EASTERN GREY SQUIRRELS have come west, I suppose (WIkipedia).

New Neighbors Dept: We were just used getting used to the presence of coyotes in the neighborhood, and now a new bunch has moved in.

We’ve got squirrels.

We spotted them first in the parks and their migration from the wooded areas along Orange County’s mountain-y spine to Garden Grove, Westminster, etc., is kind of remarkable. Somewhere along the journey, they had to cross highways, freeways, parking lots, flood control channels and dodge dozens of dogs.

Now we are seeing them in just about all open spaces with trees. Our house has a stand of tall trees, and now there’s a “tribe” – that’s the term for a group of squirrels – living in the tract. The house behind us is home to several avocado bushes and the tribe is apparently making guacamole, because they love those green fruits with the pebbly skin and round things in the middle.

I know that squirrels can carry diseases and parasites. But, on the other hand, so can some people. I know, because – despite vaccination – I got COVID-19 four times (I still think RFK Jr. is a goofball).

As someone who grew up on the “Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,” it’s hard to regard them as a deadly threat. And you have to admire a species that can dodge the dangers of steel-belted radials, rednecks with squirrel guns, coyotes and feral cats.

So, I guess I can live with them as long as they remain in the t trees. They’re cute to look at – at a distance – but dangerous to get close to, like reading the personalized license plate on the pickup truck right in front of you.

And who knows? At the rate they are moving, in a few years, instead of being maligned as “tree rats” they’ll be cursed as ‘beach beavers.”

just used getting used to the presence of coyotes in the neighborhood, and now a new bunch has moved in.

We’ve got squirrels.

We spotted them first in the parks and their migration from the wooded areas along Orange County’s mountain-y spine to Garden Grove, Westminster, etc., is kind of remarkable. Somewhere along the journey, they had to cross highways, freeways, parking lots, flood control channels and dodge dozens of dogs.

Now we are seeing them in just about all open spaces with trees. Our house has a stand of tall trees at the back of our lot, and now there’s a “tribe” – that’s the term for a group of squirrels – living in the tract. The house behind us is home to several avocado bushes and the tribe is apparently making guacamole, because they love those green fruits with the pebbly skin and round things in the middle.

I know that squirrels can carry diseases and parasites. But, on the other hand, so can some people. I know, because – despite vaccination – I got COVID-19 four times (I still think RFK Jr. is a goofball).

As someone who grew up on the “Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,” it’s hard to regard them as a deadly threat. And you have to admire a species that can dodge the dangers of steel-belted radials, rednecks with squirrel guns, coyotes and feral cats.

So, I guess I can live with them as long as they remain in the at trees. They’re cute to look at – at a distance – but dangerous to get too close to, like reading the personalized license plate on the pickup truck right in front of you.

And who knows? At the rate they are moving, in a few years, instead of being maligned as “tree rats” they’ll be cursed as ‘beach beavers.”