Squirrels

Florida, Spring, 1994. Palm trees swaying in the wind, hibiscus flowers, citrus trees in bloom, cockers frolicking in the sunshine chasing butterflies and squirrels....

I was loading up to take off for a dog show weekend when a squirrel began acting strangely, trying to get into our living room via the window screen. The week before in our neighborhood, a fox had attacked a Lab and tried to follow the owner into his house. It was found to have rabies, and the dog owner had to undergo treatment, even though it did not bite him.

Figuring no squirrel in it's right mind would try to get INTO a house full of cocker spaniels, my "red flag" went up and as I was leaving I added yet another post-it note to the fridge for my hubby: SQUIRREL ALERT! Remember fox! Look before letting dogs out! CAUTION!

My husband came home, let the dogs out, THEN read my note. Alarmed, he called them in and some time later they began barking at the French doors leading to our screened porch and clamored to get out. My husband opened the doors to look out, letting the dogs onto the porch, and pandemonium broke loose. I had left a bag of birdseed on the table and had forgotten to fill the bird..I use the term loosely...feeder. Hungry, the squirrel took matters into his own paws and chewed a hole in the screen to let himself in. Upon the arrival of the dogs, the party was over. Seeds went flying, the squirrel scurried up the screen, plants were airborne and got knocked over along with a couple of chairs. Finally, my husband chased it outside with a broom.

(The remaining seeds were still on the table!) Again, my husband opens the doors to see why the dogs are barking, letting the dogs out and history repeats itself. One of the squirrels would not be returning due to an unfortunate incident with a broom, but the seeds were removed, and the screen porch returned to order, and calm was restored.

Some species need several mishaps before a lesson is learned. Perhaps my husband has learned finally to look first, then act. I know the squirrels will.