Squirrels: City Dwellers

22 Squirrels: City Dwellers Squirrels are special animals. They are smart, cheerful, and frequently seen in cities. They are one of only a few wild animals that have learned to coexist with humans. To many, the squirrel is a natural wonder. Its large tail makes it the most recognized mammal on Earth. It amazes us with daring high-wire acts as it jumps from branch to branch through the trees. Its determination to find a way to get food is a delight to watch. Spend some time observing their playful nature as they race up and down trees or run across an open field. Watch them tirelessly gather nuts and seeds to store for later. You'll be amazed at how much they accomplish in a single day. Squirrels are forest dwellers by nature. However, many of them have migrated to cities over the past one hundred years or so. The urban environment is an ideal place for such intelligent animals to live. Here they have few predators, plenty of places to build nests, and easy access to food.

However, when they live in cities, their intelligence and hard-working nature sometimes causes problems. When squirrels set up home close to humans, conflicts arise. For example, many people enjoy feeding and observing birds in winter at their outdoor bird-feeding stations. Unfortunately, these stations are excellent places for squirrels to gather food, too! Of course, squirrels are only following their instincts when they raid a bird feeder. They take as much as possible and hide it for later. Human reactions to squirrels living in cities are as different as people themselves. Some adopt the attitude of " live and let live" . They learn to tolerate squirrels. They fill the feeders more often, and decide that the best way to deal with intelligent raiders such as squirrels is to let them have a share. Squirrels are smart. Humans can try to outsmart them, but the squirrels usually win this battle of wills. They live according to nature. If anything different, a squirrel would not be a squirrel.