I was going to start off my blog with a snippet from Wikipedia about squirrels. However, there's a lot more information about squirrels there than I anticipated. For instance, I knew about grey squirrels, naturally, and black squirrels.
I've seen only one black squirrel in all of my town since I've been here; approx. 20 years. I used to see them frequently in the neighboring county where I grew up.
There are also albino squirrels with pink eyes. Pretty freaky looking, if you ask me. Apparently, there are also white non-albino squirrels which are not as white as their albino cousins, as well as red squirrels in England.
Squirrels like to chew on things to hone their ever-growing teeth. I guess that explains why they chewed holes in my plastic trash can lid. Aside from the obvious reason of getting at what's inside said trash can.
They are members of the rodent family which I feel makes them no better than their rat cousins. Even if they are cuter and their tails are fluffier. There is one picture on Wikipedia of a squirrel in Washington, DC that's the fattest squirrel I've ever seen. I guess not only people can benefit from the largess of the Nation's Capitol.
When I was about twelve, a squirrel started hanging around my grandparents yard. We stupidly started feeding it. The squirrel's favorite snack was not - surprise - nuts but dog treats. Specifically, "People Treats." I don't know if they still make these as a couple decades have passed since I was 12 but they were brightly colored dog treats in the shape of people such as mail men. Hence the name People Treats. The squirrel became very brazen and would climb up on the trash can and knock on the kitchen window for treats and attention. We stopped feeding it when it climbed up my arm. I guess it mistook my twig-like arm for a tree branch.
Earlier this year, we began having a problem with squirrels in our trash. Seeing as how we'd lost several lids on windy days, this was a real problem. However, it became a larger problem when they chewed a hole in the top of the only lidded can we had so they could get in the trash. I had know idea squirrels were such scavengers. Raccoons, yes. Squirrels, no.
We discovered that the squirrels had built a nest in the partially-finished ceiling of our carport. DH had a friend come and help him take the ceiling to discover a squirrel city condo going on up there. I'd like to say that that got rid of our squirrel problem but there were about 5-6 having a pow-wow in our yard today. Maybe it was the first day of summer camp.
My son received a bird feeder for Christmas from my uncle. It was a craft at some sort of event that involved wood, nails, glue and a humongous glass mason jar. It was very cute and recently we decided to hang it up in a tree for the birds, knowing that it would have been more useful in winter when food is scarce. I knew the squirrels would probably eat most of the food anyhow so whatever.
After two days, the *(^!#!%^^ squirrels had ripped the thing apart. The bottom half, including glass jar, was lying upended on the ground with seed scattered. The roof remained hanging uselessly in the tree. How sad a picture that made. I picked up the jar and put it on the table to try and repair it later on. After dinner we noticed several squirrels sitting on the table eating the seed. The kids thought it was cute but all I could think of was that squirrel butts were sitting where we put our food.
The next morning I opened the blinds and discovered that the squirrels must have gotten mad when the seed was gone. There was glass *everywhere*! Stupid @##%^Q!#! squirrels. I was disappointed at the loss of the feeder for my son's sake but now there was broken glass all over the patio. I've cleaned it up but am leary about broken shards remaining and getting stuck in little toes and feet. Hence, I insist the kids wear their shoes at all times when outside. They get aggravated when they're swimming in the wading pool but I figure some grumbling is better than trying to fish glass out of raw flesh.
To the squirrels -- thanks a lot. NOT! This is an open invitation to find a new place to play.
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