Squirrels at Work
This morning,
I watched a squirrel scamper across the railing of my deck, busy gathering nuts for the season. It’s amazing how much energy these little creatures put into preparing for winter. They don’t just gather; they’re expert planners.
Squirrels can bury thousands of nuts each fall, and here’s the fascinating part: they don’t
retrieve them all from memory. Instead, they use their strong sense of smell to locate hidden stashes, even under snow.
Researchers have found that squirrels are surprisingly strategic, too. They often spread their food out across many small
hiding spots rather than one big one, a clever way to prevent “thieves” from stealing their entire supply.
They’re also built for the job. Squirrels can leap up to ten times the length of their body, and their ankles rotate so they can climb down trees headfirst...perfect for darting between branches and hiding nuts in
tricky spots. And here’s the twist: while they’re so skilled at collecting, they don’t always remember where every nut is buried.
That forgetfulness turns into a gift for the environment. Many of those forgotten acorns and seeds grow into new trees, making squirrels accidental forest gardeners. In their busy,
scatterbrained way, they’re quietly ensuring that forests keep renewing themselves year after year.
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Here's what just one GON reader had to say...
"Thank you, Maria, for the delightful message in your September 17th issue! The idea of our clutter talking back
brought some nostalgia as I was reminded of a favorite childhood movie, The Brave Little Toaster, a story about a group household appliances who are in search of their owner. It is a great visual for the struggle of letting things go. Thanks for the extra smile today. Have a blessed day!"-- Sherah, Nebraska
