Luna loves to chase squirrels. Living in the woods/swamp she has ample opportunity since our home is surrounded by cedars, oaks and maples. There are several small oaks a mere 20 feet from the bird feeder pole. The squirrels find the feeder irresistible, but can't get to it due to the cone shaped metal baffle hanging beneath. So they have to be content to scavenge what the birds drop to the ground and there is plenty of fallout.

Whenever I let the pups out the front door, there is ample time for the squirrels to make an escape since the main door sticks and makes noise and the screen door squeaks. Usually, they are more than half way to a tree before Luna even catches sight of them. When she does, she leaps over rose bushes, into bushes, snow drifts, in whatever direction the squirrel is taking. Damn the torpedoes!

But today was sunny. Cheery. Lots of snow on the ground. And one black squirrel was chowing down at feeder central.

I opened the doors and let Luna out. She didn't bolt, but walked rapidly to the edge of the deck facing the feeder. The squirrel only had 10 feet to go to the nearest pair of trees. She saw it, she leaped. The squirrel panicked and seemed suddenly to disappear deeper into the snow as he couldn't get any traction. Luna was almost on him when he made a final sprint to the oak on the right. And then....

she had him! I yelled "drop it!" Suddenly the squirrel exploded out from under Luna and made a dash to the tree. Luna spun about and it changed course and headed for the other tree 2 feet away behind Luna. Again Luna spun about and once more the squirrel reversed direction, then grabbed at the trunk and sprinted up the side.