… sadly becomes a reality.
How many times have you used the expression “it’s no walk in the park?” I know I have used it plenty of times through the years, whenever I mention something is not as easy or effortless as it appears to be.
Everyone has their “Happy Place” right? What is one person’s spot to woolgather peacefully, may not appeal to someone else. For some, it’s a place to view a perfect sunrise or sunset, an idyllic beach setting, or to amble along on a woodsy trail hoping to glimpse a little wildlife, the perfect escape from reality. I’m in that latter camp as you know.
Since April 2013, my “Happy Place” has been Council Point Park.
While I hate to bemoan the hapless state of my favorite nature nook AGAIN, this time I am not writing about the venue’s current lack of ambience, thanks to the ragged-looking shoreline.
Nor am I identifying with the plight of so many furry and feathered critters whose habitats and offspring were destroyed in a matter of minutes by huge, earth-moving machines.
Nor will I dwell on that amphibious bulldozer that scooped up turtles from their silty sleep, or rolled over them as they sweetly sunned on logs, tossing them to the wind.
No, this tale is even sadder – one that truly hurts my heart more than before.
This time, humans are not to blame; other predators were afoot.
Last week, my post alluded to the Siberian Polar Vortex and its aftermath, the two feet of ice that caused not only the Detroit River, but also every river, pond and creek around Michigan to freeze over and remain frozen for weeks. Although the City salted the roadways, the temps were too cold for the salt to be effective, so our City streets were icy for several weeks, thus, I didn’t attempt a walk to the Park. Even if I risked life and limb to get there, the Park stopped plowing/brushing the perimeter path at least a decade ago, so the icy ruts were dangerous, plus freezing rain had glazed over the snow. Trips to the Park leading up to the Polar Vortex were few and far between.
Yes, I wrestled with my conscience, but I just couldn’t go there. Riddled with guilt for my furry friends’ welfare, this time I considered my own welfare to forego walking until a warm-up occurred.
But a welcome “thaw” was not so welcome and even more problematic.
After two warm days in February, it was time to attempt a “Park run” where I was amazed to see the significant snow and ice melt and, with the still-frozen ground, there were huge pools of water everywhere, especially the places I usually leave food. No squirrels; one female Cardinal hung out around me, so I made her a pile of treats on the path. I left peanuts/seeds under park benches, but then we had more freezing rain and it was another week before I returned.
Finally, thanks to cooperative weather, I resumed my walking regimen, on the morning of March 3rd.
Upon my arrival at the Park, laden with peanuts, sunflower seeds, peanut chips and apologies, I walked along the pathway wondering where the “greeters” were.
As you know, if you’ve been following my blog for a while, at least 25 to 30, (sometimes more), squirrels descend on me, scurrying down trees and some, like Parker, boldly putting his paw or nose on my shoe to ensure I see him.
I saw three or four squirrels, none which came over to me, but instead cowered behind bushes or climbed up trees. I stood there, peanuts in my gloved palm, coaxing and cajoling to no avail.
I was mystified and left peanuts in the usual places, only to return the next day to find most of the peanuts, seeds and peanut chips still there.
I began to dwell on the worst scenarios.
Did my furry friends starve to death as they were dependent on me, their benefactor, as they couldn’t access their peanuts they had buried in the now-frozen, snowy ground? Tears stung my eyes – of course I felt guilty.
Did my furry friends freeze to death in their nests? I’ve read they curl together in the nest to preserve body heat. Surely the extra layer of fat and heavier fur Mother Nature provides them each Fall helped?
I dutifully left food for them; over the course of several more days, some of it was eaten, not all though.
Then Henry enlightened me.
There are two male walkers, in their late 70s, that meet daily at 10:00 a.m. sharp all year around. They walk no matter how much ice and snow there is on the perimeter path. One of the guys, Sam, had a knee replacement on Halloween, so he didn’t plan to return until Spring.
So Henry walked solo. I saw him in my few forays to the Park. On the fifth day of seeing so few squirrels I cornered Henry and asked “What happened to all the squirrels?” Henry and Sam have seen me interacting with the squirrels for years, so he likely wasn’t surprised by the question I posed.
Henry responded “you saw the Creek; it was frozen over – did you see the snow and the footprints – the coyotes crossed over!” I responded “yes, I was here one time when someone shoveled the ice for a makeshift skating rink and yes, I took photos of the prints, none were like pawprints and besides, pawprints could have been a dog!”
Henry assumes the coyotes crossed the frozen Creek – however, he didn’t see them stalk or catch any squirrels.
He then offered another explanation, i.e. a pair of Bald Eagles he saw at the Park, (most likely from nearby Dingell Park where the eagles fish off the ice floes), were snatching squirrels in their talons for food.
He saw the eagles and assumes they were preying on the squirrels – however he didn’t witness this.
I was upset at Henry’s explanation of the fate of my furry friends, leaving me in tears as I walked home and also once in the house. Yes, I “get” the Circle of Life and yes, I know the coyotes and eagles have to eat.
So did predators descend on the Park squirrels in the dead of Winter?
I’ve discussed Henry’s scenarios with a few nature lovers – they believe the squirrels went to a nearby neighborhood, like they did when their nests were destroyed along the shoreline last May. That’s a plausible theory too. I did see an influx of black squirrels, whose nests formerly occupied the shoreline trees, scurrying around the ‘hood since last Spring. In fact, I often chat it up with Shelley, a woman who lives near the Park and feeds many of those black squirrels on her porch daily.
Regrettably, I believe Henry is correct.
As March wore on, I am now interacting with about seven squirrels, who have resumed greeting me up close, begging and noshing on peanuts.
In retrospect, I remain conflicted … I don’t know if I am glad I asked Henry where the squirrels were. What fate is worse? Starving to death, freezing to death or becoming prey for a coyote or eagle? I am still trying not to blame myself at any rate.
There was a time, not so long ago, that I only dealt with petty annoyances like the geese chomping on in-the-shell peanuts …
… and the ducks helping themselves to the sunflower seeds.
Then there was the appearance of Cooper Hawks, like this one I photographed at the Park, often seen circling overhead – “our” nemesis. It was then I stopped feeding the squirrels along the path and tucked their food near a tree or bush for an easy escape.
Thankfully I’ve never seen a hawk grab a squirrel, but I saw an attempt. One time I was feeding “Stubby” …
… (aptly named for missing part of his tail and the new fur grew in white at the tip), when a Cooper’s Hawk swooped down aiming for my furry friend, talons extended. Thankfully, this was near the pavilion area, so Stubby beat a path to the picnic table where the hapless hawk could not follow him. Whew!
I hope there are enough squirrels to reproduce and replenish the population of furry friends that have made me smile and been the subject of so many blog posts.
I’ve sprinkled a few photos from my blog of my furry friends throughout this post.
But yes, the unspoken question remains: “Where is this guy?”
Nature is cruel sometimes.
I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: National Take a Walk in the Park Day (March 30th)
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Circle of life. We don’t have to like but it’s there.
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Yes, it is sad and I know it exists, but I wish it didn’t exist right under my nose.
I’ve already dealt with the five squirrels that went missing just after the pandemic began. I fed them on my front porch, along with a pair of Cardinals and a pair of Jays for several years. All seven showed up like clockwork as soon as it was light, all year around, that is until the neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk got all five squirrels. My neighbor, a hunter, knew and watched the hawk from his living room and didn’t tell me until they were all gone and I asked if he had seen Grady and his pals. I had some remorse over that as well as I sure would not have kept feeding them and made them sitting ducks. That hawk, or another one, still comes to the neighborhood. A woman down the street feeds a lot of squirrels down there on her porch and I told her about mine, but she still feeds them. I hope I don’t see one getting carried off in a hawk’s talons one day.
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😦
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Aww, it’s hard to see our furry or feathered friends move away due to environmental change or impact, Linda. In most cases, predators are a natural part of the process. But the ice seemed to have paved the way for others! Your pics of the squirrels are so cute. They shall find plenty of food. Once the weather changes I’m sure things will get back to normal fingers crossed!
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Hi Terri – I am hopeful that they moved on to other areas, like the neighborhoods, as this park is right in a residential area and thus predators are not the reason for my lack of furry friends. The fact that the remaining squirrels were so afraid of me initially is something I don’t understand – I was wearing the same clothes, hat, carrying my same “goodie bag” and speaking to them like I always do, so that is perplexing to me. I am hoping they come back too. As a person who has no pets, I was quick to adopt this bunch and treat them as such.
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Even though you understand how Mother Nature works, it’s still hard to imagine your furry friends facing the challenges of restricted food sources, habitat changes, and natural predators. I hope as spring unfolds, you’ll be greeted once again by your buddies, eager to indulge in the goodies you bring them.
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I hope that is true Janis. I have found peace and comfort here over the years, my quiet time before I began my work day, an escape from everything as I got in my morning steps and fed the squirrels (and birds) along the way. I know nature is not always pretty and if this is indeed what happened, I am glad I didn’t have to see it. As a person who has no pets, I have adopted this bunch of furry friends since I began walking here a dozen years ago.
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I’m so sorry, Linda but this is in no way your fault. Whether they fell to predators or moved to the neighborhood I would think the lack of trees is the cause. Trees can protect them from predators and if they did move to the neighborhood, they did it for that protection. Either way it comes back to the changes that were made in the park. Human interference.
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I do feel sick about this Ruth … I hope you are right and they just moved to the neighborhood. You saw what they did to this Park, not a tree for one complete mile of the shoreline; each walking loop is one mile and each of these loops that half-mile is obliterated on one side. There are not many trees left and those are occupied with other nests. Now, only seven squirrels after so many but at least they are coming up to me willingly and not cowering or running away. That part worried me. Human interference rather than a predator gives me some comfort. It’s a horrifying thought otherwise after 12 years of coming here. On another note, stay safe with this severe weather tonight. My weather alarm already went off. I was hopeful since it never got sunny, it would be less powerful. Keeping my fingers crossed. I wish it would not come in the dark.
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You stay safe too. I’m watching the radar. They are not here yet. Probably an hour out.
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I’m nervous, as usual – hope we both stay safe tonight. The weather alarm went off awhile ago and I’m thinking around 7:00-7:30 as well. I am watching Paul Gross’ updates on Twitter and keep popping back and forth there and waiting for the weather alarm to go off another time. The last two storms ended up fizzling out but not sure that’s going to happen this time.
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I think the worst may be over for now here, but you until 8:30 – 8:45 per NWS and Paul Gross. (Hopefully that’s it for both of us until Wednesday).
Just saw this at 7:50 on WWJ (Twitter):
96 mph gust reported at Jackson County airport,
63 mph at Metro Airport,
65 mph near Ann Arbor.
@DTE_Energy reporting 18,299 outages.
@ConsumersEnergy reporting 182,000+.
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The storm fizzled out here too. Some heavy rain when it started was the worst of it thankfully. Looks like a lot of rain coming Wednesday – more than we need.
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I’m grateful it fizzled and our winds were 63, maybe less right here. Checking this morning for any wind damage, or shingles missing and thankfully everything is fine. I am hearing that Wednesday will be a two-part punch, two storms in one day, the second more severe, so I hope that is not true. Your pond will fill up, but that’s about all that excess rain will be good for … hopefully the garlic won’t be in peril.
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It is all human interference that does cause a lot of wildlife loss. This also allows predators to get an easy snack.
Here it is an increase in cats and dogs that have reduced the wildlife at my place
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I feel sick about it Brian. As a person with no pets, I admit I overindulge them and treat them like pets, so this has been worrisome to me. I am glad I didn’t witness any of this. We have a lot of feral cats here … not in my neighborhood, but in our “Residents Forum” in Facebook, I read about a lot of feral cats that people take care of and feed … that’s not good for the birds, especially where you live with so many birds. We have dogs in the neighborhoods running around loose – that worries me as a walker and someone who likes walking to/from this Park.
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I cannot believe that in some places in the US they capture feral cats, take to be neutered and set them free again to wreak havoc on wildlife still 🙄
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I know – it amazes me as well Brian! I have a friend who lives in New York and she has fed and provided water for feral cats for many years. In the Winter she has several wooden shelter boxes with straw inside and battery-operated heated mats and heated food and water dishes on her deck. Every so often she will trap them and take them to a feral cat rescue, where they neuter them then they became shelter pets and are sold, but these cats, even after interacting with my friend as to the food/shelter are NOT socialized in the least and will not come over to her, so I am sure they are eventually set free, but not euthanized.
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At least they have rats to eat in New York 😂
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And rats that like pizza if you ever saw that video of the rat in the subway. 🙂
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I have
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People were a wee bit horrified, but that it was funny to watch … enough to feed the whole family!
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I hope for the best and will wait for more news.
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Thanks Anne – you have followed me for all these years. You know how I feel about them. This is why I don’t want pets, too many worries. I will keep everyone apprised as times goes on.
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Animals adapt and adjust to various changes. Hoping the best for your furry friends. Precious photos and memories!
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Yes, that is true Rebecca and not long ago, you and I commented on how as we get older, change does not happen as easily for humans. I hope for my furry friends’ sake, that they moved on to the neighborhood, found a few kindly souls (like Shelley, the woman mentioned that I see when I walk to/from the Park), so now they will not return to the Park. I hope it is not the horrible scenarios Henry suggested, although I know that the coyote scenario is possible. We have coyotes around now as people are destroying their habitats. I know they have two litters of kits per year, but with only seven squirrels total that I have seen there, it may take a while to create the squirrel population as it was before. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos; I went through my blog to pick out my favorites.
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Beautiful you sharing your Best friend squirrel photography. Wonderful photos. The best and will wait for more news. God blessing.
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Thank you Raj, I’m glad you liked the photos. I had 12 years of photos to pick from and had to stop myself from including more squirrel photos. I will post updates as Spring and Summer wear on as I walk there almost daily. If there are babies, they don’t leave the nest for about three months, so it will take a while for the squirrel population to return to what it once was. Thank you for the blessings; they are appreciated.
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Most welcome ,Linda. Iam so..so happy. Beautiful your update Spring & Summer and good sharing for squirrel population. How it’s?
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Well I hope so Raj. I’ll try to stay positive about the babies, but with only seven squirrels of different species and I’ve not checked their genders, so hopefully not all males or all females, it may be a tough go, but I will do another post by Summer.
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Okay, thanks, Linda ☺️. Iam so happy kindness your reply me.
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I am glad to learn that some squirrels are returning.
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I am glad as well Anne; that part is a relief because my first few days when they ran away from me, was and remains the cause of my concern. I believe with so few squirrels in the Park, it will be difficult to replenish the population with just seven squirrels, of different species on top of it.
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I have been reading about your friend Parker for awhile now and have wondered how long squirrels typically live, even without accounting for predators.
Nature is indeed a hard mistress.
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You’re right JP, Parker has been a big part of my blog since I first interacted with him with his bold and brazen ways and that was quite a while ago. Fox squirrels live about seven to ten years in the wild, though this is a small venue, unlike larger parks where predators likely would be, so he was protected, plus he always had a steady food source until this year. I’ve told myself that perhaps the cold Winter was harsh for him or he died of old age, a scenario I find a wee bit more comforting than the possibilities Henry suggested. Yes, nature is a cruel mistress.
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I feel for you, Linda. Not seeing Parker again and not knowing what became of him must be heartbreaking for you. I remember what it felt like when The Captain stopped showing up at the beach. Not knowing is so difficult. hugs
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Thank you Barbara and hugs gratefully accepted. It IS the same situation as The Captain was for you, after he quit showing up at the beach. I guess going forward we have both learned that while it is fun to interact with wildlife, their future is uncertain due to the wiles of Mother Nature. I told myself all these years, that Parker and his pals were a little like having pets. I refuse to have a pet in this house for the grief factor and nothing will change my mind, only to deal with this loss.
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I’m so sorry for this harsh dose of reality, Linda (whatever the answer turns out to be). I hope Parker turns up in the Spring to greet his favorite human once again. The fact you can identify specific squirrels and somewhat communicate with them – its like you’re Dr. Dolittle reincarnated. If it’s any consolation, the squirrels are alive, well, and abundant down here in the South. They sense the coming of Spring with their typical wild abandon. The little ones are fun to watch when they play. If it ever came to the need to replenish your community you’d have plenty of willing participants from down here. Also, I like “woolgatherer”. It feels like a word from generations gone by.
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Thank you for your kind words Dave. Before I started exploring new horizons and going to bigger parks for more “wildlife” variety, Parker (and his pals) were the only “wildlife” that consistently appeared in my blog. I know he has/had to be old by now as I’ve been interacting with him for many years – in fact you even asked me about how long Fox squirrels live once. Because it is (or was) a safe environment, far enough from busy streets and no predators except the Cooper’s Hawks, he might have lived to a ripe old age. Maybe he will still turn up which will make me happy. I did name my five “porch squirrels” as I could kind of tell them apart (two gray, two black and one Fox squirrel) and a few at the Park I could distinguish from quirky traits like Stubby with his short, white-tipped tail. Some have markings or mange and are missing fir. I had a “Midnight” solid black squirrel which used to run behind me down the path – people thought it was very cute.
Squirrels have litters twice a year, March and late Summer, but their young don’t leave the nest for three months, so even if there are young in the nest(s), I may not see them for a while. It will take a while to replenish the squirrel population – maybe I have to go to see you and round some up. 🙂 I always liked the word “woolgatherer” – it puts to mind a deep thinker, pondering life’s quirks and attempting to solve the world’s problems in his mind anyway.
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I understand that your heart is so much missing your Squirrel Pet Parker. 🐿️ 😢😔🤗
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Yes, TD he was my little buddy for many years. He first wormed his way into my heart when I fed him on the perimeter path and I had driven that day, so when I got to my car, he was “parked” next to it, saw me and begged for more peanuts. Thus his name “Parker” was coined. I always had to ensure I did not empty my entire bag of peanuts, as he was famous for following me off the path even when I didn’t drive and I worried he’d follow me into the street and get hurt/killed. He would often run along behind me on the path if he missed me the first time around. He especially endeared me to him by putting his paw on my shoes/boots and looking up. He was a ham and loved to pose and truly it was like having a pet at the Park.
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Parker in love and smitten with you!
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Yes, he was very cute and attentive … his mom must have schooled him well: “you pay attention to people who take your picture or coax you to come see them and you’ll get more treats” and sucker that I am fell for it.
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You are indeed the squirrel whisperer, I love so many photos here, but the most personal precious is you and the squirrel with your shadows, side by side. Just so sweet!
Mother Nature and the circle of life are necessary, but when either messes with our personal nature ‘friends’, it is very hard to accept, and we question why this one. I’ve seen too much over the years, and I’ve shed many tears as well on lost nature friends. I am hoping and praying Parker shows back up for you again. ❤️ Or maybe, Parker Jr. to continue Parker’s legacy….
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Thank you Donna – I am glad you liked the photos and that photo was a favorite of mine as well. I remember a lot of people liked it saying it seemed so peaceful, the two us together and our fun long shadows. I have purposely steered away from having any more regular pets for the grief factor, so I have adopted the squirrels en masse instead, but especially Parker. It is sad to lose our nature friends who we get accustomed to and enjoy interacting with and us with them. I am hoping a Parker Jr. shows up and learned from his dad and we can continue that legacy if Parker is no longer here. P.S. – I like the concept of squirrel whisperer too.
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🥰
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It’s a shame so many of your fur buddies have vanished over the winter. Squirrels don’t have it easy, that’s for sure!
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Yes, the loss of ambiance was one thing, but now to have the squirrels vanish is just so disheartening Eilene. I want to believe that they relocated to the neighborhood and are living on handouts from residents, but I’m sure most of these squirrels are born, live and die without leaving the confines of the Park and likely did not stray there this Winter. It is not an easy life for them – braving the elements and not being able to access food, but now this.
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Friendly comment test.
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Thank you for the test comment Robert. I will keep you advised of any further commenting issues per your e-mail. -Linda
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What fate is worse? Starving to death, freezing to death or becoming prey for a coyote or eagle?
I’ve no answer to your rhetorical question but feel like it is a profound one. Also didn’t know that coyotes would eat a squirrel, but why not, I suppose?
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I asked myself that question many times the last few weeks Ally – I wish I had an answer. Had the squirrels not seemed so wary, even scared, of me when I first go back to walking on a regular basis, I would not have given much credence to Henry’s explanation, but it does seem logical. We have had hawks circling overhead now for several years and a walker saw a small gray squirrel get snatched. Coyotes in our more northern suburbs (north of me, not Northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula where they have Gray Wolves), roam about the neighborhoods and people with small dogs are warned not to put them outside in the dark unattended. Small dogs (and some feral cats) have been carried away or severely mauled by coyotes. People were seeing coyotes across the Creek looking across in the Fall. They tore up some woods there and ripped up that side of the Creek in this project to widen the Creek to flow better.
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Let’s hope this is a one time event and that your furry friends will be back running up to you smiling Linda!
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My fingers are crossed for the nice scenario you are suggesting Wayne. This just hurts my heart if they are indeed gone in such a cruel way, especially on the heels of everything they dealt with last year. Those squirrels whose nests (and even offspring) were NOT destroyed, still dealt with the loud earth-moving machinery and then the mess was left for months … that could have been done after nesting season. So squirrels dutifully buried their food, only to have the machines come to haul away the debris from May and grind stumps … so all their efforts were mowed over/dug up. Sometimes I think (and hope) that maybe they just were fed up with it all and there was no more food from me, that they decided “time to go” thus an exodus occurred. I look forward to a bigger population down the road.
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Always keep hope closest
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I do Wayne – every time I go there I hope for a glimpse of old times and it’s just not the same. Today, only three squirrels and they weren’t chowing down until after I left where I put the food and zero birds. And today was a beautiful day.
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I’m like you Linda, I know about the Circle of Life etc but to actually witness it can be sad for some people (some people being me and you !) We have had hawks catch and eat cardinals and Mourning Doves right in our yard and I don’t like to see it but I know it has to happen. I’m sure the squirrels are around someplace and will come back ! We have had a few in our yard but not as many as usual. And only one chipmunk has shown his face lately. We are having another ice storm beginning tomorrow, we had a bad one this past weekend and there is still a couple hundred thousand people without power and lots of trees down. We had two trees go down in our backyard but thankfully not big ones. I wonder if your weather is the same?
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It is sad for nature lovers (and bleeding hearts) like us Susan. I hear from people that the other animals have to eat too, but that brings me no comfort. I hate hawks and we never had them at the Park and never in the neighborhoods until about six years ago. About ten years ago we had some Peregrine Falcons moved into the neighborhood and I understand that the falcons were snatching Pigeons and Mourning Doves. The person who told me that was walking his dog one day as I passed him and he pointed to a falcon and said “if you didn’t know, that is what’s getting rid of the Pigeons and Mourning Doves.” I’m glad I didn’t see that attack, although I did see and hear a falcon go after a medium-sized bird once in mid-air. Lots of squawking and I looked away just before he/she could catch it. I hope your squirrels and chipmunks didn’t meet the same fate as your birds!
I saw on Accuweather that Southern Ontario was going to have an ice storm and I should have known that would affect you. We had a bad ice storm in northern Michigan last weekend – many people still don’t have power and they are getting the same storm as you again. That storm last weekend killed three kids and the Mackinac Bridge has still not opened due to falling ice. I read it was the worst ice storm for the bridge ever. We, however, have other ugly weather. Sunday we had some severe weather, that fizzled in my area at the last minute, but caused two tornadoes in western Michigan. We have severe weather tomorrow … get this Susan: we have three “events” Wednesday, first a rain/wintry mix just before drive time, then mid-day a raucous thunderstorm or two, then the big prize is after 6:00 p.m. with flood advisories, hail, 60+ mph winds and a possible tornado. Let’s get multiple seasons rolled into one day – SMH. The weather is worrisome and severe weather doesn’t usually happen until it’s hot. I hope you have no more damage – sorry to hear about the two trees.
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I still have friends who don’t have power since last Saturday and they are hopeful they will get power by tomorrow night or Friday. It is snowing like crazy here right now, at 5:15 pm but we are supposed to get a thunderstorm and rain also. Just nutty this weather ! I haven’t heard about a tornado here though, hope you don’t get it. We do have flood advisories. We have lots of water in our area, we are right on the Bay of Quinte and the Moira river runs right through the city of Belleville, I live 10 minutes away so we would be okay. I am so sorry to hear about 3 kids getting killed, that’s horrible. I can’t even imagine how their parents feel, it’s heartbreaking. Spring better come soon that’s all I can say lol
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That is amazing about the snow! We had a wintry mix overnight but it was gone, replaced by a driving rain by the time it was daylight. I didn’t even set foot out of the house today – a fine National Walking Day this was, but honestly, I don’t worry about still another walk lost, there have been many this year, I’m concerned about this severe weather tonight AGAIN. We had prolonged thunderstorms and heavy rain a good part of the day and after sunset we have severe weather … thank goodness the weather alarm has not gone off yet, but I don’t like the idea of hail/high winds and a possible tornado in the dark either. That’s terrible about your friends’ power outage after all this time. I know in the northern part of Michigan they still have many without power and the Mackinac Bridge was closed again because of ice sheets dropping from the top of the bridge. Unbelievably crazy weather!
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Our house is built into a hill so the back windows look out into the trees. I love watching the squirrels scamper from branch to branch, sometimes leaping great distances, sometimes playing a fast-moving game of tag. When we first moved here over 10 years ago we’d count seven or eight at a time; now the total hovers around three or four. I’ve wondered too, where did they all go? Sad to say, I think Henry’s theory may be correct for our location as well as yours: predators. We’ve seen foxes now and then, and we hear hawks circling above the trees in summer. The food chain is a hard reality to accept in some cases!
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Nancy, like you, it is fun to watch those squirrels doing daredevil acts sometimes. When we had more trees along the shoreline, I’d see them leap from tree to tree, never missing a beat and always landing gracefully on all four feet. And like you, when you’re used to seeing lots of squirrels, then very few, you have to know something is wrong. People have said that they likely moved on – that happened when there were less trees and they had to rebuild nests after the destruction in May, but I don’t think so in the middle of Winter and not as terrified as they were of me initially. I first thought someone (as in a human) had harmed them and they forgot who I was, but like you seeing the foxes, there was a coyote on the other side of the Creek in the Fall and coyotes have now started showing up in the neighborhoods, so people are told to go outside with their pets at night, not just let them out in the backyard unattended. This was unheard of until maybe 8-10 years ago, when more and more wooded areas are being torn down, so they have nowhere to go. In our neighborhood Residents Forum and Crime Forum on Facebook, people post photos of deer, even bucks, standing in someone’s driveway. How does this happen as we are not a rural city in the least?
I kind of adopted these squirrels as I don’t want any pets as it’s too sad to lose them, so I lavish attention on my furry and feathered friends at the Park instead, but unfortunately this time it came with a price. I try not to think of Parker’s fate after all these years, but sadly I’ve come to accept that I likely will not see him again.
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I’m late to this post!! I truly hope that they relocated to another spot.
Parker is the mascot for your blog and have given us so many smiles with his antics over the years. I truly truly hope that he comes around soon.
And if something terrible happened, please don’t blame yourself. Like you sadly mentioned and I agree with the statement that “nature is cruel sometimes.”
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Esther, I hope they have relocated somewhere too … the neighborhood, perhaps if there was/is a food source, a kindly person handing out peanuts, would be good, but most of the squirrels have never been out of the Park their entire lives, so while they may have had to dodge the big grass mowers, or the Parks and Recreation truck that collects the garbage can bags on the walking path, but not dealing with the cars that zip up and down that busy street.
I do hope Parker comes around soon … I do know I have been interacting with him for many years and he would be old, so maybe the Winter was too harsh for him. I try not to blame myself, i.e. – if I was there on a regular basis, they would have come down from their nests, eaten, gone back up for warmth/protection. This year I decided the ice was just not doable … yes nature is cruel sometimes and it is out of our hands sadly.
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Please don’t blame yourself! You always make such an effort to help out the park critters and I’m glad you took precautions to avoid the ice. Who knows? You said that they only salt the parking lot too.
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I am trying Esther. It is difficult seeing only seven squirrels, the most I see on any given day, so the same ones daily, who now are comfortable once again to come to see me. I keep telling myself that I made the right decision for my own welfare, though I am not very convincing. I was surprised the other walker continued to walk there, no matter how much ice was there … even if I could have ventured down my icy driveway, or walk to the Park on the icy streets, it was a bigger mess there and with all the viruses we have had circulating around here (our “quademic” with COVID, flu, norovirus and RSP), it was not a time to fall and end up in the E.R. having broken something.
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You have made the right decision for yourself!! No way…all that ice and slippery roads are too dangerous.
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Yes, I was sorry to make that decision Esther. I worried about my furry and feathered friends starving as they could not access any food in the ground that was not only frozen from the cold, but covered in ice and snow. But I did not need to slip and fall on the ice. I used to take chances, but this year was just too icy and out of my comfort zone.
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You know your weather best and what you can handle!
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Yes, I was stricter with myself this year than ever before!
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I concur nature seems cruel at times with cycles of life and death. Sometimes the weather upsets the balance and things change. Soon spring will change the balance again and resident populations will pick up.
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Andy, I purposely don’t have pets as it hurts too much to lose them, so I decided to lavish my attention on the squirrels (and birds too) at the Park instead. It is risky to get attached to animals out in the wild as too many forces are against them, like the weather and predators. I hate to think the worse of them and squirrels do have two litters a year, four to six kits, so hopefully the population increases, though with only seven squirrels of different species in the Park now, I can only hope there are enough genders to help replenish them.
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Let hope so Linda. I wonder if other squirrels will move into the area as well.
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I hope so too Andy. Today, once again, the most squirrels I see in my walk at the Park is seven, a far cry from what it was before. It is very disheartening to see this. I hope if they went to the neighborhoods that they return again. This Park is in the middle of a residential area, but set back far enough that is not all that close to any houses and the opposite side is the shoreline of the Creek that they ripped up to widen the Creek (to alleviate flooding, but we had an all-day rain yesterday with almost three inches (7.6 cms.) of rain and people’s basements were still flooded, so I’m thinking the destruction of this Park appears to be for naught.
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I hear your sorrow and I feel sad for the squirrels too. We want these darling creatures to survive. Who wouldn’t? They are so darn cute. I am hoping that through your kindness the local population has been able to survive predators/nature/other threats.
I don’t have squirrels here, but I do have a family of magpies who visit. I give them titbits and I can summon them if they are around by raising my hand in the front yard. But I do not feed them every day. Although I would love to think of them as a friend – I am merely a food source. One bird will take a piece of meat from my hand, the other two won’t and it is better that they are wary of people. I don’t feed them every day as I want them to rely on food from nature – for what happens if I go away on holidays?
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Amanda, I do hope they have just sought refuge somewhere they deem safe, but after a solid month of walking there almost daily like I did before our horribly icy Winter weather, more and more it is looking like they are gone. I decided there would be no more pets for me, so I began lavishing more and more attention and treats on the squirrels and birds at the Park. Sadly, in the last year, due to a project to widen the Creek, they first destroyed the habitat along the entire shoreline, than after they left it ragged and ugly, flooding in nearby homes is still occurring. By destroying the habitats of coyotes that live in nearby wooded areas, it encourages them to come into “our” spaces. I hate thinking that these cute squirrels that I have “adopted” fell victim to predators. I hope they return again one day. I know it is not good to feed any wildlife, but it is tempting to do so. Like your magpies, maybe some are delighted to take food from you and interact with you, where other magpies are reluctant to depend on humans or scared. You are 100% correct – if they are dependent on us, they forget how to forage for themselves. Squirrels have litters twice per year (Spring and late Summer), but the offspring don’t come down from the nest for about three months. It could take a while to replenish the population, especially if there are only seven squirrels left.
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It is sad that we humans don’t understand the balance of nature and how widening the creek that I can imagine helps some human’s drainage issue, might damage the shelters and feeding grounds of animals. It is as if we are aliens in the animal world. They have everything working well and in balance. If a population increases, predators or availability of food and nesting sites decreases the population. Man’s interference in that process is disruptive and leads to coyotes invading yards, then perhaps the council may want to launch an eradication operation to reduce the coyotes…..?? One hopes your squirrels and coyotes are resilient, overcome the disruption and that balance is restored swiftly.
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You are so right Amanda and many people who have the ability to do good things to keep the ecosystem in balance and harmonize our interaction with wildlife, just fail to do so, or take no interest in it. Supposedly they did studies to see the result of the widening of the Creek (and the Creek flows through other cities besides this one, but they started the project in my city), but you can do feasibility studies until you are blue in the face, but try to see the big picture. I did a post right after the destruction on May 8th, showing how it looked before and now. To me, this was the final death knell to this sweet nature nook and I hope I see it come back while I am still walking here, if not in my lifetime.
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Nature often does rebound, but not always. Fingers crossed.
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Yes, this harsh Winter has taken its toll for sure – I’m sure that even the neighborhood birds were grateful for the regular feeders, otherwise they likely would have perished.
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I am a week behind commenting but better late than never. Hopefully I’ll get my post up for this week tomorrow or tuesday. That is sad about the squirrels. I enjoyed reading your story and the photos.
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Thank you Kirstin – I am glad you liked the story and photos. I am often behind and once was 14 days behind in Reader, then we had an ice storm and I had no internet for four days, so I was 18 days behind. I thought I would never catch up again. I do miss my little buddies very much after all these years. It has been about seven squirrels I now see regularly since I have gotten back to the Park daily (weather permitting). A far cry from the former “gang” who greeted me. Today it was very cold (20s when I left) and saw only three. I guess they stayed up in the nest with the others to keep warm.
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I hope they reproduce so you can continue your love of feeding your outdoor pets Linda.
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I hope they do too Diane – it is mostly Fox squirrels, so I’m guessing they were more adept at dodging the predators (which I am starting to truly believe Henry when he said this was the cause). Sadly, it’s been five weeks since I returned to walking on a nearly everyday basis again, but the total number of squirrels remains at seven.
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