Even prisoners in a cell have cockroaches, rats and an occasional literary canary as local wildlife. Even city dwellers are familiar, in addition, with pigeons, raccoons, and the occasional falcon or fox or coyote. Here in the suburbs we even have larger fauna such as deer. But my favorite lately has been our little population of chipmunks .
In general they are cute, timid, do little harm, and should they accidentally get into a house only try to get out again as quickly as possible. They dash from place to place avoiding predators and pop into almost invisible holes in the lawn. They eat with paws carefully, like good children or – yes – proverbial monks .
There is currently a bad vibe that they may be one of the vectors for the ticks that cause Lyme disease. But never directly. They seem to cause no real damage. Unlike, for example, mice, their populations do not explode. Did I mention they are cute? It’s hard not to smile when you see them. Finally, it’s nice to believe they remain truly wild .
Of course there is lots of other stuff even now in this land of parking lots, pavement, pools, and sterilized lawns. Many animals and birds, some thriving, some barely hanging on. All of it interesting .
But a chipmunk can be a circus in itself .
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 