I am in my backyard and I notice that the squirrels are waiting for me to leave. I will leave, eventually, but not before I am absolutely sure that they have everything that they need. I toss some peanuts, raw, unsalted, that I purchased at the grocery store. When I bought the bag, the cashier asked me if I was buying them to eat, to cook with, or for squirrels. I told her that they were for the squirrels who live in my backyard. She grinned, and said, “I ask everyone that and I have to say that, like, 99% of the people who buy the raw peanuts buy them for the squirrels!” That is very exciting to me. I am so happy to know that.
I also buy corn for them. Hard corn with kernels that they need to chew really hard on. They don’t seem to like them as much as the peanuts but they eat them just the same. But being that there are Palm trees, there are palm nuts. Nuts that grow like a cluster of grapes on our palm trees and they are there for the taking and I have to wonder if I didn’t give them peanuts and corn that maybe they would thrive very well on the palm nuts. I sometimes wonder if I do a big fat disservice to the wildlife in my backyard by supplying them with all the food they will ever need. I swear you would think I am an Italian Mamala with the way I act about these squirrels and birds. If I were not here to help them, well, they would have to fend for themselves and God forbid if I get hit by a Mack truck, or any other truck for that matter, what would they do? So maybe, just maybe I am not doing the right thing by supplying them with food. But I so enjoy watching the squirrels and the BlueJays and the Cardinals and the Mourning Doves, especially those doves, that I am not above being just a little selfish. But I do know that it is selfish. It is not for them that I purchase and keep these animals in food. I know that. I admit it. It’s not for them. It’s for me.
And I’m ok with that, as long as we know what’s what.
No comments:
Post a Comment