A squirrel shares his story.

That time of year, when the days get shorter, the temperatures cool down from summer's oven heat, the leaves start changing color and dropping from the trees.

Nut gatherin' time!

We will be scouring the neighborhood to find the choicest, tenderest nuts (Pardon me while I drool...), to store a cache that will get us through the Long Cold.

My name is "Squirrelly", a member of the Rodent Regatta, but I take offense at being compared to mouse or even worse, a rat.

I am a red squirrel, an adorable one if I must say so myself. My huge obsidian eyes miss nothing; I have short red fur and a massive, bushy tail. I'm fond of twitchin' and showin' it off. It's my best asset.

I have sharp claws that can climb any tree and razor-sharp teeth that can crack the hardest nut.

What does a squirrel do for fun?

My favorite things to do are chasing my tail, chatterin' the latest gossip with my Squirrel Pals, playing hide-and-seek with my friends, and holdin' jumping contests from tree to tree. (I am a wonderful leaper.)

But my most favorite activity? Hasseling Humans and Animals passing underneath any branch I'm on. Once in a while, I'll drop a nut on 'em, just to watch their expressions.

However, nuts being a precious commodity, I don't do that often anymore. When I was younger, food was plentiful. It's not like that now. Nothing aggravates me worse than to find a tree that has already been picked over by my fellow Squirrels.

Squirrel Games, though, are fun!

Well, back to nut huntin'. With a flip of my tail, I'm off--

~"Squirrelly".