Sharon Kleve - Hairlarious Critter Tails

Hairlarious Critter

Tails

Sharon Kleve

Hairlarious Critter Tails

Copyright 2021 Sharon Kleve

All right reserved. Published by SRK Publications.

No part of this book may not be reproduced in any form without written permission

from the Author and Publisher.

Cover Design by Tammy Tate at TNT Graphic Design

https://authortammytate.wixsite.com/tntgraphicdesigns

Cover and Animal Images from Pixabay

First eBook Edition April 2021

Introduction

A life without animals is not worth living

I VE HAD DOGS, BIRDS , frogs, lizards, rabbits and of course precious cats all my life. My husband and I have a dozen bird feeders, two water fountains, and multiple yard-art fixtures that we put food and water in for the critters. Out my front window, I can see squirrels, rabbits, and those crazy raccoon bandits. One year, we even had a pair of Mallard ducks that called our front yard home. There really isnt anything better than seeing wildlife flourish...

Nutty Facts about Squirrels

F ood is important during the cold winter months for squirrels. It makes sense, therefore, that some species are able to smell food under a foot of snow. The squirrel will then dig a tunnel under the snow, following the scent to their (or another squirrels) buried treasure.

A SQUIRRELS FRONT teeth never stop growing. This is a common characteristic of other rodents, as well. The word rodent actually derives from the Latin word rodere, which means to gnaw.

S QUIRRELS MAY LOSE 25 percent of their buried food to thieves. And thats just from members of their own species. Scatter hoarders (squirrels with multiple caches of food) have a difficult time keeping an eye on all of their hidden food. Fellow squirrels or birds often take advantage of this for a free meal.

T HEY ZIGZAG TO ESCAPE predators. When squirrels feel threatened, they run away in a zigzag pattern. This is an incredibly useful strategy to escape hawks and other predators. Unfortunately, it doesnt work so well on cars. Consider slowing down and giving squirrels a brake.

S QUIRRELS MAY PRETEND to bury a nut to throw off potential thieves. Squirrels have been observed engaging in deceptive caching. This is where a squirrel digs a hole and vigorously covers it up again, but without depositing the nut. It seems this is done to throw off potential food thieves.

A NEWBORN SQUIRREL is about an inch long. If you come across one of these itty-bitty baby squirrels, please consult online resources, which will advise you what to do. That will help give the baby squirrel its best chance at survival.

I TS HARD TO IMAGINE , but before the nineteenth century, there were no squirrels in Central Park or Harvard Square or Lafayette Park. Urban reformers, who imagined the squirrel as a rural icon of sorts, wanted to introduce the animal to places like Central Park in Manhattan in order to create a bucolic atmosphere that was entertaining, enlightening, and salubrious. Now you can find squirrels are everywhere.

S QUIRRELS ARE ACROBATIC , intelligent, and adaptable. If youre not convinced, try to hang a bird feeder without these bandits giving you a challenge.