#75 – tree rat extraordinaire

The snow on the back deck piles up. I shovel it off, and it gathers under the deck. Lovely little piles. Good thing we don't need any more firewood from the shed. I could not navigate it.

During to our brief melt I used the roof rake to flatten it out. In our typical spring thaws and refreeze temperatures, it freezes here and doesn't drain. I was happy with this.

 Our release squirrel (#75) seems to have two friends. One seems more special than the other. This is 75 in November, I think. (They won't wear name tags!)

The bears in November, atop their bench.

I don't know which one this is, but it tried to climb the bird feeder pole over and over again! (Spoiler alert: he didn't make it!)

They decided that going in under the bears on the bench was a good place.

Good grooming is important. 

He looks like he is hugging himself!

With the warmer temperatures, i.e. above 0 ℃ (32 ℉), they are getting twitterpated. The 3 tom turkeys have been fake strutting. The squirrels have been chasing one another hither and yon.  This one comes from lot #3. It's not #75.

   

 My morning entertainment!

 

Since 75 has ventured outside his nest box (it took awhile), I have not seen him entering the box. He's been on the tree several times, but he move through the tree canopy and doesn't leave his scent at the bottom of his tree. I filmed this through the dirty window. He's reluctant to have me watch him.

 

UPDATE: 9 black squirrels out back. Two in the front. It's mating season. Thursday, Feb. 19.

Blood on the ground Feb. 20.