Freedom
04-14-2007, 09:49 AM
I don't have pics to augment this tale, YET. But thought I'd share it with you and give you a smile anyhow.
I have 2 maple trees in my backyard, about 12 to 15 feet apart. I hang bird feeders in one tree, have for years during the winter. We get a nice variety of birds. And this year, we also have had 2 squirrels.
One squirrel has decided that this is HIS yard and Sugar is the intruder! He teases, taunts, chatters and scolds her continuously when she is out there. Sugar has taken to waking me at the crack of dawn. Even though I KNOW it is for squirrel patrol, I can't be certain that she doesn't have to "go," so I have to get up and let her out. Sure enough, she dashes right over to the squirrels, and she and the one start in.
The squirrel will come down the tree and face her off. She has her front paws on the tree. Their noses are less than 3 feet apart! And he just scolds away! Her tail is going, and she whimpers and whines at him, "Come on down and play!" Yeah, like he is going to fall for THAT trick, te hee.
He will run across the pole on top of the chain link fence, stopping every few steps to chatter at her. Of course, Sugar is marching along next to him, at ground level. When he reaches the second tree, he hops onto that and gets comfy on the lowest limb, staring, daring, chattering away.
Meantime, his partner is raiding my bird feeder and having a banquet!
Dad and I have both taken to leaving her out there and coming in to get things done. I feed the cats, check the water bowls, Dad starts his breakfast. The back yard is fenced so she is safe, and we can see her out the windows in all the rooms on that side of the house. Suddenly, it doesn't BOTHER her if it is muddy, rainy, coolish. She just HAS to get out there!
During the day, she will suddenly decide it is time to check for squirrels, also. Sometimes, we have to let her out and wait. She checks around that there are no squirrels in her yard, and comes right back in. No "business" done on that trip! Ha ha.
It is so wonderful, because we both know she couldn't see any of these goings on the first few weeks she was here, before her cataract surgery for her left eye. The squirrels have already learned they can get right past her if they stay on
the right! Wow!
I will attach the only decent shot I have so far. The squirrel is sitting comfortably in the lowest limb on the back tree, Sugar is on guard, meantime the other squirrel (not in this photo) is chowing down.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Apr%2014/SugarSquirrel.jpg
I have 2 maple trees in my backyard, about 12 to 15 feet apart. I hang bird feeders in one tree, have for years during the winter. We get a nice variety of birds. And this year, we also have had 2 squirrels.
One squirrel has decided that this is HIS yard and Sugar is the intruder! He teases, taunts, chatters and scolds her continuously when she is out there. Sugar has taken to waking me at the crack of dawn. Even though I KNOW it is for squirrel patrol, I can't be certain that she doesn't have to "go," so I have to get up and let her out. Sure enough, she dashes right over to the squirrels, and she and the one start in.
The squirrel will come down the tree and face her off. She has her front paws on the tree. Their noses are less than 3 feet apart! And he just scolds away! Her tail is going, and she whimpers and whines at him, "Come on down and play!" Yeah, like he is going to fall for THAT trick, te hee.
He will run across the pole on top of the chain link fence, stopping every few steps to chatter at her. Of course, Sugar is marching along next to him, at ground level. When he reaches the second tree, he hops onto that and gets comfy on the lowest limb, staring, daring, chattering away.
Meantime, his partner is raiding my bird feeder and having a banquet!
Dad and I have both taken to leaving her out there and coming in to get things done. I feed the cats, check the water bowls, Dad starts his breakfast. The back yard is fenced so she is safe, and we can see her out the windows in all the rooms on that side of the house. Suddenly, it doesn't BOTHER her if it is muddy, rainy, coolish. She just HAS to get out there!
During the day, she will suddenly decide it is time to check for squirrels, also. Sometimes, we have to let her out and wait. She checks around that there are no squirrels in her yard, and comes right back in. No "business" done on that trip! Ha ha.
It is so wonderful, because we both know she couldn't see any of these goings on the first few weeks she was here, before her cataract surgery for her left eye. The squirrels have already learned they can get right past her if they stay on
the right! Wow!
I will attach the only decent shot I have so far. The squirrel is sitting comfortably in the lowest limb on the back tree, Sugar is on guard, meantime the other squirrel (not in this photo) is chowing down.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Apr%2014/SugarSquirrel.jpg