The News from Kenabeek

Feb 26: I’ve had many chances to look over our flying squirrel on the bird feeder after dark, and I’m positive it’s a southern flying squirrel, well north of its traditional range. It’s much smaller than a northern flying squirrel (we’ve had one of them, too) and its eyes aren’t as cartoonishly large. Well, the other evening we looked up from the TV and there it was squirrel, sitting on the cushion on the window seat! Much excitement ensued, on all sides, as we tried to capture it and it quite easily evaded us. They can jump quite an astounding distance for such a tiny creature! Eventually we were able to open one of the windows and herd it out. We still have no idea how it got into the house. And, needless to say, our cat (who is a terrific mouser despite having permanent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) was nowhere to be seen throughout – probably hanging out in the basement, trolling for mice or shrews. Luckily for the squirrel!