Mama Said

“Squirrels are the farmers of all that is edible.”

Squirrels forget about one-half of where their stashes are hidden. So in effect, squirrels naturally plant lots of different nuts and seeds that sometimes blossom, many times in return. However, Squirrels do have a highly developed memory, especially when it comes to finding their food caches. They are known to rely on both spatial and sensory memory to recall where they’ve hidden their food. Some squirrels will even use landmarks (trees, rocks, etc.) to help guide them back to their stashes.

“Do not reap what you did not sow.”

Squirrels are known for hoarding food in various locations to get them through the winter months. However, they sometimes engage in a behavior called “deceptive caching,” where they pretend to bury food to throw off would-be thieves (like other squirrels or even birds). They’ll dig a hole, but instead of hiding food, they’ll just cover the hole back up to mislead others.

“Do not worry. Be content in the Lord, in every circumstance.”

Squirrels have a unique ability to see ultraviolet (UV) light, which is something humans cannot do. This UV vision helps them spot food, like flowers and fruits, that have UV patterns invisible to the human eye. Some flowers actually have UV patterns that attract squirrels, making it easier for them to find food sources.

“It is, what it is.”

The mating behavior of squirrels can seem like a little chaotic and even humorous. Males will often try to impress the female with acrobatic displays, chasing her around trees, and sometimes even doing a “dance” on the ground. After mating, the female may simply go back to her solitary life, while the male looks for another opportunity to mate.

“It’s not a good thing for a man to be so poor that he has to beg for alms, but it’s still worse for a man to be so proud that he refuses to accept them.”

Okay, so that isn’t what mama said, but rather what Sancho Panza said. If you want to pay alms to me, please consider purchasing one of my wildlife prints from Fine Art America. They have many print products, everything from canvas prints to shower curtains.