LIL CHUCKETTE, BIG MAMA AND INTER-SPECIES SQUABBLE

 

Our newest denizen of the Back 40 has made its first appearance! We spotted the Chuckette following her Mama last evening as the pair galloped to our place from Benny's next door. The little one immediately went into their apartment while Mama grazed on some grass. Evidently, this year it's been Mama that we have seen, not Chuck. As I noted in an earlier post, Mama and the squirrels have been pretty peaceful eating in close proximity until a couple of days ago when a squabble broke out. One of the latest gen of Fluffers was snacking under the feeder with Mama nearby when this youngun got ticked off about something. Now, if you have spent any time watching these critters, you will have noticed that they can be intensely agitated, loud, quarrelsome, tail twitching creatures. Their attitude if they were human:

Frank Sutton as Sgt. Carter on the '60's show "Gomer Pyle"

The young squirrel had been upright eating a seed when he pivoted around, went to all fours and faced Mama who was nonchalantly munching grass. Fluff went quite still and stared intently for about five beats then began moving closer, with eyes fixed. Surely a sign of aggression. Mama turned to ignore him but Fluff was having none of that. Mama got annoyed and whirled around sending Fluff into a vocal and tail twitching frenzy. His calls must have been a flare because to Mama's left and probably out of her line of sight came running another squirrel. This squirrel came flying up and joined his buddy and they feigned an attack. Mama wheeled to face them both when the newcomer rushed up close and touched her, reminiscent of the counting coup practice by the Plains tribes.  Mama turned her back again to ignore as the Fluffs ran off 20 feet away and held. We ended up with a Good, Bad and Ugly triangle:

In the end, tempers cooled and all parties wandered off.

UPDATE: Last night, there was a trio of young Fluffs snacking around the feeder. We think they are litter mates. They seemed quite familiar with each other and getting close which we think would not happen if they are stranger. Curious behavior: there was a frequent behavior where one would feint a charge on another. It reminded me of young boys who raise their fist to each other but it's all a mock attack. Certainly a favorite of older bullies upon freshman. But, I think in this case, it's a kind of young squirrel training: Don't be complacent while having a snack. Keep your guard up at all times! Be aware and stay alive!