Pat’s Wildways: The cat and the squirrels

It’s been eight months since we adopted Melina from Cats Angels and she has made her personality clear to us. At barely 2 years old she is more active and personable than we remember our last years with old beloved Dumela, who preceded her in our life. And now Melina’s interests are becoming ours.

Melina is fixated on squirrels. In the morning, the area around our bird feeder is overrun with squirrels, and since this is positioned right outside our bedroom, it’s a perfect place for her to squirrel watch while keeping me company. Sometimes a hawk swoops in to up the excitement. Although she has never been outside, Melina knows the lay of the land outside our windows. When a squirrel runs out of her view Melina races through the house to a window in another room where she can follow their actions.  We have a little ditty we sing to her, “I’m a squirrel watcher — here comes one now.” Sound familiar — surely you know the tune, with the words a bit modified?

When I lounge in bed in the morning with my coffee and IPod newspapers (hey I’m retired, don’t judge me) I sometimes share my technology with Melina. I turn on squirrel videos for cats, and Melina lies in front of the screen, sometimes reaching out to touch them, sometimes looking around to see where they went when they exit the screen. I can only tolerate this so long, but anything for the cat.

I’ve become a squirrel watcher too, thanks to her. I happily watch them weaving in and among the blooming wisteria flowers on our trellis and not too happily survey the destruction they do to our blooming bottlebrush flowers. The ground is littered with red bottlebrushes that squirrels have plucked from the tree and eaten part of before discarding the remains on the ground. Oh well, let them enjoy their spring too. No real harm done. The harm I am expecting from these critters will come soon enough when they discover the bulbs Bucko and I have planted throughout the garden. I am pretty sure that big gladiola bulbs would make a great squirrel meal, and I’m sure before long they will find them to fill their bellies. But hey, Melina loves squirrels and their activity. Anything for the cat.

Squirrels, chipmunks and their kin are favorite pets in Bangkok and it makes sense. Those that live in city apartments and small quarters may have problems keeping dogs and cats, but squirrels are small, easily managed and fun. The Chatuchak Market in Bangkok is one of the largest weekend markets in the world, where you can buy nearly everything. I’ve been going there for decades and have seen some positive changes. Now, at last, you can no longer buy endangered or threatened species from back alley vendors. I used to see monkeys and exotic cats for sale by vendors lurking in the back alleys of the market. This illegal wildlife trade had stopped. And now squirrels have replaced these contraband pets. A number of vendors now legally sell squirrels and all of the accoutrements a pet owner needs to keep them. Well “needs” is maybe not the best word, but “wants” is more like it. If you want collars and leashes and hats and costumes for your squirrel this is the place!

Gray squirrels are our local backyard residents throughout the Eastern United States. Although most gray squirrels are indeed gray there are albino (white with red eyes) or leucistic (white but no red eyes) populations of this species in various locals including neighborhoods I’ve visited in Washington D.C. And not far away, in the Okefenokee swamp and adjacent lands another species of squirrel rules the roost. Large multi-colored fox squirrels are often visible on drives through the pine forest that lines the entrance to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge outside Folkston, Georgia if you keep a sharp eye out. These squirrels like to hide behind tree trunks when they are noticed but with patience you might see one to admire its handsome coloring and large size.

I know I will never be as fascinated by squirrels as Melina always is, but hey, she’s a cat. Now I will always value the squirrels in our yard despite the damage they wreak on my flowers, shrubs and bulbs. Yes, anything for the cat.

Pat Foster-Turley, Ph.D., is a zoologist on Amelia Island. She welcomes your nature questions and observations. patandbucko@yahoo.com