10/13/2021
The Lonely Squirrel
Last winter and into the spring, there were three squirrels who ran around our yard and ate the bird seed I put out. I bought squirrel-proof feeders to keep them from destroying the feeders and to give the birds a chance at the seeds and nuts. They can eat the sunflower seeds and other stuff off the ground, for cryin' out loud.
I also started buying peanuts in the shell for the squirrels. They love them! If they got any before the Blue Jays did.
Then about a month and a half ago, Neighbor Frank mentioned to the HuzBob that he was seeing only one squirrel running around when he used to have maybe five or six in his yard. That's when we realized we hadn't seen more than one squirrel for quite a while.
Same with the feral cats that used to be around here. Back in the spring, there were at least five cats running around here. Then they just disappeared. Recently started seeing a black cat.
The HuzBob and i were talking about feeding the birds and the lone grey squirrel out back, and he said, "That squirrel must be awfully lonely."
It struck me how sad it must be for that squirrel. He had companions back in the early summer. They'd chase each other around the big pine tree where I've hung the bird feeders. As soon as I'd dump some peanuts out there, it was like they were waiting for me to leave so they could come and grab them.
Our dog Jessie loved to chase them. She'd get close, but was never quite fast enough. She'd dart after them and they would scatter and leap into the trees. Then she would stand at the base of the tree and bark at them. All part of the game.
Now there's just the one squirrel. I have no idea what happened to the others. Maybe the same thing that happened to all the cats? I kind of wish I knew. But maybe I really don't.
So yeah. That one squirrel must be very lonely.
I'll keep putting the peanuts out for him.
