The squirrel whisperer Episode #4
I assumed when I started writing this blog that I would regale my hoped for audience with many titillating stories of travels behind the spotlights and in the darkrooms of the world. I foresaw lust and sexuality dripping from as many pages as possible. A few readers who have written me with comments have suggested they also looked forward to that very same thing.
Alas, this photographer and current writer-poser has become stuck in the rodent trap, as it were. What I am serving up for now is another visit with Rusty and her six baby squirrels from my previous story A lot of litter The squirrel whisperer Episode #3. This will be more along the lines of what used to be called a photo essay, with a lot of pictures and not much, as the squirrels would say, squawking.
Like juveniles and adolescents everywhere, the squirrels already seem very independent and quite full of themselves. At the same time they have developed an extremely affectionate and apparently loving relationship with each other. Whenever they meet up with another of their siblings they poke noses and hug as they pass each other on their travels. It's not uncommon to look out and see one with their arm around another.
Alas, this photographer and current writer-poser has become stuck in the rodent trap, as it were. What I am serving up for now is another visit with Rusty and her six baby squirrels from my previous story A lot of litter The squirrel whisperer Episode #3. This will be more along the lines of what used to be called a photo essay, with a lot of pictures and not much, as the squirrels would say, squawking.
Like juveniles and adolescents everywhere, the squirrels already seem very independent and quite full of themselves. At the same time they have developed an extremely affectionate and apparently loving relationship with each other. Whenever they meet up with another of their siblings they poke noses and hug as they pass each other on their travels. It's not uncommon to look out and see one with their arm around another.
They occasionally tumble and wrestle briefly together and then go on their own way. 
Sometimes brushing noses seems so boring and commonplace so the only sensible thing to do is just grab the other guy and plant a big sloppy kiss on them.
Once in awhile they follow another to see what treasure they might find together, but mostly they move about on their own now. 
As we watch the squirrels lay about in a pack on their house porch it's apparent they have perfected the art of hanging about and doing nothing. Their porch sometimes looks like someone from the prop department of Walt Disney's studio has come by and sprinkled a bag of miniature squirrels all over it. More like caricatures of squirrels rather than the ones we're used to seeing scurrying about everywhere. 
The laying out is always punctuated with one of the crowd starting to groom another.
Judging by the look on mom's face, she seems to be a big fan of having her ears chewed. I have occasionally suggested that her and I get behind the tree and give it a go, but so far she has declined. When I remind her I used to scratch her dad's ears and he loved it, (see my story The squirrel whisperer, Episode one: Lurch) she insists that as far as she's concerned that would be carrying this cross species thing way too far. I think she's just playing hard to get, so I will persist.
Ear chewing and cleaning is certainly a favorite, but occasionally one will roll over on his back so the groomer can give his feet a good going over. 
Leaping to and from the bush is also great fun and they never miss an opportunity to experience the thrill of flying through the air.
The raccoon I mentioned in my previous story did manage a mini raid on the house one night but she must have been driven off quickly by the activity of so many bodies and she didn't get to inflict too much damage. The children were able to immediately turn the pulled out bedding into a new toy.
Rusty spent all the next day moving everybody out to somewhere else, sometimes carrying the children on her back.
The baby that I mentioned in episode three who I thought might want to eventually stay living in the house refused to leave, really pissing mom off. She tried dragging, pushing and pulling but the baby has a mind of his own and refused to go with the rest of them. He ended up sleeping over in the damaged house by himself that night.
The next morning we watched as the little one who wouldn't leave made up with mom when she came by for a visit and all was forgiven.
Rusty then moved all the others back to the house. They spent the rest of the day tidying up the remaining mess (overturned lamps and end tables I would guess) and have been living together in the house ever since.The children are now quite comfortable coming to our porch to get a drink of water from the dish we leave out for them.
Occasionally they do stop to ask if this is also the peanut house, and if so, would it be too much trouble for us to get them one.
Anyway, that's about all I can tell you for now, but the children did want to send out a big high five from the rodent clan to all you two legs.
Anyway, that's about all I can tell you for now, but the children did want to send out a big high five from the rodent clan to all you two legs.
