This is not a very closeup picture of this squirrel for a very good reason. The obvious reason is that I don't have one. Well, I don't. But I do have a better reason than that. If I had a closer picture of the squirrel, I wouldn't have this little story.While I'm hiking, any animal sighting is a good one. There's a certain thrill to seeing an animal out there, especially if it's trying to stay hidden. I think of it as a small victory if I can get any picture at all when the animal is trying to avoid me.
As I was just coming to the top of a small hill, I saw that sawed off fallen tree in the distance. It wasn't quite as close as the picture shows. I saw what looked like a branch sticking up at the end of the tree trunk. It was oddly shaped like a squirrel, but I thought it couldn't be because it wasn't moving.
Still, it intrigued me so I decided to get a closer look. As I was walking towards it, I took several pictures. This is the best of them. It still wasn't moving, and I couldn't see it very well. As I got closer, it suddenly jumped into the air and scurried away. I guess I was now pretty sure it was a deceptive squirrel and not just a branch. Mystery solved!
That's why one lone picture of a not so very close up squirrel is a good one for me. It provided a momentary thrill of surprise for me while I was hiking. Some thrills are big and some are small, but they're all fun. Whether I'm getting threatened by a deer or just examining a rock, I'm having a good adventure. Nature is full of fun experiences like these.
To my understanding, I might not think it was a squirrel. It must be a dwarf inviting you to get nearer, moved away, and you followed, and...
ReplyDeleteSquirrels can be so much cuter than possums. At least, squirrels look cleaner as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great picture. We don't see too many squirrels here although I know they must be around so I really enjoyed your story and the picture of the squirrel.
ReplyDeleteI guess it thought it was hiding in plain sight! Sometimes works, right? I had a book as a child "Bunny Pop-In" He was always hiding but his white fluffy tail would stick out and give him away!
ReplyDeleteHa! I love your little adventures!!! I'd be doing the same thing if I could. walking through woods and along streams. I used to love that when I was young. Your posts are always so entertaining!!
ReplyDeleteI love to play the "who moves first?" game with the chipmunks or squirrels. But the one chipmunk that is eating up all my birdseed is a brave one. I can almost touch him now to shoo him away from the seed. He just looks defiantly at me. Little Shit!!
ReplyDeleteThe Retirement Chronicles
agree, some thrills are big, some are small, but they are all fun and each is unique in its own way. i love to see wild animals in the trail too, but maybe i will get so scared if i see mountain lion, rattlesnake or a bear.
ReplyDeleteHi Ratty! I know this is not on squirrels, but I had a similar experience just the other day with a bull frog, but it was a girl frog just full of eggs and she couldn't be bothered to jump away from me. But at first she was so still and so camouflaged she could almost have been anything! Enjoy! Diane Tucker, Estate Naturalist
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! No sqirrels in NZ though.
ReplyDeleteheers,
Peter
That's one cute photo Ratty! Your little squirrel friend seems not to mind your company. He just seems content with what he's doing and does not care that there's company nearby. :-)
ReplyDeleteRainfield - That could be it. Maybe the dwarf was trying to trap me in it's underground world. They like doing that sometimes.
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Roentarre - Squirrels do seem cleaner, but I'd like to get a good picture of a possum. Someday it will happen.
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Mountain Woman - I see so many because they're all angry with me. They're plotting against me and trying to figure out how to get revenge. :)
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Sharkbytes - I've had plenty of animals hide like that and completely get away with it. This one almost did. It didn't move at all until the last second.
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Ginnymo - Now you can follow along and I'll try to make it as real as possible for you. And I can look at your excellent animal pictures. They're not angry with you as they are with me.
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The Retired One - That's the way some little guys are. When you want them there, they run. When you want them gone, they won't budge. They just like being contrary.
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Betchai - Those animals would scare me too. I recently had a scary close encounter that I've been afraid to write about. It's coming soon.
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Diane - Your story is perfect! I've had this kind of thing happen to me with all sorts of different animals, some big some small. I've only seen one frog so far. They must be good hiders.
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Kiwi Riverman - Maybe no squirrels, but you have some of the most unique animals in the world.
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Ron - I just happened to get a lucky picture before he ran away. I wasn't very close to him at the time. I've seen only one that didn't mind my presence.