Lighten-Up
09-13-2021, 05:30 PM
I never expected I would be running what amounts to a squirrel cafe.
For most of my life, I have not been raising squirrels or relating to them, this was a recent thing that happen when a tree fell delivering me into a whole new realm.
BS-Before Squirrels I traveled all the time. I was gone almost 1-2 weeks out of every month. AS-After Squirrels, I haven't gone much of anywhere. But I need to begin traveling more again. I have had so much fun getting to know all the families of squirrels that come to my yard, it's as if they are my extended family. I know their families, their children, and their grandchildren. I have supported them through abscesses, pox, wounded limbs. I have supported them during mating season. A mating chase will be on for hours, The female will see me and run up asking for nuts, I'll give her some, I'll recognize the male and toss him nuts. They will both be on either side of me, eating as many as they can, and then they're off for several more hours of pursuit.
So bottom line, it feels to me like I have a Squirrel Cafe that's been going on for about 5 years or more. The regulars come, some come daily, some twice a day, some only weekly, I know them all and I know what nut preferences they have and offer them nuts accordingly. And I'm feeling oddly responsible for being here as I always am, but I am going to soon go away for about a week. And after that, will need to occasionally go away for a few weeks or even a month? Is there life after running a Squirrel Cafe? How do I psychologically deal with this change? And how to do I announce new hours and vacation schedules to the squirrels, chippies and deer mice? This is my issue.
I'm just wondering if anyone else deals with this.
Psychologically I'm finding it really hard to want to leave and go away? I think I may be feeling over responsible toward them.
I'm wondering is there anyone else who regularly feeds wilds and released squirrels who come regularly? Do you put out a sign that says closed for a week? Do you have a friend come and put out seeds and nuts? If so, only once, every other day, or every day? Or do nothing and let them fend for themselves?
Once I get over this hurdle I'll be fine.
I've been so consistent for years, that I'm just looking for thoughts on how I could or should change things if I am going to periodically actually have a life and go away sometimes. :-)
To me this is sounding like the silliest post. But I've been thinking about it for hours, so I might as well put it out there and share where I am in hopes to collect some other thoughts than the ones that are auto circulating around in my head.
Thanks everyone for reading. :Love_Icon
For most of my life, I have not been raising squirrels or relating to them, this was a recent thing that happen when a tree fell delivering me into a whole new realm.
BS-Before Squirrels I traveled all the time. I was gone almost 1-2 weeks out of every month. AS-After Squirrels, I haven't gone much of anywhere. But I need to begin traveling more again. I have had so much fun getting to know all the families of squirrels that come to my yard, it's as if they are my extended family. I know their families, their children, and their grandchildren. I have supported them through abscesses, pox, wounded limbs. I have supported them during mating season. A mating chase will be on for hours, The female will see me and run up asking for nuts, I'll give her some, I'll recognize the male and toss him nuts. They will both be on either side of me, eating as many as they can, and then they're off for several more hours of pursuit.
So bottom line, it feels to me like I have a Squirrel Cafe that's been going on for about 5 years or more. The regulars come, some come daily, some twice a day, some only weekly, I know them all and I know what nut preferences they have and offer them nuts accordingly. And I'm feeling oddly responsible for being here as I always am, but I am going to soon go away for about a week. And after that, will need to occasionally go away for a few weeks or even a month? Is there life after running a Squirrel Cafe? How do I psychologically deal with this change? And how to do I announce new hours and vacation schedules to the squirrels, chippies and deer mice? This is my issue.
I'm just wondering if anyone else deals with this.
Psychologically I'm finding it really hard to want to leave and go away? I think I may be feeling over responsible toward them.
I'm wondering is there anyone else who regularly feeds wilds and released squirrels who come regularly? Do you put out a sign that says closed for a week? Do you have a friend come and put out seeds and nuts? If so, only once, every other day, or every day? Or do nothing and let them fend for themselves?
Once I get over this hurdle I'll be fine.
I've been so consistent for years, that I'm just looking for thoughts on how I could or should change things if I am going to periodically actually have a life and go away sometimes. :-)
To me this is sounding like the silliest post. But I've been thinking about it for hours, so I might as well put it out there and share where I am in hopes to collect some other thoughts than the ones that are auto circulating around in my head.
Thanks everyone for reading. :Love_Icon