The nut case for environmental protection
About Liz PutnamLiz Putnam is a retired automotive trade magazine editor from Columbus, Ohio.
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We arrogant humans say dumb stuff like “man is the only creature capable of foreseeing the future.” That, however, may not be the case, at least when it comes to environmental protection
As I watch a squirrel dig holes in my backyard and deposit a few nuts in each one, I must say au contraire mon ami. I can’t even pre-plan what I need at the grocery store for a week, much less scarf away provisions for next spring. Squirrel-1, Human-0.
No, we humans (not “Man,” please) can’t really get a grasp on our future global over-heating, habitat destruction, natural gas fracking effects, water pollution and other environmental threats. Hell, we can’t even think past the 2012 election cycle.
But the squirrel brain knows what’s coming. Because the squirrel is a realist unaffected by politics and advertising propaganda. The squirrel is a visionary by human standards.
When the squirrel predicts it’s going to get cold, believe it. They can argue about the efficacy of squirrel forecasts in Congress until next spring, but still, it’s going to get cold this winter.
The weather experts are predicting a harsh winter environment his year, so where will you be hiding your nuts this winter?
Peggy Roche
October 26, 2011 at 3:34 pm
The squirrely fellows in my yard agree completely! Furthermore they are also eyeballing the crawlspace above my living room!
the neighbor
October 26, 2011 at 7:46 pm
I love squirrels. I have dozens of them on my little farm. Mike even has more running all over trying to get away from his dogs. None of our dogs has ever caught one. That’s not the point of the story though which is the ignorance of man compared with the instincts of the creatures that surround us.
lazersedge
October 26, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Fortunately, the vast majority of animals are guided by instinct and not by greed.
jenny40
October 27, 2011 at 12:00 am
There are a lot of nut cases in Washington. Those climate change deniers would be well served by watching the squirrels.