Paso Robles in Photos: rodents

Monday, January 25, 2016

Does Anyone Live in this Tree?

Oak Tree in January, © B. Radisavljevic

I saw this oak tree about a year ago on Linne Road, and it seemed to be a perfect place for an animal home. Since I'm a curious sort, I decided to take a closer look. You can click any photo for a closer look.

I noticed the hole in the trunk right away, which is why I wanted to examine the tree more closely. It's not very far off the ground, but it's quite hollow. Let's get a little nearer.

Hollow in Oak Tree in January, © B. Radisavljevic

A closer look inside reveals lots of room for even a large nest, and it's obvious there's an abundant supply of acorns for any animal in residence. The question is which animal may live here, if any. Maybe no one is in residence anymore, but perhaps some animal may have called it home. Many small mammals would enjoy having so much food close at hand. In autumn there is not only an acorn crop, but there is also a vineyard right on the other side of the fence. What squirrel, raccoon, opossum, or skunk wouldn't be happy with such a convenient food supply?

Inside the Hollow of Oak Tree in January, © B. Radisavljevic

Whether or not anyone lives or has lived here, I'm quite sure there are squirrels in the vicinity because I've seen them. I've never been here at night, so I've never had the opportunity to see the nocturnal animals. Perhaps squirrels have sought shelter here from time to time to enjoy a few acorns in peace. We are looking deep inside the tree here with a flash, so I believe a squirrel would be invisible to a hawk flying overhead were it to hide here.

Now that I've satisfied my curiosity as to what's inside the tree, I will look above it. I think the treetops against the sky are a prettier sight on this January day.

Oak Treetop in January, © B. Radisavljevic

Who do you think lives or lived in this tree?

If you'd like to learn more about squirrels and other small animals who might have lived here, read one of these books. I loved the Burgess Animal Stories, and the first one I ever read was The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel. My five-year-old self was enthralled by it, and my son loved it just as much. Burgess writes fiction that gives animals human emotions and motivations while staying true to their habits and natural characteristics. Read more about my introduction to the Thornton Burgess books here. Bonus: If you click through you'll also see a photo of me as a toddler.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Squirrel Hunting at the Medical Center in Templeton

I Didn't Expect to See Squirrels at the Medical Center

I had only intended to get a quote for new lenses at the optical center at San Luis Eye Associates this afternoon. It only took a few minutes, and as I was headed back to my car, I saw a ball of gray fur in motion at the base of a pine tree near my car. Fortunately I had my camera in my purse. I pulled it out to go squirrel hunting. Before I could focus on the ball of fur, it was heading up the tree. Squirrels are very quick.

He spent a bit of time moving from limb to limb and branch to branch. He settled for a minute or two here. Then he took off again to explore the tree. At one point a friend joined him, but I couldn't get the two together. They were chasing each other.

After after one squirrel jumped to the next tree and explored it for a while, he (or she?) decided to start down. Then my husband, whom I'd not expected to see, drove into the lot to pick up his glasses and I went back in to see what he was up to.

When he left I stayed to see where my prey had gone. I finally spied a squirrel in the second tree. It might have been either of them. It finally started down.

After coming down, the squirrel ran along the edge of the parking lot near the trees toward a fence by another tree. I did take the photo of him on the fence, but it was blurry. Those squirrels seem to go into motion the minute you get in focus. I finally lost track of him. I couldn't help but wonder where his home was. There were so many trees in the area he could have lived anywhere.

After he was out of sight, there wasn't much point in hanging around the parking lot any longer, so I started toward the car to go home. On the way I took a picture of where the whole adventure had started. For, of course, it started in this hole.