Squirrel

One of our three brown squirrels was leisurely eating from the seeds I poured on a bench, while the other two climbed up trees and over the top of our shed when suddenly our four female mule deer appeared.

Now there wasn’t going to be enough seeds for all the wildlife that had appeared, and the squirrel knew that. The deer jockeyed for position at the bench. One would stand up slightly on her hind feet and paw with her front feet at the others until they left the area. After eating by herself one of the deer returned and was allowed to stay. The squirrel really became upset watching the food disappear into the two deer. He’d run to the bench and stretch up of grab a sunflower seed. He was only a foot from the deer, but watching the seeds that had been his only a few minutes ago was too much.

Maybe our Abert squirrel was here earlier today. He likes to sit in the middle of the stand right off the deck and pick through the assortment of seeds and nuts. Last winter he would run off if he saw us watching him from the window, but this winter he seems to be at ease with our routine, and willing to let us watch him play in the trees. He jumps much farther and faster than the brown squirrels; he appears to be flying with the turfs of black fur on his ears, and the long soft fur on his body flowing in the wind.

This afternoon we may see our two red foxes or three rabbits. The term ‘still of winter’ doesn’t come to mind watching all the wildlife travel the snowy slopes of our yard.