I know I talk a lot about the squirrels that live next door, but they have provided me with some of the most interesting and enlightening experiences I've had while sitting at my desk and looking out of the windows. I've learned about parenting, defending one's home and stash, and how to have some good old-fashioned fun. Recently, however, I've also learned that squirrels can also be good predictors of the winter to come.
For example, the effort to collect and store food becomes more intense. The flurry of activity speeds up more some years than others. The building where I live is surrounded by chestnut and black walnut trees, and as soon as they started to ripen and fall to the ground, the squirrels were all over them. That was back in September and early October. Now the poor things are rooting through the two giant dumpsters out behind the two buildings every day for whatever they can find. I've taken to putting out peanuts, seeds, and vegetable cuttings just to supplement their diet of dumpster food. I swear it seems as if they are on a mission to stock up as much food as they can ... like they know something about how severe this winter will be?
I did a little online research (God bless Google) and found out that a tough winter is ahead if the squirrels' tails are very bushy. I've been watching the family next door and it does seem to me as if their tails are, indeed, much bushier than normal. This morning they looked positively double in size! Speaking of size, the whole family seem to be packing on the weight, looking a bit on the pudgy side of late. According to what I read, that is also an indicator of a harsh winter ahead. The third item I read is that if squirrels build their nests higher in the trees, that, too, is an indicator of a harsh winter to come. Since my squirrel family lives inside the rooftop of the building next door, I can't use that as an indicator. Besides, who wants to go through the winter in a cold, drafty tree when you can spend it protected with a roof over your head? That sounds like a pretty smart move to me!
As far as I'm concerned, I've learned so much about life and nature from watching animals over the years that I'm more likely to follow their example than trust the human weather predictions, so I'm starting to stock the pantry with staples like beans, rice, soups, and such ... maybe I'll add a few nuts to the mix, just to keep up with the neighbors!
And so it is.
