in the north. Their winter here could come anytime I neglect to fill the feeder. But that, of course, would deny us the fun of watching our pair of acrobats.
We’re sort of hoping this is a mated pair and we might see these rascals teach their young ones how to succeed in the world of squirrelcraft. They’ve quite the status of success to pass on.
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