So, I was out in my yard the other day. Supposed to be a chill Saturday. My plan, right, was to finally get around to fixing that wobbly fence panel. Been putting it off for weeks. Had my tools out, everything ready to go. That was the “practice” for the day, get something done, feel productive. You know how it is.
The Main Event
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spot some commotion. Near the old oak tree. I figure, oh, just the usual squirrels chasing each other, or maybe a cat stalking a bird. Standard stuff. But this was… different. I walked over, kinda curious, and man, what I saw just floored me. There’s this squirrel, a regular grey squirrel, nothing special about it. And it’s got a snake. Not a big one, maybe like a garter snake, but still, a snake! And the crazy part? The squirrel was actually eating it. Like, starting from the head down. I just stood there, hammer in hand, mouth probably hanging open.
I mean, squirrels, right? They eat nuts, berries, maybe raid the bird feeder. That’s what we all think. Little cute fluffy things. This was not cute. This was… primal. The squirrel was totally focused, not a care in the world that I was standing a few feet away. It was just methodically going about its business. Vicious little thing, when you get down to it.
- I saw it actually biting and tearing.
- The snake wasn’t moving much, so I guess the squirrel got the drop on it.
- It took a surprisingly long time.
My So-Called “Practice” For The Day
My whole fence-fixing plan just went out the window. Who can concentrate on fence panels when there’s a National Geographic scene unfolding right in front of you? I didn’t even think to grab my phone for a picture until it was mostly over. And by then, the light was bad, and honestly, the best bits were gone. Typical. So much for documenting my great discovery for science, eh?
I just watched the whole thing. It was kind of gross, not gonna lie. But also fascinating. You think you know your backyard, the little critters running around. Then you see something like this, and it just flips your whole idea of them upside down. That squirrel wasn’t just some furry nut-gatherer. It was a straight-up predator. A tiny, fluffy, surprisingly effective predator.
This whole episode got me thinking. We build our little houses, plant our little gardens, and think we’ve got nature all tamed and sorted. But it’s always there, just under the surface, doing its thing. Wild. Unpredictable. That squirrel didn’t care about my fence, or my Saturday plans. It had its own agenda. Survival, I guess.
So, the fence? It’s still wobbly. My “practice” for the day turned into an impromptu nature watch. And honestly, I think I learned more from that squirrel than I would have from fixing that fence. Mostly, I learned that squirrels can be hardcore. And that you should always expect the unexpected, especially when you step outside your door.
It’s funny, the things you end up remembering. I’ve fixed plenty of things around the house, and I barely recall half of those jobs. But that squirrel eating a snake? That image is gonna stick with me for a good long while. That’s my practical record for you. Sometimes the most memorable experiences are the ones you totally didn’t plan for.
