Black Squirrel

Featured image: Squirrel

A black squirrel appeared in the woods for the first time today. We have many black squirrels in the Northwoods, but this is the first time one has come to my woods. He has caused quite a commotion with the gray squirrels. A stranger in our midst. How many times have we done the same thing? Someone or something is different, so we battle for our space and territory. Do we say, “Oh my gosh, I love the difference that they present to us and I welcome it?” Or do we say, “They are different, and I am not sure I want to welcome them to my space?” Often, we battle their differences rather than welcome it.

I watched as the black squirrel and a gray squirrel were at the end of a very thin branch. The black squirrel seemed to have the upper hand, there was nowhere for the gray squirrel to jump to and no available branch to escape. The black squirrel kept pushing the gray squirrel to the end of the branch. The smart gray squirrel just jumped over him and scampered off. Ha. Who won? Do we need a winner? There are more gray squirrels, and only one black squirrel. How many times do we gang up because we outnumber another? Wouldn’t it just be best to just jump over the difference and find out if they are a threat or a friend? My guess is that the black squirrel just wanted to be able to get at the feeders and eat just like the gray squirrels.

Right now, the black squirrel is playing king of the castle, on the ground feeder eating while gray squirrels are waiting and angry. It will be interesting if the black squirrel stays around.