Saturday, July 30, 2022
Yard Squirrels
Earlier today, I noticed a squirrel in my back yard munching on a piece of food (couldn’t see what it was) and he was oblivious to anyone around him. My cat was sleeping not 5 feet away from him but it didn’t seem to bother him at all. Not to mention that this particular squirrel isn’t afraid of humans either…he has been know to charge at people.
It reminded me of the squirrel that my father kept after he took him home since he had fallen out of the tree as a baby. My mother and everyone around him told him that he is wild animal and should be let back into the wild. My father kept insisting that he would do so as soon as he felt he was able to take care of himself. Of course, the longer he kept him, the less likely he would be able to take care of himself.
Long story short, my father kept that squirrel for 10 years and died right after my father had a stroke and couldn’t take care of him. I built up a dislike for that squirrel because in my mind, my father did not come visit me (across the country) as often as I would have liked because he kept insisting that he had no one to take care of that squirrel. He took better care of that squirrel than he took care of his own wife. Granted, my father hated anyone that mistreated an animal, and he at least passed that on to me, but the way he coddled that squirrel was way over the top. It’s funny how something happening today can trigger a memory of previous years.
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Saturday, July 30, 2022 - 16:31:21
We’re a little guilty of that, too. We’ve been raising chickens for the past seven years. Our neighbors who have raised chickens in the past have all told us that, once the hens start to slow down in their egg production (after about three to four years), you have to cull them. Put them in the pot for stew.
I just can’t bring myself to do it. I’ve been caring for these little birds for seven years, petting them, giving them treats. They rush to my feet and cluck up a storm when ever I approach. My wife and I have both agreed, they’ll be allowed to retire in comfort and safety. It’s not very “farmer-like”, but so be it.
We have ground squirrels on our property. We’ve also been told by our neighbors that we need to trap them, shoot them, or whatever. We feed them. I know, we’re hopeless. ;)
Saturday, July 30, 2022 - 20:01:50
I agree…you definitely get attached to the critters. I’ve had my cat for 11 years now and can’t imagine not having her around. She follows me around like a little puppy dog and pretty much has me wrapped around her paw.