Sunday, March 18, 2012

Furry Landscapers

California Ground squirrels race up and down the coastal buffs in La Jolla. Furry landscapers prune ice plants and daisies and chew with gusto.


Gathering a bouquet
When alarmed, the squirrels scuttle into burrows.  Extensive tunnels in the sandstone provide room for their colonies.  Almost too friendly at times, their curiosity brings them into contact with tourists.

With a shake and a turn, they will stand on hind legs to survey the scene then scurry into the cliffs.

"It's pruning . . . not deadheading daisies."













"
"I've eating the heads off of these daisies, now I need a Big Mac."


". . . and they call us scavengers."

Often the squirrels compete with seagulls for wrappers filled with junk food.


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