Squirrels

I’m not sure there is any yard in the whole United States of America that is free of squirrels. Or park, or school yard, or any patch of green space from “Sea to Shining Sea”. Thinking about that makes me realize how many squirrels there must be in this world…probably more than can be numbered!

 

Like most kids (and dogs), my kids think squirrels are pretty neat. They’re fun to watch, and feed, and chase. This past spring we had a whole squirrel family living in our neighbor’s tree. It would appear they still live there, although it’s hard to tell which is the baby now. But then I don’t know much about a squirrel’s life-cycle. Maybe the current squirrels are different ones. Because I certainly can’t tell them apart.

 

This time of year, squirrels are especially busy. This afternoon we were outside and three of them were dashing madly about doing whatever it is squirrels do. Two of them got into a little fight – nipping, and squeaking, and chasing each other up the tree.

 

“Oh, look,” I told Emry and Ethan. “There is Emry Squirrel and Ethan Squirrel fighting with each other.”

 

Emry and Ethan looked up at the squirrels and laughed, thinking it hilarious to be compared to squirrels. Just then another squirrel darted up the tree after them.

 

“And that,” Ethan said, “is Mama Squirrel, telling them to stop fighting!”