An Amazing Tail

Be prepared to be amazed! (and possibly get a little dizzy when looking at the acrobats in the following photos)!

 We're going to look at two Grey Squirrels -- and what they can do with their beautiful tails!

 As you can see by the Grey Squirrel on the left, they can use their tails to help themselves balance in precarious situations.  

As you can see by the Grey Squirrel on the right, sometimes they can't fit their tails into places that are a little too small for them.

 But, usually the whole balancing thing outweighs that.  

Except once and awhile, when there's a game of "Squirrel Tapping" going on...

"Squirrel Tapping" happens when a poor, unsuspecting, too-large-for-the-bird-feeder squirrel can't see what's coming at him...

He gets a tap from a gentle but unexpected hand...

Then his tail helps him 'fly' - almost like a bird, out of the feeder!

Disclaimer:  No squirrels were harmed in the making of this story!

Some other things their beautiful tails help Grey Squirrels do - in hot weather, they can actually help their bodies stay cool by providing shade as the squirrel can arch its' tail above its' body.  In the winter, their tails can do the opposite, helping to keep the squirrel warm when it wraps it around itself.  

Squirrels can also communicate with their tails - flicking it at another squirrel when it is alarmed or fluffing it up when it is confronting him.

All in all, I think Squirrels tails are pretty amazing.  But on days as hot as today, I'm glad I'm not a squirrel - all covered with fur, from my feet to the tip of my tail.

 

Squirrels around here have a pretty good life, except for the occasional chasing by a human who thinks the birds should have a chance at the bird feeders, too.  

"Hey, are you talking about me?"