At war with a squirrel in Montana

@TheHorse (238268)

Walnut Creek, California

August 12, 2019 1:03pm CST

Every year, when I visit our cabin in Montana, I an greeted by angry chirps from the squirrels who live in the tree canopy above the cabin. I generally respond to them with the same barrage of expletives they've hurled at me, and things settle down, as they accept my presence for a few days. This year, was different, though. After my usual greeting, one squirrel, who inhabits the tree right by my cabin, would amuse himself at sunrise by hurling pinecones at the roof, directly above where I was sleeping. I went up on the roof and noticed that there weren't too many pine cones up there, so I assumed that this behavior as new and he was waging war on me. I cursed him out in my best squirrel (I'm not fluent) and went about my chores. After about three days of this, I decided it was time for a peace summit. To be continued...

21 people like this

21 responses

@DesirousDreamer (34776)

• Peoria, Arizona

12 Aug 19

I hope there isn't any fermented fruit around, raging drunk squirrels sounds a bit dangerous, next they will be throwing pebbles at your windows.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

Oh my! I didn't see any drunk squirrels.

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)

• United States

12 Aug 19

some're a tad territorial 'n since yer basically a stranger (truly, ya go once a year fer a few days...) - 'n invader 'f his home. i figure ya worked out some sort'a compromise :)

2 people like this

show previous comments

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)

• United States

12 Aug 19

@TheHorse i reckon he figured ya were there to stay 'n his antics didn't frighten ya 'way so's might's well be friends :) critters 're jest like humans, eh?

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

@crazyhorseladycx They are. But the truce didn't stop his pine cone tossing. He was just a bit more mellow about it. I wish I'd had more time to get to know him. I may have been his first human.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

We did. What surprised me was that after about two days of arguing, I watched calmly from my picnic table as the squirrel descended his favorite tree, and kept descending until he was only about four feet from me. He then leaned out toward me, sniffing me. I did the same to him. Some other noise (perhaps an alarm call from another squirrel) chased him back up a tree. But I think we had declared a truce at that point.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@marguicha (230334)

• Chile

12 Aug 19

I´d throw back the cones

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

I thought of it. But I worried I'd blow out my shoulder.

1 person likes this

@marguicha (230334)

• Chile

12 Aug 19

You are getting old

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

@marguicha Alas, it's true. But I would have exercised the same caution 40 years ago. Pine cones are lighter than baseballs. A formula for...stupidity.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@NJChicaa (127116)

• United States

12 Aug 19

I’ve had my fair share of arguments with squirrels

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

They destroyed "Ground Squirrel Gardens" at my previous place of work.

1 person likes this

Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (66063)

• Serbia

12 Aug 19

I wonder who will win, you or the squirrel.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

This is WAR!

1 person likes this

Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (66063)

• Serbia

12 Aug 19

What weapons will you use?

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

@Nevena83 Buwaahaahaa! Actually, I'm a pacifist. I'll use peanuts.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Rohithee (374)

• India

12 Aug 19

Nice picture

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

I grabbed it off the internet. It is the same kind of squirrel I was arguing with.

@kareng (80243)

• United States

12 Aug 19

I'm glad you two entertained each other.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@kareng (80243)

• United States

12 Aug 19

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

It was entertaining.

1 person likes this

@kareng (80243)

• United States

13 Aug 19

@TheHorse Oh yay. You may have to give us all lessons on that language.

@scarlet_woman (23463)

• United States

13 Aug 19

they swear at me from the trees next door all the time. and i swear back.screw you squirrel,i pay taxes.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@scarlet_woman (23463)

• United States

14 Aug 19

@TheHorse actually,i do.my neighbor's cats are in my yard all the time.which i don't mind.

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

Hey, I hadn't though of that. Wait. Now, I'm a lawyer for the squirrels. "Taxes shmaxes. Do you have Scar and every other kitty in the neighborhood chasing after you?"

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

13 Aug 19

I am trying from years to talk to the birds, but we cannot still communicate very well.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

13 Aug 19

@TheHorse I am sure that the birds that come to eat at my feeders know that they are safe near me.

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

I think our mourning doves can tell from my tone of voice that I don't want to eat them.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Tampa_girl7 (54714)

• United States

12 Aug 19

Our squirrels are very good natured.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@Tampa_girl7 (54714)

• United States

13 Aug 19

@TheHorse I guess it's just Montana squirrels that misbehave

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

@Tampa_girl7 I think it's just their character. But they're so dang cute.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

So are the ones I used to interact with in Chicago. They were quite used to humans.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@JudyEv (381753)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 19

I missed this back when. I'll try to find the next part. I'd like to know about the peace summit. Vince talks to the roos and had regular conversations with Hercules.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Sep 19

I take it Vince is another animal whisperer. The peace summit was somewhat heart-warming but I can't remember the title of the post I wrote about it.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Sep 19

Or maybe I never wrote it.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381753)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 19

@TheHorse I don't think you've written it. I checked your home page and there doesn't seem to be a sequel to this discussion. So get to it - start writing!

@SophiaMorros (5044)

• Belews Creek, North Carolina

12 Aug 19

MrsJ says the squirrels throw hickory nuts at her every time she does outside this time of year. I think she's a bit paranoid.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

I think she's right. But maybe if she learns some squirrel...

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

@SophiaMorros You will be helping person kind.

@SophiaMorros (5044)

• Belews Creek, North Carolina

13 Aug 19

@TheHorse I'll suggest she see if Duolingo offers a course in squirrel.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@profree2019 (1208)

• Barquisimeto, Venezuela

13 Aug 19

I want to see the outcome.Lol

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

It's a happy ending. I'll write about it soon.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

@profree2019 "Suspense" is my middle name!

1 person likes this

@profree2019 (1208)

• Barquisimeto, Venezuela

13 Aug 19

@TheHorse Aha¡, you like suspense, isn't it?

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Ghosthere2 (891)

• United States

13 Aug 19

My husband continually reminds me that the animals were here first. It drives me "nuts".

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

I remember that as I interact with them. But I did get the pack rats out of my cabin (years ago). We humans get to have SOME boundaries.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

17 Aug 19

@Ghosthere2 Yep, I don't want anything above my head making noises when I'm trying to sleep.

@Ghosthere2 (891)

• United States

13 Aug 19

@TheHorse Yes there have to boundaries and limits - pack rat would cross the line for me and raccoons in the attic.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

13 Aug 19

Ha, that reminds me of that Geico commercial where the woman has a squirrel problem! Plenty around here, but they tend to be well behaved.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

I'm not sure if I've seen that one. I bet it's on YouTube. The tree squirrels here in CA don't bother me much. Actually, I had fun with the ones in Montana. They don't bother me either. As long as they don't go all Monty Python Killer Bunny on me.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (135583)

• Marion, Ohio

13 Aug 19

You are the invader. He has a right to be angry.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Aug 19

Heh. I think we became friends in the end.

1 person likes this

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

12 Aug 19

They can be a pain for sure. Hope he gets used to you invading his

territory.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

He kind of did. He came down to visit me after a few days.

1 person likes this

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

14 Aug 19

@TheHorse How nice. Are you friends now?

@andriaperry (118793)

• Anniston, Alabama

12 Aug 19

Feed it and it`ll be your friend.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

I left some peanuts behind for him when I headed home to CA.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 Aug 19

These critters can be annoying. Hopefully you two got your differences aired out.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

We did. I got a phone call (not from the squirrel's attorney). I'll either "finish" this post or write another one.

1 person likes this

@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

12 Aug 19

I suspect a peace offering of corn would solve the issue!

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Aug 19

Yep, I went with peanuts. But I actually made my initial offering in fractured squirrel language.