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Friday 18 March 2016

Squirrelly

The animals along the boardwalk in Summerside, Prince Edward Island are very tame, especially the squirrels. If you happen to walk by their habitat when they are hungry, 


they will take food from your hand.



Early walkers feed them so by midmorning, they are not too interested in food offerings. One morning last week, ten squirrels were very busy around the boardwalk but not interested in peanuts. Later in the day, they were hungry again, eager to take peanuts back to their nests.



Their breeding season is in February and March, so soon a new generation of the rodents will join life along the boardwalk. Meanwhile, we, the ardent squirrel enthusiasts, marvel at their squirrelly antics as they climb the trees, 



grab for peanuts, chatter and play or argue with each other.



The claws are of particular interest due to their length and sharpness; they enable the sure-footedness for tree climbing. The toes, like fingers, curl around any food item, holding it in position to facilitate consumption.

These red squirrels have glorious bushy tails



 and beautiful red colouring down the centre of their backs and tails. 




The colouring on the tail is unique in its design around the perimeter. 



Along the boardwalk, it is difficult to see their backs; most of the time they are eating, clutching the food, sat on their haunches. 



Their squirrelly movement makes them difficult to photograph otherwise.



We look forward to the arrival of the young to the neighbourhood as they learn about the two legged animals who leave food for them.



Peek-a-boo!

16 comments:

ADRIAN said...

Just wonderful, That's how to do it. I'll try shouting peanut in a Canadian Accent.

Anvilcloud said...

I never saw red squirrels until later in life at the cottage. They are smaller and faster than the black/grey ones that I am more familiar with.

DJan said...

They are cute, although rather destructive, tearing apart the covering of chairs on my front porch to line their nests! My sister calls them rats with a pretty dress. :-)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

There's nothing quite like being scolded by a squirrel!

Angela said...

I absolutely looove squirrels!!! It must be incredible to have one of them came and get food from your hand. I have a hard time getting a photo for they hide behind trees. When we lived in Georgia-US we had some black squirrels and they are cute but my favorite are the caramel colored ones. Sooo cute!

Marie Smith said...

Good luck with that! You will be mistaken for an American. That's what happens to us!

Marie Smith said...

Our red squirrels match the red soil here.

Marie Smith said...

I think your sister is right and we should not lose sight of their wild nature. They look so cute though.

Marie Smith said...

How true. Makes me wonder sometimes, who's in there?

Marie Smith said...

It took lots of patience and photos to get these shots I posted today. They are so fast and squirrelly. I love them too.

Tomoko said...

You took those squirrels very well. It must be hard to take them moving so quickly. I like to that squirrel eating a peanut from your hand!

Marie Smith said...

They are hard to photograph but fun to watch, Tomoko.

Mage said...

It would be so nice to have some here. We have skunks. LOL

Marie Smith said...

We have them too but not as visible as the squirrels.

Anonymous said...

Loved these pictures. My wife lived in your neck of the woods for a while. She was in Argentia, Newfoundland while her father was stationed there.

Marie Smith said...

There were a lot of Americans went through Argentia over the years. Hi to your wife.