Posted on 01/15/2012 11:49:37 AM PST by Texas Fossil
A few summers ago I took some time to drive out to the old home place where I grew up during the 50’s and 60’s. Lots of memories accompany me with every visit so each trip is a “grounding” of sorts. I think we all need that from time to time, or at least I do.
On one particular trip in early summer I noticed a small critter scurrying through the parched grass a short distance away and after closer inspection I recognized a little Mexican ground squirrel quite busy looking for some grub to store in his burrow. Being somewhat familiar with the habits of these little boogers I quietly approached with my camera and shot some images. Seeming to be somewhat unafraid of my 6 ft frame towering nearby, it was clear that I should take advantage of his acceptance of me and plan a routine pilgrimage to solidify our symbiotic friendship.
As the visits became routine “Fat Earl” and I became pals and he trusted my being near him at all times. I would often find him/her seeds to eat and occasionally an insect for dessert, an added morsel he seemed to relish.
Over the course of the summer I took over a thousand photos of Fat Earl doing what ground squirrels do. Then one day I drove up and something was different. Earl did not come running when I exited the pickup. An ominous void troubled me as I approached his burrow, a feeling that perhaps all was over for the little dude. After several minutes of imitating his call, a whistle that always brought a response, I knew that our time together was over.
Probably not, but much of it is better.
Weather is very very local. 50 miles can make a huge difference. In some cases 5 miles can.
That is why the predictors do so poorly.
This is how we like to spend times with squirrels.
linkie no workie:
403 Forbidden
Resin Professional 3.0.21 (built Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:17:46 PDT)
I know what you intended.
On of my friends called squirrels “tree rats”. Guess they are somewhat like that.
Told my father (86) about the photo’s (he knows Wyman too) and he told me about an aunt of mine and how she dealt with a hill covered with ground squirrels near her chicken coop. Seems the ground squirrels were catching and eating her young chickens. So she went to war. With her .22 rifle she won the war. She must have had the hill covered with ground squirrels from what my father told me.
webmail.cfl.rr.com/do/mail/message/download?msgId=INBOXDELIM1176&part=2.2.2&l=en-US&v=standard
weird, it just worked for me. Hmm... It’s a hilarious video. I’ll try another linkage for you as soon as I feed the herd. Everyone is out of school today and off work.
webmail.cfl.rr.com/do/mail/message/download?msgId=INBOXDELIM1176&part=2.2.2&l=en-US&v=standard
Okay, copy and paste this in a new tab, it will open in whatever media player you have as the default. Let me know.
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