Have you ever been told off by a squirrel? They’re not shy about letting you know how they feel. They stand their ground, swishing their ample tails in a circular motion, while building a vocal crescendo. It starts with short, shrill bursts, almost a scream, then progresses to a long bark. I’ve heard them telling each other off many a time, but today they directed it at me. The only thing I wanted to take was a picture, but clearly he perceived a threat.
Telling me off
When I stepped outside there were three gray squirrels on the lawn, alternately burying peanuts and chasing each other away from their private stash. They scattered into the trees, then raced around and around the pine tree in what looked like a frenzied game of chase. Eventually they peeled off, one by one. I thought they were gone.
Squirrel in the Pine Tree
One reappeared on the fence, with another peanut in his mouth and began his vocal tirade. I don’t know how he managed to make so much noise with his teeth clamped down around the peanut.
Our neighbors to the left feed the squirrels fistfuls of peanuts every day. The little rodents are so brazen, they’ll come in her back door and help themselves.
The gray squirrels in our area don’t hibernate due to the mild climate. But with the cooler weather, they ramp up their activity, squirreling away nuts and seeds all over our back yard. Clearly I was an impediment to that progress.
Squirrel Crossing
During the summer months, I found shells on the patio table and on the seat of one of our chairs. I rarely saw the squirrel in action, but apparently he stuffed his cheeks with the nuts, then sat down at my table to eat them. He left without bothering to clean up.
I think it’s time I shake my own ample tail to let him know what I think of his manners.
Halloween Countdown
Tower ‘O Pumpkins
Gardening Nirvana 
Squirrels, rabbits, geese and plenty of other animals in urban areas are pretty nonchalant when I’m out by myself. They even go so far as to be indignant when I try to shoo them away. When I’m out with Eko however, it’s like the parting of the Red Sea! They still know not to mess with dogs.
LikeLike
I imagine they have ancient DNA programmed to keep them safe. Dogs figure prominently. They don’t know what to make of a tall redhead with a camera. Like cars, something about it doesn’t compute.
LikeLike
Sounds like a real party going on in the garden. What nerve to chirp at their hostess so loudly 😉 I just loved watching the squirrels in our yard. I always worried Paco (our previous black cat) would get them, he was so patient and would wait all day for a mistake. We’re still lucky to see them on our River Valley walks, someone has placed a feeder at the bottom of the stairs we use and the usual suspects help themselves. I think they’re so cute when the sit and hold lunch in their little paws. Wow look at your pine tree, it’s giant. Those lucky guys, peanuts and fancy digs too….maybe they’re just loudly singing your praises. They should at least leave a tip after lunch at your table. Do the cats not seem interested?
LikeLike
The current cat menagerie seem almost indifferent, but it may be partly do to advancing age. My Fluffy chased a squirrel up the tree once. Just as I panicked thinking she would hurt the squirrel, it turned and jumped over her head and carried on as if nothing had happened. She then fell out of the tree. Poor thing learned that lesson the hard way. As she got older though, she lost all interest.
We love that Pine tree. It grows in the neighbors yard, but leans over our so we get plenty of enjoyment from it. It’s magnificent. I can see a large nest in the crux of the tree so I imagine it’s the squirrels as well.
LikeLike
Poor Fluffy, but glad the aerobic squirrel was able to avoid any nastiness. I hope we can find a house in a mature neighborhood. I’m too impatient to wait for a landscape to mature again..hehe. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the neighboor will have a gorgeous tree too.
LikeLike
That’s a good point. It’s hard moving in to brand new developments with young trees. Our little house in the suburbs is now 50 years old, so many of the trees in the neighborhood have been around for awhile. We planted two in the front yard when we moved in: a Chinese Pistache and a Magnolia. We have a second Magnolia but it’s much smaller. The orange tree in the back yard has also been there for many years, and then the almond and lemon, now deceased.
LikeLike
Lucky you Alys, I love mature neighorhoods. In Edmonton the newer communities have postage stamp sized yards and no trees..not for me. I Google Image’d Chinese Pistache, gorgeous. Love the wide canopy and fall color. Does it produce Pistachio’s? Jim goes through oranges like crazy…he’s a big fruit eater…I should eat more. The B&B we stayed at in Maui had a lot of fruit trees and we had great breakfast buffets…so lucky.
LikeLike
Oh I remember the breakfast buffets in Hawaii. The fruit was amazing. Pineapple, mango, kiwi, berries of all sorts. Yum! Good for Jim for eating his citrus.
No pistachio’s on the Pistache. Wouldn’t that be amazing though.
LikeLike
Too funny! They are so cute, we forget that they are, in fact, rodents. Oh well, I’ve known people with pet rats, so the thought really doesn’t freak me out. ;0)
LikeLike
I’m not bothered at all by the rodent category. I think they’re cute, along with mice and rats. I remember Mary’s rats in high school. We grew quite attached to them.
LikeLike
Haha such naughty squirrels, they’ve got a blooming cheek barking at you like that after all the free food you provide for them. I’ve never seen a squirrel anywhere near my garden, I do miss that a little. Mind you it’s probably just as well, my walnut harvest is bad enough as it is!
LikeLike
Oh my, they would be all over your walnuts to be sure. We used to have an almond tree dead center in the garden. They picked it clean every year. Sadly, the tree was diseased from a bad cut many years ago and eventually had to be removed. That was a sad day. The cats loved to run up the tree, the blooms in the spring were stunning and the squirrels kept us all entertained. It was a nice shade tree as well. Isn’t it amazing what one single tree can provide?
LikeLike
Yes it certainly is, food for the birds and animals and shade too, trees are just amazing. Sorry to hear about the loss of your almond tree, I know I would be so upset if anything happened to our large walnut, even if he didn’t provide us with lots of walnuts this year he’s kept us nicely shaded 🙂
LikeLike
I hope your walnut tree lives a good long life, Eleenie!
LikeLike
That is a funny story Alys – Keep up the good work.
LikeLike
Thank you, Laura! I know you have your fair share of critters over there too.
LikeLike
Cheeky little things! Our squirrels are quite shy so I find it difficult to take photos of them let alone get told off by them! It’s not long until Halloween now Alys!
LikeLike
I’ll bet if you offered peanuts every day, they would change their tune. 😉 You would have them eating out of your hand. I offered a squirrel a peanut from my hand once, but now realize that it was ill advised. They have very sharp teeth.
Yes! Halloween! All three costumes (mine, Sharon’s and my fitness camp costume) are done.
LikeLike
Yes indeed. Those bossy critters raise their voices once again. I love how you managed to get such wonderful pictures of them. Wish I could find the picture I took of our squirrel, Sam, opening up the sliding screen to get to the bag of peanuts. I was impressed at his strength. I walked down the driveway and he just stood in front of me until I turned around and went back to the house to get his snack, following every step of the way. They are so very brazen and entertaining when not being distructive. My dog could make them yak for hours just by sitting at the base of the tree. What would we do for entertainment without them?
LikeLike
I agree! We’ve had years of entertainment from those squirrels. They can be destructive, but I learn ways to outsmart them each year with barriers to my seedlings. I love that you named “your” squirrel Sam. That is delightful.
I can just picture them shrieking at your dog: go away, go away, go away!
Thanks for sharing your story. it mead me smile
LikeLike
This is such a funny post – loved it! My dog Jeet is obsessed with the squirrels and taught my other dog who has no prey drive to get super excited when they spot one. Its their little game and the squirrels switched to crossing our fence on the wires instead of the fence since it is a lot safer. I guess his life would be empty and meaningless w/o squirrels and I am sure glad that my 2 dogs make for very bad hunters 🙂
LikeLike
Daya, what a funny story. Two partners in crime, those pups. The squirrels wise up very quickly where other animals are concerned. I’m glad the dogs are all bark and not bite.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
LikeLike