Compassionate Curmudgeon

What Makes Hammy Run?

There are a lot of gray squirrels in the neighborhood, and it's often difficult to tell them apart, but by carefully watching them and observing their behavior there are a few that I've been able to identify.

One of them is Hammy, whom I've named after that hyper-caffeinated squirrel voiced by Steve Carell in the movie Over the Hedge.

Hammy is very excitable and prone to get into trouble. One time I was in the living room and heard a noise at the window. It turned out that Hammy, apparently in an attempt to get into the house, had leaped from the staircase on my deck to the casement window, which was partially open. He was hanging precariously from the casement window's rail. I don't know which of us was more surprised to see the other.

On another occasion, I was down in the basement getting ready to scatter some peanuts that Hammy had just requested. I have a sliding glass door, and the agreement that I've made with the squirrels is that if they come and stand on the ledge, I'll toss them some peanuts.

Well, Hammy was standing on the ledge as per the agreement, but he must have been especially anxious to get the peanuts, because when I bent down to pour out a handful of nuts, he tried to leap right through the glass door. If the door had been open he would have landed right on my face. Once again, I'm not sure which of us was more startled.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by jt at July 21, 2007 08:12 AM