The Black Squirrels

These little gremlins have got tenacity, no?

And a high octave vocal range?

And apparently a highly developed balance since the only time I ever see them is running across the power lines in my alley. Or lost, searching desperately for the way back into the alley.

For some reason, they seem smarter than the cats that inhabit the space below the power lines.

I think the black squirrels might be shrewder. And possibly better looking.

I couldn't tell you where they reside. My guess would be in one of the abandoned houses.


And they keep a pretty low profile really. You only really catch glimpses of them if you live here. They live in my alley. And probably other peoples' alleys around this most gracious and welcoming district of BLOOMINGDALE.

I wonder sometimes...

Are they black from lack of sun or is it just genetics that makes them that color?

Is their color the result of a long process by which it darkened because of lack of nutrients?

Or a chemical abnormality because of exposure to latant BORF fumes?

I watched one perch on the top beam of my neighbor's porch the other day and listened to it squawk for about ten minutes. TEN minutes! And it was so loud I swear you could have heard it from all four corners of the alley. A painfully shrill sound it was. It seemed to hit a part of my ear drum that wasn't responding well to the sound.

That little firecracker wanted to be heard!

But I was walking through Mt. Vernon Square the other day and saw a mutant breed: black with brown spots!

And I just thought to myself....thank god I don't live in this crazy part of town. Those little fuckers are ugly!