Squirrel!

looking busy

a dignified fluffy tail

lost the nuts (again)

Squirrels (meaning the eastern grey squirrel in this case) are extremely common in my region. They are always out and about, all year round, with their distinctive fluffy tail, searching for things to eat, caching said treats, and then often forgetting where the cache was hidden. And while grey squirrels are generally grey throughout a lot of their range, the black forms are everywhere here in the Montreal region, including my yard. From my reading, it seems northern populations of grey squirrels have more black forms, and such colouration reduces heat loss, which makes sense given our winters.

What impresses me so much about squirrels is just how busy they always are. Up and down trees, across hydro wires, running across the yard, and sitting in shrubs and hanging out under thickets. Busy busy busy. It’s no wonder that they drive dogs so crazy. One of my favourite characters in animated movies is Dug the Dog in “Up” – this scene is just perfect.

I realize squirrels drive some people, and dogs, crazy, and they can be a nuisance at times (especially if they end up living in a chimney, or end up inside a house!). But if you just sit back and watch them, I know it’s possible to appreciate them in all their furry glory.

© Christopher M Buddle 2024