Within the past week or so I’ve noticed an alarming number of dead squirrels on local roads; quite a few of these Sciuridae not squashed roadkill, or carrion, but ‘intact’. Appearing to’ve been killed by a glancing blow, not crushed by a vehicle tyre.
Footnote – When using the adjective ‘alarming’ above, I was probably relaying an overly dramatic description of feelings at witnessing seemingly higher numbers of dead squirrels on regional routes. Perhaps, ‘observing more than usual’ more accurately depicts my emotions on the topic.
Quite what has led to this increase in these animals colliding with car wheels is anybodies guess. I’ve not researched this in any depth (or at all), it’s just a gut feeling borne from sights witnessed first hand during recent car journeys. I’ve no idea if roadkill statistics are even captured, but I’ll stick my neck out and venture if they are my glum observations won’t be too wide of the mark.
This afternoon, I nearly added to the bushy tailed rodent death numbers myself when one of these kamikaze rodents darted out in front of me on an earlier drive. Mercifully, it put it’s own brakes on at the same juncture yours truly jammed on his anchors, consequently I didn’t inadvertently augment these Sciuridae cull numbers……. Thankfully, it also managed to just evade a car heading in the other direction when it stopped dead (excuse the pun) to avoid dashing under my wheels.
So what’s going on squirrels? Has life become just too much for you ladies and gents? Has there been a worsening of your furry life circumstances which’s led to you taking over the mantle of rodent suicide champions from your lemming cousins?
As I strongly suspect none of my readership includes squirrels, or indeed lemmings, yours truly realises I’ll not receive answers from the rodent world for the trinity of inquiries on the above paragraph. However, if you’re reading this Chris Packham is there any chance you maybe able to shed some light on the conundrum.
Talking of roadkill, due to overcooking the pork, and the tinned tomatoes tasting as though they’d been mixed with washing powder, earlier I binned the majority of the pork loin and vegetables I cooked for dinner. The broccoli and potatoes were cooked ok, however their flavour was tainted by the tomato juice which consequently made them inedible.
Ordinarily I’m a pretty decent cook, for instance the shepherds pie I prepared yesterday was life-affirming; and I’ve never had to throw a meal away made by my hands due to it being unpalatable. However, this crime against cuisine was so deeply unpleasant I’d no option but bin the slops. As I write, a takeaway pizza is en route as a replacement ‘feast’ for my mother and yours truly.
Some may posit that a bad workman blames his tools, but the problem here wasn’t with the tools, ie the pans, spoons, cooking utensils and oven dish. Yes, I made an error in overcooking the pork. However, it was the taste of the tomatoes and their ubiquitous presence over each of the dishes ingredients which made the smorgasbord so poor even Oliver Twist wouldn’t have asked for more…… One thing for sure is that the wee urchin wouldn’t be classing it as ‘ Food, Glorious Food’ in refrain!
Anyhow, I’m now stuffed with an agreeable meat feast pizza from a localish Italian restaurant and I’m over the early cock-up on the catering front, as Jimmy in The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin oft spouted…… So to close I’ll bid you adieu accompanied with my fond wishes and the heartiest of belches.
