First of all, this is the first time that I ever saw a baby squirrel. I mean, where are all the baby squirrels? Especially in Detroit where I live, where there already an overpopulation of adult squirrels to begin with? Cecil did already do a column on where all the baby pigeons are. But we’ll save that for another day.
Anyway, earlier today, I wanted to get some exercise. And I already had some letters to mail. (Yes, I had some letters to mail again . Several, in fact .) IAE I was innocently walking to the end of my block. When I saw this adorable baby squirrel. As I said, it was the first time that I had ever seen a baby squirrel. And it looked so adorable, I started talking baby talk to it. It was climbing a small tree, and as I talked and cooed to it, it stopped and stared at me. I thought nothing of it at first.
I was planning on walking the full 30 minutes. But I spied a mail truck closer to home. And as I was already saturated in sweat (today was a very hot day, as I’m sure you can all attest), I decided to cut my walk short, and walk back home.
Then I saw that baby squirrel again. No matter, I at first thought. Then he started walking towards me. No matter, again I thought. He must be going somewhere else. Then he walked right at me! I shooed him gently away, and walked quickly home. Last I saw, he was walking to a man across the street, apparently hired to do the lawn. He seemed equally distressed, and also shooed him away as I turned around.
Why did the baby squirrel almost accost me? And do I need to call animal control? I have to tell you all I’d be more inclined to call PETA before I’d call animal control. But that squirrel scared the sh*t out of me. He didn’t at all appear aggressive, I should point out. Actually he appeared confused, FWIW. Poor thing.
My MIL used to carry peanuts in her pocket and squirrels all around knew this. It was amazing, we would be at a destination an hour away from their home and somehow a squirrel would know to sit up and make cute noises at her.
Back when laundry was hung outside to dry (on these devices called “clotheslines,” I think), my mother and the next-door neighbor lady were Kaffeeklatsching when they were charged by a rabid squirrel. They called the cops on the rodent and John Law came and shot it.
No huge mystery is required. Most likely some human fed the squirrel, either on purpose or by accidentally dropping something edible, and it’s hoping another human will do the same thing.
Years ago I was at the Bristlecone Pine Forest in eastern California and when I pulled into the empty parking lot there were squirrels scampering around everywhere. Those little buggers must have been mighty hungry because when I got down on the ground to get a few pictures, this is what happened:
. Several, in fact 
