I have heard more than once and first hand that a hand-raised baby squirrel is as affectionate as a cat or dog—though not as trainable. By a long shot.
The youngster, for sure, but the one with the buttoned up shirt or the flamboyantly furry tail? Who bit who? Biting is not, always and foregone of conclusion a one-way instinctive response to a body finding itself to be perceiving itself to be "in a too tight corner!"
The youngster is my brother who, like every other family member, was never bitten. Only the Reverend was bitten after trying to grab and shake the squirrel to the ground: a big no-no in squirrel etiquette. Ask Nugget.
Or the first SQRL you've happened to read writings of suggesting human attachment Verna?
Like Robin Red Breast truth is - I suspect - that Syd the Fluffy SQRL is as exemplary of "nature red in beak and claw as there is to be found in Nature.
Aww! When a (presumably, rescued) baby squirrel is hand-raised, it can be as affectionate as a cat or dog—though not as trainable. I have know a couple of people who have had a pet squirrel.
An astrologer once told me I was a squirrel in a former life. I can believe it--I love nuts, I tend to
"squirrel" things away, and although I dislike other rodents, I am fond of squirrels. I edited a book on them once. The one thing I remember from the book is the author took squirrels to the dentist--they got cavities from being fed sweets in Washington Square Park.
On reflection, I think it was only one squirrel she took to the dentist, and he had to be anesthetized for the dental work. There was a way the squirrel got into her apartment from the outside and they soon bonded and the squirrel made frequent visits.
I love this re: you, as squirrel; I am skeptical re: the dental work. How could this be? Anesthesia and then what? Poor squirrel! (Not you, the squirrel, NYC sweet-eating squirrel.)
Then he filled the cavities! Or maybe there was a root canal? I don't remember. But the squirrel was in pain from the infected tooth/teeth so it did seem to me like a good idea at the time. Too bad I didn't keep my copy of the book. I don't remember title or author.
AI found : "Squirrels at My Window: Life With a Remarkable Gang of Urban Squirrels" by Grace Marmor Spruch but it was published by Johnson Books in 2000 and the book I copy-edited was at least a decade earlier for William Morrow--maybe she resold the rights or this was the paperback and the version I saw was the hardcover.
Looking forward to SQRL 3 should there be another 100*Wordsworth of Kalin Memoir in this theme.
🐿 Nugget says "I like that SQRL has turned out to be much about me and my kind, rather than that other SQRL. Mind you, fair play to Substack and to Rebecca's Substack in particular SQRL is the very watchword: Secure, Quick, Reliable Login!"
Squirrels form attachment to food sources!:)
I thought so often of JIles’s Jack.
Yes, Michael told me many stories about him. Sweet little fellow.
He thought the window was open. RIP.
Yup.
Yes. (Don’t we all? Kiwi-lover….)
Yes, we all do! I'm still eating kiwi.
Amazing attachments; never failing to find the caches where they previously buried their 🥜
I had always considered squirrels rodents with fluffy tales. This is the first squirrel that I’ve heard of capable of human attachment
I’ve got a fluffy tailed four legged cat lying on me as I write this
I have heard more than once and first hand that a hand-raised baby squirrel is as affectionate as a cat or dog—though not as trainable. By a long shot.
That is my little brother in the picture.
The youngster, for sure, but the one with the buttoned up shirt or the flamboyantly furry tail? Who bit who? Biting is not, always and foregone of conclusion a one-way instinctive response to a body finding itself to be perceiving itself to be "in a too tight corner!"
The youngster is my brother who, like every other family member, was never bitten. Only the Reverend was bitten after trying to grab and shake the squirrel to the ground: a big no-no in squirrel etiquette. Ask Nugget.
Or the first SQRL you've happened to read writings of suggesting human attachment Verna?
Like Robin Red Breast truth is - I suspect - that Syd the Fluffy SQRL is as exemplary of "nature red in beak and claw as there is to be found in Nature.
Aww! When a (presumably, rescued) baby squirrel is hand-raised, it can be as affectionate as a cat or dog—though not as trainable. I have know a couple of people who have had a pet squirrel.
Very funny. I liked the rap song, the ro-Dent line is a good one.
And now when you are asked how many acorns it takes to make a forest you have the answer!
An astrologer once told me I was a squirrel in a former life. I can believe it--I love nuts, I tend to
"squirrel" things away, and although I dislike other rodents, I am fond of squirrels. I edited a book on them once. The one thing I remember from the book is the author took squirrels to the dentist--they got cavities from being fed sweets in Washington Square Park.
I love this idea re: you but have a hard time believing the dental care idea, as thoughtful and generous as it sounds!
On reflection, I think it was only one squirrel she took to the dentist, and he had to be anesthetized for the dental work. There was a way the squirrel got into her apartment from the outside and they soon bonded and the squirrel made frequent visits.
I love this re: you, as squirrel; I am skeptical re: the dental work. How could this be? Anesthesia and then what? Poor squirrel! (Not you, the squirrel, NYC sweet-eating squirrel.)
Then he filled the cavities! Or maybe there was a root canal? I don't remember. But the squirrel was in pain from the infected tooth/teeth so it did seem to me like a good idea at the time. Too bad I didn't keep my copy of the book. I don't remember title or author.
I'll look for it. The publisher was...?
AI found : "Squirrels at My Window: Life With a Remarkable Gang of Urban Squirrels" by Grace Marmor Spruch but it was published by Johnson Books in 2000 and the book I copy-edited was at least a decade earlier for William Morrow--maybe she resold the rights or this was the paperback and the version I saw was the hardcover.
Wow! Thnx . ordered a copy for lil bro.
That may be the most endearing photo I've ever seen of a young boy and his squirrel ...
The young boy is my very dear brother Jeff.
Be sure to read the PS below. The rap song will make you laugh.
Looking forward to SQRL 3 should there be another 100*Wordsworth of Kalin Memoir in this theme.
🐿 Nugget says "I like that SQRL has turned out to be much about me and my kind, rather than that other SQRL. Mind you, fair play to Substack and to Rebecca's Substack in particular SQRL is the very watchword: Secure, Quick, Reliable Login!"
Rob, this is so cute. Please break it gently to Nugget that SQRL 2 may be the end.
"Ah well, 2 SQRLs are better than one or none" says Nugget, stoically.
Nugget, the philosopher..The stoic philosopher.