On Squirrels and Perseverance
I’m in my bird-watching era (hello, middle-age), and recently received a smart bird feeder as a gift. How excited I was to set up the feeder with its built-in camera, and await the birds.
You know what’s coming next: instead of birds, I saw squirrels. Lots of squirrels.
I’m not bothered by the squirrels, even though they thwart all attempts to make the feeder rodent-proof. Rather, I find myself charmed by their persistence, their creativity, and their perseverance, checking the camera every morning to see the shenanigans they’ve been up to.
My dog loves it too, though love may be too strong a word for the relationship she’s developed with the backyard intruders.
It got me thinking: what can be learned from squirrels? Observing them over the past few months has made me consider takeaways for us humans.
Save for the future. Squirrels save and stockpile resources for leaner times, “squirreling away” food in numerous locations, rather than relying on one stash.
Seize opportunity. They consistently take advantage of opportunity, seemingly unconcerned with official invitations.
Plan and prepare. Squirrels are master planners, preparing and future-proofing for the unknown.
Use creativity to problem-solve. You’re unlikely to see a squirrel allow “that’s the way it’s always been done” to get in the way of achieving their goal. Frequently, you’ll see them take calculated risks (like being chased by my dog) to gorge on nuts and seeds.
Stay cheeky. Squirrels maintain a cheeky attitude when just trying to survive, barking and flicking their tail at perceived threats, playing their daily game of “chase and chirp” with my dog (at least, I think it’s a game).
I’m reminded of Carrie Bradshaw’s line in SATC, “a squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit.”
I’m not a city girl and tend to think rats and pigeons are cute too, so perhaps feeding the squirrels was my destiny. I accept it for now, will continue learning from the squirrels, and will delight in those rare times when I do see a bird on camera.