Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tired, or full?

The other day I was preoccupied with some work when Dave walked in and pointed out this squirrel, laying down flat on his (or her) belly on the deck railing.

Was squirrel tired, or just overstuffed from eating all the bird seed in our feeders?



As I got closer to the patio door, squirrel got spooked and started descending the deck railing, only to flatten out on another landing farther downstairs. I love how even the tail is flattened out! And look at that arm dangle! Maybe squirrel was just enjoying the long holiday weekend.

13 comments:

Monika said...

Wow, what comical pictures! I've never seen a squirrel do that. Perhaps some sort of temperature regulation? Hopefully it was all right!

FAB said...

Maybe just 'chilling out'!

Ginnymo said...

Ha! Since I have so many squirrels here and have watched them for over 12 years, I know they just like to hang like that after eating or if it's a warm day. They like to lie on their stomachs like that because it's cooler for them. Mine will stretch out on the dirt where it's cooler or sometimes just lie on top of the wire fencing here and just stare into my window. They are just content when they do that.
Great photos Heather!!

Shelley said...

These photos made me laugh - that squirrel is acting like he had a rough day and that he's all tuckered out! Cute!

Gabrielle said...

There are days when I feel exactly like that.

Great set of photos! I agree with Ginnymo that they are cooling off.

Meg said...

ha ha! Yes, I have seen a squirrel take a nap just like that! It was in our backyard in Columbus on a deck similar to yours. I was so surprised, because squirrels are usually so frenetic. I've also seen a squirrel fall out of a tree, which was comical once I realized he was okay.

Hope you are feeling better!

An Open Heart said...

We have one that just lays like that in the middle of the back lawn, all stretched out enjoying the cool grass...he/she even moves every so often to a new cool place!

NW Nature Nut said...

The life of leisure!

Kelly said...

...he is off-the-chart cute...pure sweetness. I love these photos of baby "I've got it made because I'm at Heather's House" squirrel.

James said...

Nice squirrel pictures. I've seen them doing this in the trees in my backyard sometimes. I believe the technical term for this behavior is chillin'

Heather said...

Okay, so I guess the general consensus is that he's just chillin'... maxin' and relaxin'... I can relate! I'm glad he feels comfortable enough to do this, even knowing our dogs are around (although I think all the squirrels know by know that our dogs are pretty chill when it comes to them!)

Meg - I've seen squirrels fall from one of our trees when they don't quite make it to the birdfeeder that's attached to it. It is comical to see, and boy, they just climb right back up that tree and try again!

RuthieJ said...

ohmigosh, that squirrel is so cute. Good thing you've got those nice wide railings to accomodate your tired squirrels.

Heather said...

Ruthie - The squirrels know they've got it made at our house/on our deck/at our feeders. They know where to go to get comfy!