This Grey Squirrel found its way into our garden over 3 years ago now, withing a week I had it tamed, and named her Hazel. She would sit on my chair or knee and take food from my hand.
As friendly and tame as it was I kept in mind it was a wild creature that had very sharp teeth, and was feeding from me because food was thin on the ground in late winter.
Hazel would turn up for food and knock on the window to be let in or fed.... visitors to the house would find this very amusing. She went on to have a litter of young that first year. and the same the year after. Last year she was looking in very poor condition and started to lose her fur..
I have not seen her since and know that she would have died last spring. Today I was in the kitchen washing up ( I hope you read this Jane ) when I caught sight of another squirrel eating currents and chopped nuts I had put out. I will not be trying to tame this one, but will try to encourage it to feed around here as they make a good subject to take pictures of.Enjoy The Weekend
16 comments:
She was a lovely girl! At the cottage we have chipmunks who come and take peanuts out your hand.One day my Dad fell asleep on the deck after feeding the chipmunks. I guess his fingers and thumb still smelled like peanuts and he happened on the only blind one of the bunch, as the chipmunk came up and grabbed his thumb while he was sleeping. He awoke in a hurry with a tiny chipmunk firmly attached to his thumb!
That's such a nice story ! I would tame the next one ! I couldn't resist. We don't have a lot of squirrels here in our area, and they are far smaller than the English or American once and they are red.
Hazel had a good couple of years with you, Tom. Maybe this new one is her offspring?
My wife still calls em tree-rats.
They are clever little creatures to watch, but they can also be quite a pain in the butt when they want to be.
The note to Jane, does this mean you don't wash up in the kitchen often, poor Jane has to do it all? LOL
Happy week-end to the two of you.
I do miss squirrels in Australia and yours are just so beautiful ... just like Beatrix Potter!
Awww, so sad. Poor Hazel. It's great that you have the memories and I'm sure you helped her to survive longer than she would have otherwise.
I'm hoping that Hazel feel asleep and just didn't wake up. I love seeing squirrels when ever I visit the UK♥ Do you remember the Tufty's Club from the early 60's I wonder?
Tufty - full name Tufty Fluffytail - had his origins in 1953, created by the late Elsie Miles. In 1961, the Tufty Club was set up as a network of local groups - which at its peak had nearly 25,000 branches throughout the country. Parents would join the Tufty Club on their children's behalf, and children would proudly wear badges showing that they were members.
By the early 1970s, an estimated 2m children had been members, and the movement continued well into the 1980s. Tufty has since had a couple of makeovers, and he remains a residual icon for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which gave him to the world.
I always wanted to be a member of the Tufty club but never did:(
Cherish and enjoy your new little squirrel♥
Thanks for all the comments ..
Linda, I was in the Tufty Club in the early 1960's whilst at infant school... I remember them doing road safety badges I'm sure... I was also in The Uncle Ben's Club... in the North Cheshire Herald.... or the Reporter as we called it. I think it is still going. Thanks for bringing all of this back to me this fine sunny but cold Sunday morning.
Lucky you Tom:) I always wanted a Cracker Jack Pencil as well! Enjoy your cool but lovely sunny Sunday.
Great collection here my friend.
I had a dog named Hazel. She died at 13 and reading about your squirrel with the same name made me sad. Sorry about the loss of your Hazel.
I had a dog named Hazel. She died at 13 and reading about your squirrel with the same name made me sad. Sorry about the loss of your Hazel.
Tom: They are a fun critter to capture on film.
Sad, isn't it. But you did a wonderful thing for Hazel. This is a sweet story.
What a lovely story.
I thought you might enjoy this link to a woman who tamed a squirrel in the 50s: http://www.life.com/image/50489823/in-gallery/29952/a-squirrels-guide-to-fashion
Post a Comment