A Lovely Gift!

We know a lady that works for the US Forest Service and we were talking to her yesterday about the squirrels. She said the department believes that the West Nile Virus has spread through the squirrel population and is causing many deaths. She does see some squirrels out in the forest and she believes that they will make a comeback; she wasn't sure how long it would take for them to become a stable breeding population again.

As if in answer to our renewed hope - today two squirrels came onto the deck to get some water and some seeds and peanuts we had thrown out for the birds. We were so happy to see them - I'm not sure that the danger is over for them yet; only time will tell.

It was delightful to see them - the first squirrels we've seen in months. It brought such joy to my heart!

This is just heartbreaking.....

Pictures from better days.

The news started in the mountain communities about 10-15 miles to the West of us this past summer - the Western Gray Squirrels were disappearing and no one seemed to know why. It was suggested they had squirrel pox or the West Nile virus. Our squirrels seemed healthy and happy going about their business. They were very busy in early Fall - loads of pine cone "cobs" littered the yard as they collected their seeds. Then we started seeing them less and less often. The last one my husband saw didn't look good; he looked weak and sickly. We haven't seen a squirrel now for a month or more - not one.

We walk about three miles every morning and we are used to seeing lots of squirrels scampering about collecting acorns and pine nuts. We haven't seen any lately. Yesterday we were somewhat cheered when we heard one calling from a tree - I thought though that he might be the last one around. Then today on our walk, at the very spot we heard him calling, we saw a dead squirrel lying in the middle of the field. It just broke my heart.

The Gray Squirrels are such a part of mountain life - I love hearing them and seeing them scampering around the yard. Their absence is a great loss and makes me so very sad......

I wonder if they will ever come back.....