Squirrelly

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Rock Squirrel (Note the lovely pattern on the fur.)

When I was a kid growing up in D.C., squirrels were everywhere.  My dad even had an on-going battle with one who kept getting into the house’s attic.  He dubbed him “Bushy,” and did his best to keep him out, while Bushy did his best to keep getting in.

When I went to college in New York, Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus in the Bronx had lots of squirrels, including charcoal black squirrels.  Many of the campus squirrels were half-tame, and would come creeping up to students who were out on the central green in the hope of a handout.

When I moved to Virginia, squirrels were again omnipresent.  Therefore, I was rather startled when I moved to New Mexico to realize that there weren’t squirrels everywhere.  Some of the parks, especially those with taller trees, would have some squirrels, but these were uncommon enough to be worthy of comment.  The forests in the mountains had their share of squirrels but, especially after I moved to Albuquerque, I grew as accustomed to not seeing squirrels as once I had taken them for granted.

Eventually, I learned that urban New Mexico does have squirrels, but unlike the grey squirrels of my childhood, these are rock squirrels.  We have at least one who has taken to frequenting our yard, including competing with Skinny the Thrasher for our bird block.

As you can see, although rock squirrels can apparently do without water for long periods, that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate having access.  As we shift into winter, we’ll see more of the squirrel, as he takes advantage of the seed the birds knock from the feeders.  Of course, he’ll have some competition.  Already, Skinny has made his disapproval clear, and there’s a scrub jay who also has opinions…

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Here’s Looking At You, Kid!