I have a family of Harris’s Antelope Squirrels (Ammospermophilus harrisii) at my house. I enjoy watching them as they scamper, bounce, and climb their way through my front yard. They seem to appreciate that I’ve worked hard over the past 7 years to re-vegetate the area with native plants. They are quite comfortable here – finding all the food, shelter, and water that they need.
In return for providing these basic necessities they give me free tree and bush trimming, soil aeration, and other landscaping help. The recent monsoon soaking revealed another of their free services – tree planting. Apparently, they have been busy squirreling away caches of palo verde seeds in my garden paths. Their food storage plan didn’t work so well since the seeds have now sprouted in thick clumps. Judging from the number of mini-forests, they’ve been busy little buggers!
They are so cute! The seeds they planted could be eaten by them in a squirrel salad?????
If they could eat them in a salad that shows good planning, if they don’t they’re either hoggish or maybe they have squirrel alzheimers?
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Actually, it is a good thing they forget some of their caches – this way they are “planting” new trees. I just wish they didn’t plant them in my walkway!
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