Every morning a gray squirrel sits in one of our redwood trees. He’s waiting, impatiently I might add, for Jake to leave on his walk so he, the squirrel, can have the run of the yard. He cavorts! Drinks his fill out of our fountain, chases the birds from the feeder and gorges on birdseed, stashes away his acorns in my garden- where they grow into little oak trees the following year because he’s forgotten all about them. He’s a hoot. And Jake hates his ass.
Jake knows he’s up there. The squirrel sits on his branch, chattering away, and tosses redwood cones down at the dog, hoping to chase him off. I’m guessing since Jake eventually does vanish from the yard, the squirrel assumes he’s won. I put Jake in the car and when I come back in the house to get my keys and my cell phone, that cheeky little fellow is already on the deck peering through the sliding door. He’s practically turning somersaults he’s so happy. Our yard is his wonderland. It provides much of what he needs - food, water, soft soil.
It reminds me of Louie and Tub-Tub. Tub-Tub was our neighbor’s cat. Louie hated his guts. All one of us had to do was say the name, “Tub-Tub,” and Louie went crazy, tried to rip the stuffing out of the closest toy.
With Jake I just say, “The squirrel’s out there,” and Jake is out the dog door in a flash, ready to rip him limb from limb. But he’ll never catch the squirrel.
And Jake is thinking, like Hamlet:
Aye, there’s the rub.
I adore Jake. And the squirrel. Thanks for sharing.
Too cute.
I LOVE your Jake stories. And the squirrel is pretty cool, too! Thanks for sharing!
Wish I had Jake to chase the squirrels that invade and tear up my garden nearly daily. I put down hot pepper flakes to keep them away. Jake would be more fun. Do you loan him out?
Beautiful critters, squirrels. And so hardworking. No human to feed them every day, make sure they’re okay, tuck them into nice clean nests.
A friend’s housemate rescued two hairless baby squirrels, and I had the pleasure of interacting a tiny bit with them. Sharp claws (and now sense that they are hurting the person they jump onto), extremely curious, fun to watch (sadly one of them wandered into the street at the wrong time already…). The other is in a nearby tree building a nest with other teenage squirrels - and coming ‘home’ periodically to get a treat and a belly rub.
And then I have the chinchilla - who is perfectly happy running around in her darkened room, getting the run of part of the house for a couple hours every evening, and sleeping the rest of the time - who can do nothing for herself, and whom I can’t let go free (or get too warm - they melt) - and will always be a not-very-good pet (she doesn’t like to be petted unless I’m giving her treats).
Animals - like your gorgeous German shepherds - are so fascinating. I don’t think there is a human behavior that isn’t prefigured somewhere in the animal world. Including not wanting YOUR backyard invaded by some pesky upstart.
I like squirrels, Alicia. Unfortunately they have not adapted to motorized vehicles.
Yes, too bad, Roberta. He won’t hurt a squirrel but he will chase one!
Thanks, Anny! Thanks, Amber!
Thanks, Greta!
What a fun story. When I was a kid, we had a squirrel who knocked on the kitchen window every day at noon for a snack. Squirrels have great personalities.
They are interesting little critters, Steph. Busy. My grandmother fed them, and then they all moved into her attic. That was a mess!
Too cute:)
Sandra-