Cyn's Nature Notes: A Sad Squirrel Day

Thursday 1 November 2012

A Sad Squirrel Day

A sad day, the facially scarred squirrel came to the lounge window for food this morning, as always I waved to him and went to the kitchen to feed him.

Looking out of the window there he was ready and waiting (he is always quicker to reach there than I am!). Through the window I checked his wounded head, on the left side it was hideously swollen, but looked clean and dry --- no oozing pus. I had often seen it looking much worse and wished I could do something about it.

Opening the window I gave him some food, he took it and put it to his mouth, turning it round and round in his little hands. Meanwhile I refilled the bird table with dried fruit, seed, porridge oats, suet and mealworms. Glancing at the squirrel I noticed he was still standing in the same position, holding the food to his mouth and still turning it round and round. As I watched he dropped the food moved across and picked up more.

I had never seen this behaviour before and was intrigued, so continued to watch.

The squirrel went from one piece of food to another, it didn't matter what he picked up, he didn't seem able to eat it. Watching closely I realised that although he could put the food to his mouth he appeared to be unable to open his mouth.

He was obviously very hungry, he was standing on the bird table, bringing his hands together in a sweeping motion, then trying to push the food into his still closed mouth.

He climbed back up to the windowsill and sat there looking at me. I felt so helpless, I didn't know how to help him. Then I had an idea that may work, he loved peanuts, opening the tin I took a handful and dropped them out to him. Quickly he picked one up held it to his mouth, but he wasn't putting it in despite trying, in his efforts he rubbed all of the skin off the peanut. He dropped the peanut and moved on to the next one, he did this repeatedly always with the same results.

While watching him I became aware that his tail which had always been long and luxuriant, was no longer, I noticed the last inch was hairless and looked like a rats tail, the whole of the rest of the tail also looked different. Gone were the long luxuriant light coloured hairs and left was a covering of short brownish hair.

What had happened to him I wondered. Did it have something to do with his inability to eat? Had he been damaged by a car or a cat?

He was back on the windowsill, standing, hands clutched in front of him and staring at me, obviously hungry and still he hadn't managed to eat.

I racked my brains and thought of grapes, which he also loved. Taking four I cut them in half and gave them to him. One after the other he picked them up, put them to his mouth but was still unable to eat them.

It was a good fifteen minutes now and still he hadn't managed to eat anything. He was back on the bird table and sweeping up hands full of food trying to push the food into his mouth. Feeling upset that I could do nothing to help him, I left the window asking myself, what will happen to him.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.