Friday, March 19, 2010

A Squirrel, a Bunny and a Chinese Ring Neck Pheasant

squirrel in a planterI once had a squirrel train me.  Yes, I started it, by placing an almond in front of him. Later the squirrel would come near me and with his rascally little eyes entreat me to run into the house for his almond.  Soon I was, with a gloved hand, holding out the almond for him to take. He cautiously would approach me, stretch out his little paw and stabilize my hand and reach with his mouth for the almond.  This went on for for some time. I well trained by this time would daily run into the house for his almond. One day I ran into the house and grabbed his almond and without a gloved hand held it out for him.  But, by this time he was without fear and instead of his slow cautious approach to me,  he came at me "squirrel style" fast and accurate. I panicked, dropped the almond and found my ungloved finger in his mouth. I stood very still and gently spoke to him saying "it's OK, open your mouth, let me go" and for what seemed a long time we looked at each other. He with my index finger in his mouth.  I knew I was in trouble. In past years I had grown large sunflowers.  I have seen a squirrel go up a thick stock and bite the sunflower head off and carry his prize up a tree!  But, thankfully he let me go and I am able to write this post with all my digits.

Bunny in the gardenWe rarely see a bunny in our yard. Maybe it's the cats or the local dogs which keep the bunnies from populating.  One day a tiny little bunny found my yard.  I named him DB for dumb bunny.  I told him he was safe in my yard, but should he leave this property he would probably die.  DB ate pretty much whatever he wanted. I have lots and lots to share. He picked a clump of daylilies as his favorite bed.  He became very accustomed to me.  I'd talk to him as I weeded and watered and he never showed fear.  Sometimes while he was resting I'd peak at him in his daylily clump, and at times he would stretch, showing me his tummy.  When he was nibbling a choice plant I would say no, maybe gently get his attention with a spray of water in his direction and he would move over to another plant.  I think this relationship would of worked.  But, DB was well named and one day how can I say this nicely: I found him squished in the alley.

 Chinese Ring Neck PheasantThe Chinese Ring-neck Pheasant is the South Dakota state bird. It was introduced in 1908.  It has flourished.  You can find them in the local grasslands.  One fall day a pheasant flew into our yard.  I watched him from afar. He paced back and forth until he figured out that he had to leave the same way he came. Up!

13 comments:

  1. I'm glad you are here to tell us the story too Gloria :) sorry to hear about your bunny.

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  2. Gloria - I love that you have a amiable, symbiotic relationship with the small animals in your garden. Very glad to hear your squirrel 'friend' and you came to a safe conclusion over the almond. (The photos are wonderful!) -Shyrlene

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  3. Dear Gloria, What a most intriguing tale. This is the first time ever I have heard of a squirrel becoming that tame. But how alarming to find yourself in the situation where your finger could well have been separated from the rest of you!!

    A sad ending to Dumb Bunny. I think you were very generous and accommodating to share your garden with him.

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  4. Thank you Shyrlene, Melanie and Edith. Squirrels are very smart. We have a tree outside our dining room window and he sits on a branch and watches us as we eat. Too funny

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  5. Sorry to hear about the bunny. we have bunny condos in both the front and back yards. The boys want to chase them and bark a lot. The bunnies don't seem to mind because they stay. In an attempt to limit garden damage, we leave feed them.
    great pics and post. jim

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  6. I cringed when I read about your finger in the squirrel's mouth. I am so glad he let you go and you did not have to endure a badly injured finger and rabies shots. I did like your bunny story, until I read about his untimely end ;-)

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  7. Those are some great stories. I'm glad the squirrel left you with all of your fingers. Maybe he figured you needed it to plant more sunflowers for him to steal? :)
    Too bad about the poor bunny though.

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  8. The pathways and the arbor is beautiful! We have lots of squirrels and rabbits. I am so glad that you did not get bitten.

    Eileen

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  9. I enjoyed your animal tales. Poor bunny! I once raised a squirrel from earliest infancy after my son found him on the ground after storm. His eyes were still sealed shut. I was the first thing he ever saw, and he thought I was his mama. Eventually I released him into the wild. He was very intelligent and quite loving for a rodent!I also enjoyed your previous post on vines.

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  10. I watched a squirrel in action last week end raiding the fatballs in my bird feeder and I saw those teeth - once my mum had a plastic container for the fat balls and it chewed through the plastic to raid the container so that was a close call Gloria.

    We had a bunny too last year - I think the local moggies chased it in - thankfully it was only in the garden a few days - they do look cute but I have experience of what they can do when they are really hungry.

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  11. Hi Ted & Gloria! Love the pictures. I miss walking through your garden in the summer. I hope you are doing well & that we will see each other soon. Thank you for the stories. It makes me feel like I'm there again:)
    Love, Dana & Kohl

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  12. I was once bitten by a squirrel who'd been eating from my hand and mistook my thumb for the next peanut, and the worst thing to come of it was being forced to update my tetanus shot. Still, I'm so glad you talked him into seeing reason before he chomped!

    That second photo of the DB (could stand for doomed bunny) is so idyllic and perfect, I had to enlarge it to make sure it wasn't a painting. Lovely shot!

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  13. Love your squirrel and rabbit stories. We once had a squirrel with only half a tail that we named half-tail. We used to feed him thinking he was disadvantaged with only half a tail. But I think it was probably the opposite.

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