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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMama squirrel defends baby and charges Omaha Steve, then Marta
I've been watering the grass today as a short heat wave is hitting the area. I walked out the garage door and surprised mama and baby squirrel. They were drinking from our fountain. I came back in to get Marta. We went out together and the two were still there. Mama went straight to the home tree 10 feet away. Baby didn't think as fast.
He started climbing up the faux bricks on the house foundation. S/he got to the steel siding and could not get a grip. It was pretty much trapped where it was by the siding and window. S/he panicked. It let out repeated blood curdling scream neither of us ever heard from a squirrel. Mama responded with that angry sound squirrels are known for. Then she started coming down from the tree.
She was making a straight line towards me. I stepped away from the area of her youngster, and she started to go towards Marta. Marta scampered back into the garage. Mama stood guard. We both came back into the house.
When I went back out about fifteen minutes later, they were gone. I'm sure they were happy to be reunited in their tree. Marta and I are glad they are fine too.
OS
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)Glad they are okay - as well as Marta! Mr. Gen had to get real aggressive with a male who didn't want me outside on the patio one morning.
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)aggressive. he's got huge rat traps out for the Chipmunks. usually gets the squirrels though actually saved one that was some form of squirrel pointy ears.. mom was like don't look I did but it was still breathing. so I carefully lifted the traps bar. off it went to a tree shaking .. I'm not entirely a fan of traps. especially out in the open. can't really tell them apart though male and females fairly sure though the females come up to me. males meh they only defend themselves. so usually if I've spooked a squirrel I just sit down maybe backs to them , usually they don't get tense if you've sat down.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)Home made sling shot - he shot the walnuts right back at the mean one. i swear on my father's grave - the little jerk caught one and ran off with it.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)I've only heard that blood-curdling scream ONCE when I had to remove a squirrel from my husband's place of employment (apparently, having had guinea pigs all my life gives me some unknown experience in handling small mammals I was never aware of). It was tame enough, but then when I was able to catch him, it made this chilling sound. It never bit me, though. It was just scared.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story. You had me doing "aws" all throughout.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]Treat your body like a machine. Your mind like a castle.[/center][/font][hr]
Treant
(1,968 posts)because it's nuts.
Omaha Steve
(99,708 posts)We met him in 2002 and again in 2004 at the LA Twilight Zone Cons. Marta's write up from the 2004 meeting needs a correction. Seattle should be Atlanta or Mountain transit. Ben lives out that way, so mountain is probably it.
http://www.steveandmarta.com/tzcon2004.htm
As written about 1/3 of the way down. Lots of photos warning/dial up: On Saturday we were up early and off to the Twilight Zone convention. We had about 100 pounds worth of pictures to get signed, and it was a rich, full day. We went to Ben Cooper first, who was marvelous; he was wearing a cowboy hat and a holster. He asked if the video camera was on, and when Steve said yes, he pulled out his six shooter and cocked the trigger, giving us a steely eye with a twinkle in it. Steve had two "Chartroose Caboose" lobby cards for him to sign, and Ben had some great comments about working on the film. Busby Berkeley was originally brought in to direct but was fired after a week, and Edgar Buchanan had been a dentist before becoming an actor. Ben and Don Durant, who was sitting next to him, joked about Gary Merrill when they saw the TZ shot I had for Ben to sign. Ben commented on my name, which is the acronym for the Seattle rapid transit system. He signed the TZ photo with the line, "Thanks for the ride." He said I'd have fun explaining it.
The "RIDE" photo from that TZCon:
OS
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)brewens
(13,620 posts)appeared. When that happened evidently is when I heard the blood curdling scream. Like you, I never would have thought that was a squirrel if I hadn't seen it. So the victor squirrel takes off and the loser lays there totally still. I went up to it after a minute, thinking it must have been killed. It really looked like it was out and convulsed a little and came out of it, then limped off to climb up a tree. I wondered if that was a kind of defense behavior, playing dead, or mechanism that puts them out under severe stress like that?
rock
(13,218 posts)Like Ferguson police. (OK just joking, but still, I wouldn't want to get bit by one -- yes, I mean the police!)
Treant
(1,968 posts)is comfortable enough with me to bring out the babies if I'm across the yard. She keeps an eye out, but doesn't mind if I look from a distance.
Most birds don't care about me either, they're used to my presence and don't startle unless I'm really close. I've seen babies in nests, with mama standing watch close by.
Mama squirrel...I've never seen the babies. There are just an ever-increasing population of squirrels. I don't think they like me.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)Better safe than sorry.
Bettie
(16,124 posts)But, I have, according to my husband a weird love of squirrels.
When I was younger and worked in Madison up on the capitol square, I'd get a bag of popcorn at lunchtime and go feed squirrels on the capitol grounds. Some of them would climb into my lap to get their treats.
Now, I have a son who has convinced our local squirrels to take peanuts from his hand.
And I feed them all winter.
Glad your squirrels are happy and healthy!
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)It don't get no better than that!