Danielle Putnam is a critter whisperer of sorts in the Michigamme area. She has chipmunk and squirrel visitors in her backyard and one of the chipmunks is a bit of a bully she says. In the top photo you can see a blur of a chipmunk being chased, it was trying to take some almonds, when the chipmunk in the back came running up to get more...she’s a bully though and chases the others away, not caring how she accomplishes that. Pretty neat shot Danielle captured of that happening, including some bared teeth from the “bully”munk. She also captured another chippy just calmly enjoying the treats.

In her bottom two critter shots is a squirrel Danielle calls “Squeakers”, who visits her backyard regularly. She’s busy grooming and scratching in today’s photos. This particular squirrel always has a lot to say, thus the name, squeakers, I guess. Someone said Danielle spoils them, I’d say she’s just giving them a helping hand and then she gets to enjoy all their antics!

We get a look at the color on Brockway Mountain with In The Keweenaw here today. This was recorded just this past weekend, so it’s near current. Although we had some powerful winds on Sunday, so some leaves may have been blown away.

Those squirrels are called red squirrels here in S. E. MI. and they are really nasty. All that squeaking is usually an effort to warn off other squirrels. The red squirrels are not happy nesting in a tree. They insist on living in a structure, preferably heated, and will chew holes in soffits and siding to get in. That's why I bought a BB gun!

Red squirrels are called "Boomers" around the Smokey Mountains in West Tennessee...they are a bit troublesome up here!

Spectacular view from Brockway! It wasn't that
beautiful in the Porkies on Saturday.

I like chippies, unless they're making holes in my
yard or get into our garage. Our cats get a lot of
them, but mostly just to play with them. Red
squirrels, on the other hand, are menaces.

Chippies are so adorable...you can get them to eat
out of your hand, crawl up on your shoulder to
eat, etc...we used to be able to feed chippies
when a guy here fed them. He passed and that ended
the food for chippies...we were no longer allowed.

Red Squirrels on the other hand are just
destructive as can be...I do not care for them. I
don't mind a gray, although squirrels are pigs.
lol. They crack the nut and leave the shell
behind. Chips take the whole thing. I used to
love feeding them.

Hi
It sounds like we're all in agreement about red
squirrels---thumbs down.

I hope this will be a good year for leaf color.
Downstate, I don't remember whether my area is
currently "abnormally dry" or "drought". I fear that
will mean faded/muted colors and I hope that won't
be the case in the northern lower peninsula.

The bully monk
reminds me of
a song- Wooly Bully:

“ Matty told Hatty
About a thing she saw
Had two big horns
And a wooly jaw
Wooly bully
Wooly bully”
(Sam The Sham &
The Pharaohs ‧ 1965)

And a nice video!
I’d love to be UP there
right now.

Alex, never much understood the meaning of that
song. Cool beat, though.