By Michael Howie
Going into the backyard felt like walking into a sauna for a few days this August. Temperatures in Southern Ontario were in excess of 30°C. With the humidity, it felt like 42°C one day. The two days of rain recently were a blessing.
Local wildlife likely thought so, too, though the trail cameras set up didn’t pick up much movement through these extremely hot days. But when the rain started… Well, it got a little squirrelly.
At least one squirrel stayed hard at work, collecting walnuts – just now dropping throughout the urban neighbourhood – and hiding them. I’m not sure where their preferred hiding spots are, but I have found whole walnuts on two separate windowsills over a few days.
Squirrels in my neighbourhood seem a bit busier this time of year, as the days ever-so-slightly shorten. With the hectic nature of Back To School season approaching, it’s a lovely reminder to get the work done, but slow down and enjoy it – or we may find we left our nuts behind.
Do you have great trail cam footage from your urban or rural home? Send it in to us via info@TheFurBearers.com, or tag us on our social media channels when you post. Your video or photos may become a future Eye on Wildlife Post!
Michael Howie is the Director of Communications for The Fur-Bearers and host of the Defender Radio and The Switch podcasts. He lives in urban Hamilton, Ontario, on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas.
