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July 21, 2013
The War of the Squirrels
Yesterday, Robert R. and I witnessed something I'd never seen before. We watched a protracted, all-out battle between two klans of squirrels in the back yard.
I believe that all of the squirrels were Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger). But what was odd is that, the squirrels all worked together, in a well choreographed battle. I had never thought them capable of this organization.
I'd say there were between 6 - 8 squirrels fighting. Generally, two were fighting, biting each other viciously, trying to force the other squirrel to fall to its death, and the rest of the squirrels assumed defensive positions. They would lay flat on the lowest branch of a tree, facing into the tree trunk. They'd lie down flat against the limb, to hide, but then signal each other with their tails.
As the squirrels above leaped from tree to tree, the squirrels down below would adjust their positions to different trees, or different branches, accordingly. Robert and I watched this for some time. They fought for about a half an hour, or so.
Possibly they were fighting over the food I put in the squirrel feeder, but I hate to think that I created this type of discord in the back yard. Can't we all just get along?
Posted by Rob Kiser on July 21, 2013 at 4:39 PM
Comments
Robert creating discord. Novel.
Posted by: TL on July 21, 2013 at 7:18 PM
P.S. Hi Doug.
Posted by: TL on July 21, 2013 at 7:21 PM