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June 23, 2013

6/23/2013

 
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Wanted. Should be considered toothed and dangerous. Suspected of theft, breaking and entering, conspiracy, squirrel-on-squirrel violence and leaving the scene of an accident. Be on the lookout for this suspect anywhere near your backpack.
Hello to you.  We enjoyed an extraordinarily busy day at LeConte Lodge Saturday.  We also enjoyed our most sustained sunshine in quite some time.  The high reached 65 with a low of 44 for Saturday.  We had a couple of light sprinkles, but not enough to measure.

So far on Sunday we've received a hodgepodge of weather--a little sun, a little rain seasoned with some clouds.  The rain showers to date haven't been long or heavy.

We have been dealing with a bumper crop of red squirrels (or boomers as they're known up top).  I don't go back as far as Tim, Chris or Allyson, but there seem to be far more of the bushy-tailed critters up here than in my other seasons on LeConte.

If you're coming up to see us I'd like to enlist your help.  So many people feed the squirrels up here that they've become delinquents.  Several of the squirrels up here have gotten plenty bold.  They fight with each other like the Jets and the Sharks (without the snapping fingers and switchblades).   In past years we've had begging squirrels bite people because they've been so extensively fed by folks.

A squirrel's teeth are so sharp that they'd be happy to slice through some flesh and introduce you to the bones in your finger (not a fun hike down to medical help and the medical helicopter won't fly for a squirrel attack, though you would be a source of their amusement for decades).  It's the same idea as not feeding the bears.  The squirrels in the national park are plenty resourceful enough to fend for themselves.

One of the most notorious outlaw squirrels on the mountain slipped into the office and called me out on a showdown this morning.  The townspeople came and told me he was itching for a fight.  I walked in the door and the rascal was sitting smugly on the office heater, mayhem in his heart and evil in his eyes.  Like a gunfighter, he stared me down with a Clint Eastwood squint.  He ran around the loom and around the office before riding into the sunset.  But I'm pretty sure I've not seen the last of that outlaw.  With your help, maybe he'll get hungry and become a "mountain man" again.  We don't need any trouble up here.

Have a fine day and keep your head on a swivel for outlaw squirrels.  Happy trails.




Christine Anderson link
6/23/2013 07:09:30 am

So sweet-faced... so vicious! ;-) We we hiked Alum Cave a few weeks ago, we saw them everywhere! They really do have big voices for such small creatures.

Larry O
6/23/2013 07:57:47 am

Too funny!!!

ScottA
6/23/2013 08:01:57 am

We only saw a couple up top on April 14th. They do look a little different than our squirels here in Ky. Maybe a climate thing

Jenny B. link
6/23/2013 11:34:37 am

If yours in KY are large and gray, and the ones you saw are small and red, they are different species. I'm very fond of the little red squirrels--they like colder latitudes or elevations and live among boreal evergreens. But (not saying this to you Scott but to everyone) DON'T FEED THEM! By the way, if you want to see non-albino white squirrels, go to Brevard NC. If you want to see black squirrels, go to Washington DC.

Richard from MA
6/24/2013 03:20:15 am

There are black squirrels in Western Massachusetts, too. Introduced in Stanley Park in Westfield years ago, and they have spread through the area. They have been used as an example of the reasons NOT to introduce exotic species...

Debi
6/23/2013 10:56:01 pm

Cute right, that's their disguise. :)

debnfl
6/24/2013 02:45:26 am

Nice you all are having pleasant temperatures. Here in N. Florida we are having our typical hot muggy weather with plenty of bugs, including green slime frogs that I do NOT like. We too have our share of pesky squirrels. We have a strawberry patch, and this year they have totally decimated all of our strawberries. There's hardly any way to discourage the critters. For sure willingly feeding them is the wrong thing to do so I totally get your pleas to Leconte visitors to NOT feed the squirrels! Have a wonderful blessed day to all.

CRYSTAL
6/24/2013 04:20:37 am

I could hear gun-slinger movie soundtrack in the background while reading your squirrel encounter. A faint whistling of song and the stare down begins.

I am enjoying your posts. Thank you. Have a super day.

Kent
6/24/2013 06:19:31 am

Growing up, my cat that took on a squirrel -- and lost badly. Poor feline received a nasty bite to the side of his head.

Since then, I've come to the conclusion that squirrels are pure evil.

awe
6/24/2013 03:54:31 pm

= 0 )))}}}]]]>

paradaise of the birds
6/25/2013 05:58:53 pm

Kinds of the birds = 500 ))))

Katie
7/10/2013 03:22:35 pm

Nathan, Granny would be so proud to know you are having a squirrel showdown! Next go round, don't forget her favorite trick of sneaking up on them and pulling their tails. Maybe that will show 'em!


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