DAY 66. Rock Returns
Saturday, 21 September 2002
 Rock was still away from home last night.
Today Scissors jumped from the cage to the low brick ledge, and from the ledge to the moist mossy ground, and from the ground to the bushes and up into the trees. He jumped and climbed, and before long he was nowhere to be seen!
I guessed that he was nearby, and I didn't want him to disappear like Rock did. So I sat in the backyard with a book, and from time to time I clucked my tongue, called out, "Scissors, Scissors," and playing with Paper. For several hours, I heard rustlings... that always turned out to be an adult squirrel! Adult quirrels are solitary creatures who guard their territory, so I chased the adults away. Once there was a brief squirrel squabble, but I coudn't tell who was involved.
Scissors came home a few hours later, in a very good mood!
Squirrels are moody creatures. I learned this a few days after I moved their cage outside. Sometimes they are playful and adorable and ready to give chase. Sometimes they are grouchy and don't want to be touched. When they are eating, they growl to keep others away from their food. When my squirrels want to be left alone, they avoid contact, gently nip a finger, or growl. Squirrels become annoyed if you do anything they don't like. They also have good memories. I took Paper out of the nest box against her will, for instance, and it took her a long time to "forgive" and treat me nicely again.
Since I don't want to be bitten (and I haven't been so far) I avoid doing things my babies let me know they're against. Pay attention to their signals, and let a squirrel do what it wants!
 I was sitting outside today, and noticed an alarming sight: a small skull lying in the grass! Was it the missing squirrel? I didn't have to worry for long. A short while after Scissors came home, I heard a frantic rustling in the trees, and spotted another small squirrel. I recognized Rock right away. He is still quite small, less than half the size of an adult.
Rock made a big commotion through the bushes. He entered in the far right of the back yard, trying to find a branch that led to the familiar bushes of home. He made his way past the cage and finally ran down a tree trunk near the end of the palm branch. He came running up the branch, excited to be home, and... Paper attacked him as he tried to enter the cage!
The two were rolled into a snarling ball, with Paper biting Rock's shoulder. Quick as a flash, Paper knocked Rock to the ground. He climbed up onto my dress, and Paper leapt and attacked him again! I tried to separate them -- foolishly risking my own safety -- but could not.
Rock climbed my ankle, then jumped onto the lower level of the cage and began devouring an old tomato. Paper attacked and drove him ten feet from the cage. I went to fetch him. Rock ran up my leg and leap onto my arms -- surprisingly friendly behavor. I think he recognized me as his ally. I put Rock in the cage and kept interfering with Paper's attacks, forcing my hands between them and scooting her away as much as I could, making soothing clucks.
Rock leapt onto the food area on top of the nest box and began to devour a walnut. He ignored Paper, even her snarling bites, and kept eating. He seemed to be starving! He ate for all he was worth. I brought him some formula, and he drank and ate some more. Finally he dove into the nest box and fell fast asleep.
When I went into the house for formula, Scissors boldly followed me over to the door! He played on Jacob's wooden plant stand, and explored that corner of the patio. When he had seen all there was to see, he jumped back home. He is a most daring squirrel when it comes to walking on the ground.
- - -
... the end of the squirrel story is not yet written, but I have
pictures and intend to complete it soon. In a nutshell, within a month,
the squirrels became integrated into the wild community, which is the
desired goal since squirrels do not fare well as domestic pets. Once they
were adults, my "babies" could be distinguished mainly because they looked
*towards* humans (any food, Any Food, ANY FOOD?) unlike wild squirrels.
The only other distingusihing characteristic was Paper's twisted toe and
more friendly attitude towards me... s/he continued to occasionally jump on
my arm. While the three continued to be eager to take nuts from me, two
things prevented me from identifying "my" squirrels. First, squirrels are
quite intelligent/crafty, and my squirrels "taught" (by example) other
squirrels to take nuts from me. Second, my squirrels became more
distrustful of humans, possibly by humans treating them poorly but more
likely due to their genetically programmed fear.
One, and maybe two, of my squirrels became preganant the following summer.
But I never saw their 'pups' and now that I moved to Berkeley, I no
longer have contact with the little wild critters. However, I found the
process very rewarding, and recommend it top anyone who (*a) loves animals,
and (b) has plenty of time to attend to the squirrels.
One tale that must be told, is how Scissors (the smallest, which isn't
clear from the text) got a 'cold' (possibly because I allowed him/her to
aspirate formula) and Jacob nurtured him in his pajama pocket through many
days of 'sneezy breathing' until he was well.
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Baby Squirrels
