There are few wild creatures as agile as North American tree squirrels. Though often despised for raiding bird feeders and camping out in attics, these mammals provide plenty of entertainment for wildlife watchers and their antics are especially thrilling in May and June, when independent juveniles arrive on the scene.
Lanky and energetic, these young squirrels have not yet mastered their climbing and jumping skills and are often too confident for their own good. Like overzealous puppies, their brains race ahead of their limbs and tumbles are frequent; fortunately, few of the mishaps result in injury. Over the past several weeks, I have seen these daredevils fall from power lines, bounce off a chicken coop, slide from the edge of our roof and plunge into shrubbery after misjudging a leap. Yesterday, one fellow became trapped atop a "squirrel-proof" feeder, not sure how to escape; eventually, he dove for the nearest tree and managed to grab a wispy branch.
Almost all mammals learn by trial and error and some never reach adulthood. Nature eliminates the weak, the inattentive and the foolhardy but, like human teens, many young creatures are oblivious to danger. Nevertheless, their carefree romps are both entertaining and inspiring.
