It's been about a week or two since I joined. I gave it a some time to decide what to include in this introduction.
I am very new to squirrels. For a long time, they were there, in the background of my pictures as I grew up and in the story line of my life, amid the trees, hills, buildings, and other scenery. They just blended in. They were there, but not something I thought about.
Everything changed a few weeks ago. I moved my bed near a balcony and woke up to curious furry faces looking at me, sniffing around, looking curious, interested, and always quite alert. Naturally, I was curious right back. I would wake up, see them, look right back, smile, and sometimes say, "hi," just as people do to their pets. This led me to research them online and watch them when they are present and I'm not too busy. I am so glad that they found me. I've come to realize that they are extremely intelligent (and smart), resourceful, skilled, interesting, crafty, strong, action-packed, versatile, and beautiful creatures. It is such a blessing to have them on my radar and I am grateful for all of the fascination they have provided me... their social organization (how they work together and establish order), communication (different calls for different things), and the little things they do (always up to something - if you don't think so, you haven't caught on yet - squirrel snickers here). I love squirrels and even their mischief most of the time. IMO, it can be very healthy to have the capacity to laugh like a schadenfreude every now and then, but to ultimately do what's right. (The times that I don't love squirrel mischief are usually times that I could share responsibility for not keeping things in good repair and for leaving holes that can be enlarged, or for not shutting my screen door, etc. I forgive occasional squirrel misbehavior as I would do the same for any person or creature that has NO wrong intentions.) I suspect, if it has not yet been proven, that these wonderful complex creatures are quite capable of learning through simple gestures and could be trained by positive (pleasant) reinforcement, or by neutral gestures like saying, "no," in the right tone of voice (just like someone would kindly train a cat or other pet that they love). They are amazing. I look forward to seeing much of them and being conscious of what it is that they do and what I can do for them.