(Pip file photo, early September, 2014) I watch for Pip every day, and keep food bowls full in the yard in hopes hell return home for a snack. About two months since I took this picture. Over seven weeks since we last saw him. Yesterday afternoon, I took Mojo out to the backyard and was surprised to see him launch himself happily into the gang of squirrels feeding peacefully there by the back porch. That behavior was unusual, because, since Pips stay with us, he had become so used to squirrels close by that his former passion for harassing them had seemingly lost its charm. The startled squirrels scrambled into the trees and I scolded Mojo (LOL) for mistreating our backyard freeloaders. Flash forward twenty hours. I was working (LOL) in our upstairs office and I heard squirrel steps on the roof overhead. I thought of how Pip used to like climbing around on the roof. He wasnt the only one, of course, but he was our most regular roof walker. I considered going out to look, but, given all the disappointing trips to the back door of the past month or so, thought better of it. Then, this afternoon, Joni called me from the back porch. She said there was a squirrel out back acting like Pip. I leapt from my chair (LOL) and bolted (seriously) barefoot to the backyard where I found her kneeling in the snow, chatting with a chubby but spotless squirrel across a bowl of corn and birdseed. Long story short, this squirrel had a thick silvery winter coat, he was healthily chubby, had no white spot, and looked somewhat older than I thought Pip should look by now. But still, I had to wonder. He wouldnt run away. Joni was only a couple feet away and he showed no signs of fear, as long as she didnt try to touch him. I ran inside to grab shoes and a coat. When I got back, she was offering him pecans, one of his favorite snacks. When she got too close, he jumped into a big leafless bush that Pip used to love to play in. I approached the bush and he stared at me and seemed very interested in the treat I was offering. Joni went back to her backyard project and I spent the next half-hour following him around the yard. He ate some pecans, very enthusiastically, but never let me get within arms length. He scampered back and forth between the trees Pip used to enjoy the most and spent the most time in the Cyprus tree where we would always played Im gonna get you in the low branches. I just couldnt be sure. Of course, we want it to be him. Without his trademark white spot there was no way to be sure. But, like in earlier times, there were no other squirrels in sight and he did seem to be reacting to his name. I just wonder if he could have lost that much domestication in just seven weeks away from home. We had to run some errands and I left him sitting a few branches up in the Cyprus tree, by himself again. After we returned a couple hours later, the pack was back, and, curiously, we saw one squirrel sitting inside Pips house. Weve occasionally seen others go in and out quickly, but never stay inside for more than a moment. This fellow stayed in there for at least twenty minutes. It makes me wonder if maybe Mojo recognized Pip in the crowd when he romped after them yesterday. He used to chase Pip just like that and he has the advantage of a keen sense of smell and wouldnt require visual recognition. Sure makes me wonder. Ill keep you posted.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 01:14:15 +0000
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