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Mr. Squirrley
September 16, 2007
Black Squirrel ~ Canon 30d
The National Cathedral is known for many things, the smallest of which is its population of fuzzy black squirrels. Legend has it that many years ago a number of these Canadian squirrels escaped their cages at the the National Zoo, which isn't far from the cathedral, and many ended up making their home on the grounds of Mount St. Alban's. I see them from time to time in my neighborhood as well, but there's a huge concentration of them in the Bishop's Garden. It seems Mr. Squirrley up there has a taste for the spiritual surrounded by beauty and grandeur. I've yet to see one of these squirrels in Virginia, I'm guessing the required bridge-crossing to get over the Potomac River has prevented a southward migration.
If you happen to visit the National Cathedral, keep an eye out for these little beings. If you reserve a corner of your sandwich and a couple of potato chips, you're sure to have a close encounter with a rodent of the sacred kind.
Posted by vincent at September 16, 2007 11:55 AM
Comments
Interesting! We normally have red squirrels. The last three years, we've had Franklin Ground Squirrels as well. I remember a summer about 20 years ago when my daughter thought that there was s skunk in the yard, but it was a black squirrel, presumably a color variant of the grey squirrel, which isn't supposed to live here, but does get as far north as 40 miles from here. I wondered if it had hopped a ride in a truck.
Posted by: LoieJ at September 16, 2007 03:54 PM
Cool! I don't think I've ever seen a black one. Must be the etheral music they like? Maybe you could try playing the banjo for them and they'd follow you home. ;c)
Posted by: jayne at September 16, 2007 06:15 PM
He's a cutie pie! and he looks mighty interested in whatever you were eating......... or saying.
Posted by: janet at September 16, 2007 10:43 PM