Potential Squirrel Obesity

Fat people are not the only beings that are addicted to food.  Yesterday while walking my sweet labradoodle Shay Shay I witnessed proof that animals too will risk life and limb for food.  No, my dog did not run out into the street to get a meaty bone.  But a squirrel who had found a well aged acorn stood her ground to enjoy eating it a mere two feet from me with a squirrel stalking dog pulling at her leash trying to play with her.

Now this squirrel was not oblivious to our existence.  She stared at the two of us much larger and well-fed beings down while she systematically peeled away the tough covering of the nut to enjoy the tender meat.  Shay jumped up and down on her hind legs trying to gain a few feet so she could grab the furry creature while it just sat there, one eye on Shay one on her food.  Once she had consumed her meal she scurried up the trunk of the pin oak tree she was standing besides.

My dog was none to happy that I did not give her enough rope to grab that lazy ass squirrel while she had a chance, I was more amazed that the wild animal would risk certain death over one small nut.  She was not a skinny squirrel so I am sure this meal was not her life saving or starve to death moment.  Perhaps her eye contact with sweet Shay made her think that she was not really in harms way, but she would be wrong since Shay would certainly want to squeeze her tightly until she found and ripped out her squeaker.

Is being addicted to food what has kept this squirrel alive or has she been tempting fate?  We all have heard of the fight or flight reflex but maybe the more important one is the eat or flight?  I think this animal standing right next to a tree that she could use as a safe harbor could have taken the nut in her mouth up and out of our way very easily.  Or just dropped the food and take cover and come back and recover her prize later.  Have squirrels grown too familiar with both man and beast and feel no fear for their lives or has dining become an event they are not willing to give up?

I am sure that I have done this squirrel a great disservice by holding my dog back on her leash.  She certainly is on the way to rodent obesity. I decided that if I were to only eat in a place that I was in constant danger I might feel less addicted to food.  Next time you see me with a cookie in my hand feel free to attack me.  I don’t ever want to risk my life for food, especially if it is fattening.