I’m not big on animals at night. The creature who only comes out after the sun is down is up to no good. Like porcupines and coyotes and bats. And quiet, too. They sneak up on your like the super stud at the local bar. You’re sitting there minding your own business when…bam! Something scary is sitting next to you offering to buy you a drink but then you find out he’s broke, has no home and only showers weekly. Because he’s into the saving the environment.
Take my neighbors who feed raccoons. Please…take them. We now have a three-legged Mom and seven cubs roaming the yard. Cute? Yes. Sneaky? Yes. Walking up to me looking for food while I sit on the deck? Nightly.
Plus, things always look bigger in the dark. And usually that’s okay. That’s why I don’t make love to the Mister with the lights on. I like to be surprised.
But the last few nights I’ve had to rethink my thinking on those night prowlers.
We have a family of flying squirrels in the ‘hood.
Look Ma! No hands!
Sitting outside Monday evening with a martini just after the sun went down and dreaming of winning the lottery, I saw something fly across the yard out of the corner of my eye. There was a dull thump…then another. As a flying squirrel landed on one of the bird feeders. Munch, munch, munch. Then a leap and back to the tree. Then another one arrived and in very atypical squirrel fashion, they clung to each other making little squeaking noises (they could have been getting a little down low tingle but I didn’t want to get close enough to check because I respect the privacy of all creatures.)
Over the next two nights, I had the best seat in the house to witness the miracle of excess skin flaps. Like teenagers who wear their jeans too tight with their little muffin tops puffed out over their belts, these two squirrels used what Momma gave them and treated me to a show of acrobatic mastery.
You guys…distract her while I see if I can make her scream.
They didn’t just fly. They soared. One hundred feet or more. It was amazing. Last night one made it to the deck, ran past me and leaped into the trees. I think it was a hint the feeder was empty.
As long as they don’t sidle up beside me one night looking to dip into my vodka stash, this is one night dweller I can live with.
They look adorable. What makes me catch my breath (let out a small squeak) it when I am surprised in the dark by those reflecting eyes – don’t care much about which nightly creature we are talking of. Initial reaction seems to be always fear, until I realize what I am dealing with. Still thinking – now laughing – about that opossum balancing the hedges in front of the bathroom in which I was standing – naked.
That opossum crept up to you without a peep. I’ll assume his name was Tom.
Trade you some bats for flying squirrels?
Not for all the bats in your belfry!
The Beloved’s hails from Richmond, VA and her mom still lives there. Their minor league baseball team is the Richmond Flying Squirrels, which is maybe the best mascot ever. I proudly wear Nutzy!!! https://plus.google.com/u/0/114183643417357977409/posts/h1k2KgphZp2
The link said post not found. You trying to keep something a secret? As a mascot, great idea. Not only can they swoop down at incredible angles, they are a sure bet to catch pop-up fly balls.
Hrmmm … are we encircled together on Google+ ?? I just tried to share it with you…
I’ll go check. I’m afraid Google+ is going the way of Facebook for me. I can barely get to WordPress and Twitter? *sigh*
I love flying squirrels and chipmunks. They’re so damn adorable, almost as adorable as me!
We have tons of chipmunks. Two babies came out with their Mom earlier this summer. I do have a sad tale (tail) to tell. I had the squirrel trap out to catch and relocate our teeming squirrel population when I caught a chipmunk instead. I went to scare him away before he could set off the trap and, of course, scared him. He managed to sneak out before the door snapped shut but he left a bit of his tail behind.
http://blogdramedy.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/medic-we-have-wounded/
Speaking as a creature that only appears at night – for work purposes, I swear … pay no attention to the fangs and slight smell of graveyard – I have to protest to your “The creature who only comes out after the sun is down is up to no good” comment … but I have to say no one ever accused me of being quiet.
And I’m glad Irony thought I was an opossum …
So. A vampire AND a peeping tom. Your resume never fails to amaze.
I am a man of many talents … just none of them marketable.
Oh I think there’s a market…I just don’t think you want to be the meat.
That’s so cool! I have never seen a real, live flying squirrel. I’ve never even seen a dead flying squirrel.
Oh…they’re out there. Waiting. To pounce and for you to scream.
The photo of the babies is priceless! So cute!
I particularly feel drawn to the one peeking around the side of the tree. What does that make me? A girly peeping tom?
A peeping Jane!
*finger on nose*
I’ll trade all your flying squirrels for head lice. Lice freak me out. And bed bugs. Basically all vermin.
Trust you to top the night creatures with anytime of the day, or night, creatures. It must be a creature feature at work.
I was laughing at your “bigger in the dark” remark about the bedroom and almost missed the squirrels. I was surprised that our chipmunks (at least one of them) can leap 4-5 feet to land on a hanging bird feeder. I wish a big bird like a hawk would land on him.
I bought a plant stand with two hooks for plants and put two feeders on it instead. Turns out the circumferance of the metal post is exactly chipmunk and squirrel sized. I’m trying to take a video to upload. I laughed so hard the first time I sprayed oil on the post and watched them sliding down…like a wee firefighter on a pole.
It’s so hard for me to believe that flying squirrels don’t yell, “Yeeeeeee-haaaawww!!” every time they soar.
With little cowboy hats and spurs.