Paso Robles in Photos: squirrel photos

Thursday, January 21, 2016

January 21 Is Squirrel Appreciation Day

I Have Enjoyed Tree Squirrels Since I Was Young

I first met squirrels when I was about six years old with my mother at the Capitol Park in Sacramento. They were so tame they would come and eat out of my hand. They were tree squirrels. I thought they were cute and always enjoyed seeing them.

I still always look for them when I'm around trees. I've seen many of them in the oak trees behind Peachy Canyon's Tasting Room On Highway 46 West and Bethel Road in Paso Robles. (Or is it Templeton? It's one of those in between places.) I was unable to get a photo because the squirrels were moving to the next tree before I could get them in focus. They are very nimble and very quick. They are fun to watch. I support Squirrel Appreciation Day for tree squirrels most of the time. The squirrel in the photo above was found in a tree on Oak Lane in Paso Robles.

I Have Mixed Feelings about Ground Squirrels

I continued to enjoy and appreciate squirrels until one summer they destroyed most of my garden, plant by plant, very systematically, until there were no tomato or cucumber plants left. I never saw the culprits, but my husband finally saw the tail of one whisking away one day. Before that we had no idea of what had hit us. These culprits were ground squirrels, and they are very active in our area. I can appreciate how cute they are at Moonstone Beach, where I photographed this one, or almost anywhere but in my garden. Those who venture into my garden, however, I declare war on.

This photo is of another ground squirrel who lives inside or under this tree stump at San Miguel Mission. I had fun playing hide and seek with it during a visit to the mission last year. Click the link above to see the rest of the photos. I spent quite a while watching it.

I loved this photo of two ground squirrels I saw checking each other out at Moonstone Beach in Cambria.

In case you ever see a tiny ground squirrel that appears to be orphaned and you want to help, my friend Rex Truelove has written this article on Caring for Orphaned Ground Squirrels. I have never run into this problem on my property because the neighbor's cats would have found them before I would have.

Products to Help Fight Squirrels, Learn More About Them, or Express Squirrel Appreciation

Squirrel Traps

If you have a destructive squirrel, you might want to look into one of these traps. I've been told the Squirrelinator works very well. Whichever solution you try, you can expect a tough battle. Before you buy a catch and release type trap, be sure it's legal to release the squirrels in your area. Many areas forbid releasing the squirrels because they aren't appreciated everywhere. They can carry diseases and destroy crops.

Learn more about squirrels or celebrate them.

Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Stratagems to Reduce Dramatically the Egregious Misappropriation of Seed from Your Birdfeeder by Squirrels C.R. Gibson 16 oz Porcelain Coffee Mug, Gift Boxed, Dishwasher & Microwave Safe, Measures 5 North American Tree Squirrels Squirrel : Coloring Book Vol.7: A Coloring Book Containing 30 Squirrel Designs in a Variety of Styles to Help you Relax (Volume 7) Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides) Aurora World Miyoni Grey Squirrel 8 Squirrels of North America Squirrel Coloring Book: A Coloring Book for Adults Containing 20 Squirrel Designs in a variety of styles to help you Relax and De-Stress (Animal Coloring Books) (Volume 17) Good Luck Sock Women's Squirrels Crew Socks, Size5-9,Grey

How do you feel about squirrels? Are you going to celebrate them today?

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.