The Great Squirrel Mystery
Mr. Squirrel has been coming to visit our balcony rather regularly. I couldn’t figure out why. He’d already decided he didn’t like my plants (by taking ample taste samples of each one, the turkey). I finally had to guess he was coming because he liked to tease the cats, especially ACfH. Now this doesn’t speak well of the local squirrel gene pool, but then there’s a reason squirrels never developed the theory of relativity I suppose.
Then, a few weeks back, the day Clueless Wonder came home from the hospital, all was explained. I left these pictures at highest resolution because the glass door of the balcony clouded a few of them, so if you aren’t on DSL or cable these may load a bit slowly for you when you click on the thumbnails. If it’s too slow, let me know in a comment and I’ll resize the pictures for better load time.
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Mr. Squirrel sizes up the joint. Simultaneously cautious and cocky, he’s got a practiced air of “who, me?” about him. This, of course, verifies he’s up to something. |
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Adolescent Cat from Hell isn’t missing a trick. Mr. Squirrel is apparently about to make his move, and ACfH knows it’s all about her. She’s looking forward to whatever game is in store. |
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Clueless Wonder watched from the top of the sofa. He’d only been home from his hospital stay for a few hours, and simply didn’t feel up to any high-jinks. I suspect he was glad Mr. Squirrel was taking ACfH off his paws for a while. |
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Feeling confident that the coast is clear, Mr. Squirrel moves in a tad closer. The moment is at hand. What moment is at hand I have no idea, but it is clear he has an objective in mind. |
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Yup, this is definitely working out the way he planned. |
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At this point, the Warrior Princess deigns to take note of Mr. Squirrel. She has better things to do than be teased by a squirrel, so she isn’t going to agree to interact with him. She will keep an eye open though, in case the door miraculously opens and she has a chance at an extra meal. |
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Mr. Squirrel, sure that every thing is secure, moves into position. The objective is nearly at hand. |
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THIS is what the squirrel has been raiding my balcony for? Years ago, when visiting the desert in Arizona on vacation, I came across the partial skeleton of a steer. The bones were bleached white and absolutely clean. I wanted the skull, but with no way to transport it home, I settled for a nice femur. It’s been on display in my home ever since. And this is what Mr. Squirrel has been returning time and again to the balcony for. |
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ACfH is crushed. All this time, she thought he’d been coming to see her. And it turns out all he wants is some extra calcium. I suspect she has a bone to pick with him. |
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In the wild, the bones and antlers of the dead seldom last long. There are not very many good calcium sources in nature, and rodents in particular need a good supply of calcium to keep their teeth fit. Rodent’s teeth never stop growing their entire lives, so it’s important to find a source of calcium to keep those teeth happy. So much for my really neat cow femur. |