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Where We Left Off:
The Winchester-Nabu Detective Agency dealt with a case that required not only solving the mystery but a lot of compassion.
Code Red:
The Winchester-Nabu Detective Agency had a different kind of case this week. It wasn’t a mystery or crime to solve; it was a request. Squirla Moon and her four babies often spend their time in the (now former) big maple tree. The maple tree was dead and got chopped, leaving a “stump” which is still quite high. There’s the main trunk and two large branches. The plateau is around 20-25 feet from the ground.
We’ve been getting to know the new red squirrel babies and observed them as they got big enough to begin exploring. We now watch them go all around the yard, but they have key locations where they like to eat and feel safe. Unfortunately, now that the big maple has been chopped dramatically, the baby squirrels and birds who rest up there are easy prey for the hawks.
Oliver has spent more time observing from his suite or his preferred seat on the observation deck. He loves to have meetings with the birds, but he’s never shown the same social interest with the squirrels. He watches them (especially because they can be skittish) but I haven’t noted any times when he’s carried on a conversation with them. Perhaps his Butler has seen that.
Gus has been keeping close tabs on the new baby squirrels and their mom. Since these babies are new to the area, Gus suggested that we put more snacks in the Old Haunted Well House egresses in case the babies need a quick place for shelter. It worked! I’ve been placing peanuts carefully at the hole next to the door where balancing them on the insulation foam is tricky. At the back of the roof, there’s a gap and I can slip some seeds and peanuts into there as well.
Introductions
“We can’t keep calling them The Baby Squirrels,” Oliver said. “They need appropriate code names for us to keep our records straight.”
Gus spun his treat-dispensing toy, won a couple chicken treatos, and added his suggestions. “One, Two, Three, and Four. Piece of cake.”
“I’ll work on it. Names are one of my favorite subjects,” I said.
“We know!” the detectives said in unison. I guess I talk about that too much.
It took a few weeks, but I finally had a list of code names appropriate for the babies. Since their mother Squirla Moon is named after a scientist (Twila Moon), I thought it would make sense to see if the little ones had the same interest in science things.
One of them is particularly intrigued by engineering and the pulleys mounted into the maple tree. With that kind of brain, I figured this squirrel would have a special interest in physics like the Laws of Motion. For that reason, I chose to name that baby after one of the smartest people I’ve ever gotten to meet in real life, Physicist Lisa. The human Physicist Lisa has interests in environmental sciences involving radon, uranium, and plutonium!
The Butler and I were listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Science Vs. which is hosted by Wendy Zukerman. Wendy is staunchly dedicated to getting the most current fact-based information into the world. She’s pushed back on the profiteering made by lies and twisted misinformation (fancy word for “not true”). We’ve listened to episodes that have hundreds of citations backing up what Wendy and her guests say on the air.
Youthful aggression done in the spirit of goodness and love is why our next baby squirrel was given the code name Greta. It’s, of course, in honor of one of the most vocal climate change activists, Greta Thunberg, who also happens to have started her defending of the planet at a young age. Greta is also an anagram for great and we hope our Greta has a great long life.
The littlest of the babies has been given the code name Mitzi in honor of Mitzi Jonelle Tan. The human Mitzi is a young person so incredibly motivated to fight the fossil fuel industry and stopping genocide that she/they are a fierce leader in the group Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP). Our tiny Mitzi the squirrel showed up with some concerning marks on their skin and hair pattern. It seemed that they had already survived an attack from a predator. This kind of survivor is one to be honored.
That brings us to the request!
The Assignment
The red squirrels asked if we could create something to make the plateau of the maple tree scary enough that the hawks wouldn’t go after them there.
“I’d go up there and ‘guard’ them, but I need to sleep sometimes,” Gus said.
I wasn’t falling for that. “I know what your idea of guarding scurrying critters means, Gus. I’ve had to rescue chipmunks from your ‘protection’ enough times.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said with a deigning expression.
There were several planning meetings with the Grumpy Old Man. It took weeks because of scheduling. In the end, I think we were on the right track. I’ll be the first to admit that my first result needs improving, but it was done in time to be installed on Mischief Night.
Case Findings:
So far, none of the red squirrels have been seen tampering (accidentally ingesting or getting hurt) with the Scary Eyes.
Phase II
There are plans to improve the design and power source. The puck lights are rechargeable which is good. The bad part is that I did not expect the eyes to be mounted 25 feet up. I thought I’d be able to easily take down the sculpture and charge it. Also, the remote control that came with the lights doesn’t work even though it did during testing in the workshop. The Grumpy Old Man would like to use solar power to keep the internal batteries charged. He also said he wants to bore holes into the tree stump itself and recess the puck lights rather than use my mask technique. It’s out of my hands now. The cats are done with their part of the brainstorming and planning too.
Phase III
Gus and I witnessed a hawk diving to attack a blue jay on the cedar stump. The cedar stump is only about six feet tall, but is a regular snack bar for the birds and squirrels. Oliver and Gus will have to discuss if there are going to be future plans to make that location welcoming for the small critters but deter the predators. The birds of prey have to eat too, but I’d feel awful if they gobbled up one of our little friends.
Case Status: Open