I’ve made a friend!
Now, this little story could involve a couple different squirrels, but regardless, it makes me feel like I somehow got bit by a radioactive Disney VHS tape, and now I’m like cartoon royalty with the ability to become friends with adorable and whimsical creatures.
I came home from work a couple weeks ago to hear this weird rattling coming from the neighbour’s backyard. I live in a basement apartment, so I have a separate entrance at the back of the house, and as I was walking to my door, it was a noise that I didn’t want to ignore, for whatever reason. Something told me to investigate. As I approached our fence, I could see a squirrel caught in what looked like an oversized mousetrap. It was within reach, and I’m pretty tall, so I didn’t even hesitate and leaned over and grabbed it. Maybe that was stupid of me, but I saw this poor animal struggling and my instinct was to help it. I pried the trap off the squirrel’s head and neck, but it was clear that the damage had been done.
For the first couple moments, it seemed to try to get away, but something had obviously been seriously compromised and all it could do was flail around. I genuinely feel like it either could tell that I didn’t want to hurt it, or it didn’t have enough in it to keep struggling, but I could feel the adorable little squirrel settle into my arms and eventually take its final breaths. I was heartbroken to stumble upon this, and then waves of rage would wash over me as I wondered why the heck my neighbour would have a stupid trap like this in his yard. I ended up placing the squirrel to rest under a bush in my backyard, with some flowers that I picked from our front yard, and then called animal control to come pick the little guy up the next day. It wasn’t a nice experience, and I’ve since stolen the trap and got rid of it. If he asks or says anything, I’ll happily tell him what I walked into that day and make sure he knows that he won’t be trapping squirrels anymore, unless he wants to live next to a Kevin McAllister.
Anyways… whenever I’m on my way home from work, I usually bike through this park that’s pretty much the halfway point home. I’ve always loved squirrels, and there happens to be a lot of them constantly running about this park, doing their squirrel business. And every now and then, I stop and make those “kiss your teeth” noises, you know? Just to see if any squirrels will come over to me. It makes me happy and adds some extra joy to my day, even if they approach me just a little bit. After that squirrel died in my arms though, something has changed.
For the last couple weeks, the squirrels have begun to either recognize me, trust me, or maybe I knowingly signed some kind of magical contract that made me a Disney prince… I really don’t know what it is! But one day after I tried to help that squirrel, they started coming so much closer. Then they let me reach out. Then they let me touch their tail. Then they started coming right up to my shoe, and sometimes trying to climb my pant leg. And then I googled what was healthy for squirrels to eat, and I started bringing almonds with me, and that really changed everything.
Last week, I stopped in this park every single day after I finished work. Granted, I also always stop in the exact same spot, so this squirrel, or these squirrels, probably now know where to expect me as well. The last couple days, I’d make about five seconds of squirrel noises, and then I’d see a single black squirrel darting across an open patch of grass, directly towards me and right to the tip of my shoe. On Friday, I just sat down in the grass with one of the squirrels that I’m pretty sure keeps coming back and multiple people stopped during their walks through the park as this squirrel ate out of my hand, climbed on me, and let me gently pet it. An older couple even stopped to have a conversation with me to state how amazed they were at what they were seeing, while this squirrel just happily hung out with me. At one point, I’m cautiously petting the squirrel’s back, and it flips over, and giving me its belly, and starts kicking at my hand with its feet, like a cat would when it’s playing with you! We all reacted in amazement. I couldn’t believe it.
With winter approaching, part of me wants to stop in the park as much as I can after work each day to visit. But I also live near the RBG in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and where the nature trails are at Cherry Hill Gate, there’s a sign now that stays “don’t feed the wildlife” because I guess they became so dependent on all the people feeding them that it was destroying the ecosystem. If stopping in this park each day with an almond or two is innocent and harmless, then I’ll continue to do it. But if it’s doing more for me than it is for them, and I’m being selfish, then I’ll just stop by to say hi, instead of bringing treats.
Either way, for the last couple weeks, this has been a pretty darn cool feeling to have a little connection with these tiny creatures. While it was heartbreaking to see one die right in front of me, it has been really incredible to gradually gain another’s trust. And it’s really added something special to my life.
Let me know if you think it’s a good idea that I continue buying healthy treats, or if I should just stick to visiting instead. And if I keep getting adorable pictures of my little friends, I’ll make sure to keep posting them here.