Maryetta the Fox Squirrel Buries a Hazelnut

This young female squirrel has been visiting us recently. I believe she may be one of Mary's Spring litter. If so, she is probably between 6-7 months old. She comes from the same direction, has Mary's courageous disposition, and likes sunflowers like Mary did. Regardless, she's a super-cute teen squirrel that reminds me of Mary, so I've named her Maryetta.

Here, she is super-diligent about burying a hazelnut. The dirt was difficult to dig in, but she kept at it. Most older squirrels don't put so much effort into it. It's so funny when they "jackhammer" the nut into the hole with their whole body! Later, I think she found our potted plants and dug around in them. The other squirrels have learned not to do that, so I expect she was the culprit, being new to the garden. Kids will be kids!

We now have three female squirrels who continue to visit us: Mrs Munchie, Jill (a yearling from last summer), and now Maryetta. If Mary returns, we'll have four! The majority of our squirrel visitors are male juveniles, I think because there aren't many good nesting places near us. The females who do visit are traveling to get to us, or they are juveniles who haven't a good nest yet.

(Maryetta is an Eastern Fox Squirrel living in Los Angeles.)