Welcome to Watercooler Wednesday, where the water is above-average, the topics are bubbly, and the company is sparkling.
We humans walk around this planet with a bit of a swagger, don’t you think? After all, we’re the big-shot, top-of-the-food-chain, opposible-thumbed bi-pedals with more brain capacity than we know what to do with.
But there are times when we’re reminded that it’s not always easy at the top. Some critter is always looking to topple us from that perch.
The approach of winter is a great reminder of this, as we aren’t the only ones who appreciate our warm, cozy homes. Stink bugs, crickets, rodents, racoons, bats, squirrels…they all want a piece of what we’ve got. If they can’t have opposible thumbs, they’ll get the next best thing: food and shelter from the work of our hands.
In the interests of humility (and some belly laughs), I present one of the most pesky species of critter known to man:
The Squirrel
Some interesting (or scary, depending upon your point of view) facts about squirrels:
- the largest concentration of squirrels in the United States is in Washington, DC (actual squirrels, not politicians). www.squirrels.org says that specifically the area of Lafayette Park, across from the White House, has the highest number. Hmm…
- a squirrel can jump 4 feet in the air and 9 feet across a gap (from a run, not standing still). They can run up to 12 mph.
- it is a “scatter-hoarder” – which is why your flower beds are such a mess.
- they don’t hibernate, so we have the
aggravationjoy of their company all year ’round. - attics are very appealing to squirrels, any time of year, and since they are rodents, they need to constantly chew. I’m sure you can connect the dots.
- some squirrel species, such as the Eastern Gray Squirrel, have a twice-per-year breeding cycle. Great. More squirrels.
- some genius decided it was a good idea to introduce the Eastern Gray Squirrel to England, Ireland, and Italy, and in those regions, it has now displaced the indigenous European Red Squirrel.
Want proof of its intelligence? Check the video below:
Never fear: we have some ultra-cool critters on our side, such as Samuel Clemons, that ever-cute-and-wiggly-Pop-Tart-loving ferret, Hider of Socks, and King of the Belly Rub and Swimmy Pool. Check out his ferret-squirrel wars series of posts:
I first saw this on one of his posts, too:
Fear the Ninja Squirrel…
Gene Lempp, on the other hand, has taken a “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” approach to squirrels, in a guest post for Educlayton: Agents of the Squirrel Nation, where Gene became a sleeper agent under the tutelage of Rocky the Squirrel. Way to infiltrate, Gene!
What will the Squirrel Nation be up to next? I’ve seen them eyeing my Christmas lights; I’ve had a few chewed-wire casualties in years past. Could Rudolph’s nose be next?
What are your opinions of squirrels? Do you think they are poised for world domination? I’d love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Kathy
Love that video clip, talented little guy. Just remember, during this holiday season, snuggled in front of the fire enjoying candied hams and hot wassail, that outside your doors, encamped in what will soon resemble the frozen wastes of Valley Forge, the Squirrel Nation is keeping us all safe.
Toss them some left over bread on occasion okay. And maybe. Just maybe. They won’t have to eat your Christmas lights.
Great post, Kathy. Thanks for the link love 🙂
You’re welcome, Gene! I got a real kick out of your post when you first did it. Bribery…well, maybe, although there are some rogue squirrels who don’t always toe the line. Thanks for dropping by!
hahahaha! Too cute.
I’ll just say that I don’t like squirrels! They are in our walls, our basement. And they kind of freak me out.
They would freak me out if they were in the walls, too, Laura! Good luck!
I love Squirrels! I have one that stops by my window occasionally. They crack me up!
When they really want to make a point around our place, they jump on the window screen and look in. “Hey, when ya gonna fill the bird feeders out here?” Thanks for the visit, Susie!
it is not lost upon me that after a few years, nobody has ever asked me WHY i am suing the squirrels. it seems to be taken for granted that i AM suing them, and that is sufficient? well that is a sad state of affairs. if someone were to say, “Sam, I am suing the ducks” i would want to know why.. or “Sam, I am suing the zebras” most definitely, I would inquire… but no. nobody seems to mind that i am suing the squirrels.
it reminds me of my litigious Uncle Freddie, that trouble maker, indignant, whiner… sues or threatens to sue over every little thing… does an Alleck Baldwin on an airplane? “I’m suing!!” … very dysfunctional. everything is everybody else’s fault, he plays no part in his destiny, but he sure has the right to sue.
the kettle whistleth, thanks for the fine pointers and factoids regarding the tardtoids,
i tweet at @Samuel_Clemons
Ah, but squirrels are a special breed, Sammy. Seems to me they are just begging to be sued! We all figured it was a deeply-seated, Hatfields and McCoys kind of feud that went back for generations. Care to elaborate?
And thanks for the great blog posts on the squirrel wars!
This post is hilarious. I do the unthinkable (according to the bird people) and feed the squirrels in the winter time to keep them off my bird feeders. It only works sometimes. They’re crazy, smart rodents!
Amen to that, Nancy!
I used to love seeing squirrels around. Now I see them as the greedy thieves who have stolen my pecan tree harvest three seasons in a row. They have also infiltrated our attic at times. Rodents. That’s what they are. Cute rodents, but rodents nonetheless.
I’m sorry to say that squirrels are on the list of critters in our area which my sons may shoot on sight with their airsoft guns. (No squirrels have been permanently harmed by plastic BBs, just warned to stay away.)
Wow, how frustrating! If you have pecan trees, you want to enjoy SOME of the harvest! Sounds like you found a bit of a solution, lol. Thanks for stopping by, Julie!
Love squirrels and GREAT post. The videos rock. These nifty little creatures know about Tess’ (the dog) slight obsession with them and they come to the patio doors and torture her incessantly. LOL!!!
They seem to “know” don’t they? Haha, thanks, Natalie!
Hehe. Too cute.
Call me crazy, but I’ve always liked squirrels and wished some would make their home in our trees. Sadly, my cats have made sure that all squirrels who don’t want to become dinner steer clear of us. All bird feeders must also be hung high on a metal pole because trees can be climbed and feeding birds make easy pickings 🙁
Ah, but Marcy you didn’t get the full “squirrel experience.” Talk to Julie, LOL.