Squirrels that can fly?

Southern Flying Squirrel - Photo Credit: Wikipedia

I received this post from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on Michigan's two flying squirrels: the Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels. If you haven't seen a flying squirrel in person, they are adorable. I had the opportunity to raise several litters of Southern Flying Squirrels and they are pretty amazing animals. Their fur is silky soft and once they develop their gliding abilities, they are virtually impossible to catch. Enjoy the article and check out the links.

Squirrels that can fly?

A well travelled pig

Wendell vacationing on Neebish Island

I haven’t written much about Mr. Wendell, my orange and white guinea pig. In a household of eleven noisy cats, one can often forget about the little guy in the family room cage. But in my world, there is something rather special about Mr. Wendell.  For one, he cooperates with his grooming. Unlike the other pigs that have lived here, Wendell allows me to trim his claws without fear of being bitten. He also understands Japanese; no small feat considering how poor a speaker I am. I welcome him each morning with an Ohayo gozaimasu, genki desu ka. Asagohan wo tabemasu ka. Ninjin?? (Translation – Good morning, how are you?  Have you eaten breakfast? Carrot??)

 But what makes Mr. Wendell so very special is how well travelled he is. Finding a guinea pig sitter is no easy task. The retired couple who had cared for him had decided that the daily chore of cleaning his cage had become too much for them. So I decided that whenever I had to go out of town, Mr. Wendell would come with me. I furnished a small plastic cat carrier with food and water dishes with a thick towel on the floor. A separate tote carries his pig food, timothy, a quart of water and bedding supplies. I found a small play pen at the local pet store that I connect with zip ties to the bolts on his carrier. Voila!! A portable mobile pig home.

Wendell has seen more of the state than most animals. He has spent a week’s vacation in Ypsilanti at the home of his cousin Leo, the Italian Greyhound; weekends with cousins Bixby and Sophie, a pair of Yorkiepoos. He has ridden the Neebish Island Ferry to vacation at the Birchtree Cottages and camped at Lightfoot Bay.  He is even welcomed at my parents’ home in the U.P., an invitation that would never be extended to his feline friends.

With the arrival of summer now, Wendell and I will once again hit the road. With his mobile home safely buckled into the back seat, off Wendell and I will go on our next adventure.

Madame and Monsieur

Madame

This spring, my backyard ground feeder has been frequented by a pair of Mallard Ducks. Madame and Monsieur, as they have now been named, arrive early evening to dine on the cracked corn scattered on the ground by the neighborhood wildlife. Surrounded by hyperactive squirrels and bickering crows, Madame and Monsieur quietly eat, ignoring the chaos. When full, the two fly towards the bay, a short flight west of the house.

But Sunday was a different story. The two appeared around noontime but didn’t seem all that interested in the corn. Monsieur wandered half way up the hillside, sat down in the leaves and quickly fell asleep. Tucking her right leg under her wing feathers, Madame stood closed by.

I gathered up my camera equipment and walked outside towards the pair. Madame was unperturbed by my presence, allowing me to move my tripod and camera to within 15 feet of her. I set the camera to video and watched. At first Madame continually surveyed the yard, her head turning back and forth. Her body remained still, an amazing feat considering that the entire time I watched her, she balanced her bulky frame on one leg. After awhile it was obvious that Madame needed a nap too. She began to close and open her eyes in a vain attempt to stay awake. Exhaustion soon overwhelmed her and Madame fell asleep, still standing on one leg.

I folded up my tripod and walked silently back to the house as not to disturb their afternoon nap. The two slept for another 15-20 minutes, then flew off.

Using the Birds of North America website (www.bna.birds.cornell.edu) I read that this behavior is common in Mallard Ducks. Upon finding an open area, safe from predators and sheltered from the wind, Mallard Ducks will use the midday sun and warmth to bathe, preen and sleep. Mallards have a two hemisphere brain that independently regulates the opening and closing of their eyes. This independent function allows the bird to sleep with one eye closed and the other open in order to remain on guard for predators. Something to look for the next time Madame and Monsieur come by to nap in the yard.

Monsieur