Squirrels are funny creatures. They do have little personalities. Like all things living, some are aggressive and show more dominance than others. They are smart and have that built-in survival trait that all animals have. Right before a snowstorm, there will be a flood of squirrel activity around the feeders. They know what's coming and know to prepare for it. In the fall, they bury the acorns in pots for a later time of sustenance. They will dig and then actually diligently pat the dirt down. I've watched that over and over. They are not a dumb animal at all. Because they are a lesser creature in this world, of course I feel obligated to feed them. Yes, I'm a sucker. Alot of people dislike having them around. Especially the Birders have a dark spot in their hearts for them, because squirrels will come and devour most of the birdfeed at the feeders designed specifically just for birds. They somehow contort their body and jump into bird feeders that by design, don't seem possible to hold them. Amazing to watch how their two front feet acting like little scoops come up in perfect unison with food and then up to their mouths. They sometimes will pick at the suet and hang from the peanut feeders meant only for the nice smaller birds and woodpeckers. They leave a mess in their trail and overtake and scare away any birds you want to attract. I think most people would rather shoot them than feed them. They are a nuisance, for sure. But I like them and even have a special platform feeder just for them. And you know they confine themselves just to that right? Yeah right! They are all over the place, just like I mentioned up above. Most scare easily if the window is tapped and will quickly jump away from whatever feeder they were raiding at the time. Squirrels won't eat all the food you put out. They'll stay for awhile, then run off giving the birds a nice chance at the pickings. They don't seem to like Safflower at all. That feeder is never touched by them.
I put up with them because I think they are comical to watch. You can sit back and observe their different personalities. Some act like just like cats chasing each other around trees, playfully teasing. There is one that likes to come up to the kitchen window and stare inside for quite a few minutes at my dogs and he will tap at the glass like he is trying to get in. There was once one that seemed to have fits, almost like he was on something....he would bite and itch himself, jump up in the air, hit the side of the chair leg then roll around real quick and do it again. He must have been somewhat mental. It's funny to watch them in the summertime. I leave a pot of dirt just for this reason - squirrels will come and take a dirtbath in it. I learned to leave the pot there with only dirt and no plants. They will roll around and around then peek over the edge and dig in it. They like it. It must help with mites or lice or whatever bugs them. I believe they must have stomach aches and pains like any living creature. One day I kept hearing this noise over and over again like a whining cat, looked out and there was this squirrel actually holding his stomach and pitifully whining. He almost looked bent over. He kept going on and on for a very long time. I felt a little sorry for him.
Only once was I able to handfeed a squirrel and that was years ago. He came around, sat on the deck railing and I would hold out a peanut in the shell and he would take it. He was so small and I figured he must've been like the runt of the litter. This happened several times and just as I was beginning to glory in the fact that I could almost tame a wild animal, he finally didn't come around anymore. I figured he got ran over by a car or something. It was kind-of sad. He didn't know that humans could pose a threat.
Anyway, I've rambled on about squirrels. Strange what comes to your mind sometimes.
So, I like taking photos of squirrels and here are just a few of them:
If you'd like to check out more photos of squirrels and other wildlife you can visit:
and
Here is the one having some sort of fit.
Tormenting my Millie.
