squirrels at the gate

It's been a while since we out put birdseed. Laziness, mostly, and the fact that up til this past year, Baxter wasn't really into the squirrels that always ate more than their fair share of our offerings. But news of the upcoming snow prompted me to refill our feeders, throw seed on the ground and set up a makeshift feeder in the front yard so that the birds and yes even the squirrels would have something to eat once the ground was blanketed with snow.

Little did I realize what a source of entertainment this would be for Tiny Chumley. Squirrels now linger a little longer on the ground in the backyard, hoping to snitch one last seed before being chased away by our tiny wolf. Turf wars rage in our front yard, with a seemingly endless supply of squirrels battling it out for control of the seed plate and it surrounding area.

Baxter sits on his kitty perch, entranced by the scene before him. Better than Duk Duk (shhh!), better than even sitting by george sometimes, it seems the little kielbasa could stare for hours, tracking the movements of these gray furry marauders.

Yesterday, an unusual event occurred, one would have caused tiny chumley to plotz were it not for the fact that every ounce of his primal being came into play. A squirrel, seeking refuge from that morning's turf wars, ran up onto the windowsill,and sat only inches from Baxter's face. Stunned, little kielbasa didn't quite know what to do at first, til instincts finally sprung into action. Baxter slid his sausagey body between the perch and the window, stumbling about in an attempt to keep up with the squirrel who now seemed to be taunting him by running the length of the windowsill.

It all happened so quickly that by the time I had camera in hand, I only caught the second wave of Baxter's squirrel encounter. Proof, neverthless, that I really should fill the birdfeeders more often.