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Ratty the Squirrel |
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Back to Mary's Strawberry Shortcake World (Home) |
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**SAD UPDATE**
In mid-May, 2006, Ratty was hit by a car and killed in front of our house. I will NEVER forget Ratty, and she is now buried in our garden, along with our other gone-to-heaven pets. I am keeping this web page in memory of her, my favorite squirrel ever. |
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Thanks for stopping by Ratty's web page! You probably think I've lost it (unless you already know me-- then you KNOW I've lost it!) because I created this web page especially for my squirrely friend, Ratty. Ratty is a gray squirrel, which is a rodent. She lives in and around my yard in upstate NY. In case you're wondering, yes, she knows her name is Ratty. She comes not only when I call her, but also whenever she hears my voice. She's also getting pretty adept at identifying the sound of my car and my husband's car. Besides her name, her second favorite word is PEANUT. You'll soon see why. |
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Ratty, the gray squirrel, poking her head out
of her tree house (winter, 2005) |
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RATTY'S STORY |
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In the spring of 2004, my husband Nate and I heard a noise one day in our garage. There was a scratching sound coming from the chimney of our two-floor garage. We knew something in there was alive, but we weren't sure what it was.
The chimney hole had been blocked by a simple paint can being stuck in the hole. Nate moved the paint can tentatively, and heard a screeching sound come from inside. It was a S-C-A-R-Y sound, like the animal inside was the Tasmanian Devil or something! However, we knew the animal was probably terrified because it was trapped.
On the count of three, Nate pulled the paint can out and ran to the side of the garage. Out popped a very sooty squirrel whose tail had almost no fur left on it. After the poor squirrel sprinted out of the garage, it ran over to me as if to thank me (or at least I like to think so!), and then ran up a tree to gather its bearings.
We saw the squirrel quite a bit over the next few weeks, and even though her tail hair grew back, we had dubbed her Ratty. So that's how our Ratty got her name! |
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Here's how I can identify, at a glance, whether the squirrel I'm looking at is Ratty. Look at the above photograph. Her left ear (the ear closer to me when I took this picture) has a bit of skin taken out of it, as if she was bitten. That's the quickest way to tell whether or not the squirrel I'm seeing is Ratty or not. Of course, no other squirrel around here acts like Ratty (she's extremely territorial) or comes quite as quickly when I call! |
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Notice that the squirrel below, who is NOT Ratty, does not have that missing piece of ear. The photo below is just for comparison. It was taken of a gray squirrel at Mendon Ponds Park near Rochester, NY. Please do NOT tell Ratty that there is a photo of another squirrel on her web site or she'll get really REALLY mad. I mean it. |
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To the right, you'll see what Ratty looks like in the winter. Notice how much more fluffy her fur is! That's because she needs more fur to keep her body warm in the winter. Temperatures in our area can reach 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, and with the wind chill, it's even colder. Brrr! |
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Ratty taking a peanut from Mary (winter, 2005) |
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Ratty's Best Friend:
Me! |
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Ratty didn't always take peanuts right from my hand. At first, we had to get her acquainted with us, which meant throwing peanuts (UNsalted) to her across the yard or driveway. Once she realized we weren't going to murder her, she came closer and closer until one day,she took a peanut right from my hand. I was nervous at first-- Ratty behaves rather "squirrely" at times, if you know what I mean, but she has never bitten me or anyone else. Now, she comes whenever she hears me or sees me, and she will practically crawl on my lap to get at her favorite treat! |
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Squirrels are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and at dusk. In the winter, they are most active whenever the weather and temperatures are tolerable! Having a nice, fluffy tail not only helps keep a squirrel warm, but it helps in balance as well. To the right, you'll see Ratty balancing while she takes a peanut from Mary's hand. |
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Whoever said I don't like to share? Here I am (below), sharing a fresh, juicy nectarine with my friend Ratty. Bad picture of me, good picture of Ratty. (Summer, 2005) |
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Ratty wasn't too crazy about the nectarine, so I gave her a peanut the next time around. |
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Now what squirrel WOULDN'T trust this face? HA! Of course, this is me (above) making a silly face (whale-watch off Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA; April, 2005). |
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There is also another related page that has to do with squirrels. Please stop by to see Other Squirrels Who Call Our Yard "Home" to see some of Ratty's neighbors! |
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Have you ever heard of NationStates or Jennifer Government? I have a nation there called (what else?) Noble Squirrel Ratty! It's fun and easy to create a nation and play along. Come see my nation by clicking here! |
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