18 August 2008

The 2008 Squirrelympic Games





Competitive nut-cacheing.
Forward roll and other gymnastics.
Bird-feeder dismantling.
Wrestling. (Lots of wrestling).
Acorn-hurling.
The 100-yard vertical dash.
The 10-meter branch leap.
Marathon chattering.

Welcome to the Squirrelympic Games, playing not just in 2008 but every week of every year in just about every yard where you'll find trees, nests and a hospitable environment for these natural athletes.

Ok, so they're not Michael Phelps (it would be hard to fit that bushy tail into a Speedo anyhow, and I'm not sure I'd want to see the, uh, end result) - but let's be brutally honest. No one can swim a 200-meter butterfly and 200-meter freestyle like him but, can this guy crack nuts between his teeth?

Aha, I thought not.

Why do we humans have to wait every few years for an Olympic extravaganza when the guys in our yards and parks and woodlands get to do this every day of every year? They've got game, all right. (In fact the fellow pictured here with the fabulous upper body strength is from the Daily Mail, in the UK. My Connecticut friend, upon seeing his photos, decided to nickname him Squir-hurcules!!!!!)

So let's take our cue from them, for a change. Forget the gold, the silver and the bronze. Let's go for the Gray!

5 comments:

Cactus Jack Splash said...

I really enjoyed this post. I love watching the squirrels that we share our home with.
Right now they are busy throwing walnuts at the dogs.

Jlascanteen said...

squirrels are really cute!

Kat Mortensen said...

I have the odd pole vaulter who tosses the cabers that fall from the old trees, as well as the ever-popular dirt-diggers (this event is held in flower pots - the winner uproots the flowers leaving only dirt in the pots). Oh, I also have the cherry tomato juggling competition. This is my own fault because I provided a virtual stairway to heaven with a spiral plant stand attached to the tomatoes (it was a couple of summers ago and I haven't tried toms since.)

Kat

tcgequine said...

I watch them jumping from canopy to canopy 60 - 80 feet up in the trees in our back yard. They don't start with a few practice jumps, short and low. They go straight to the 30' spread oxer..

squirrelmama said...

I think this is what sets them apart as true cross-country Olympians!