Do you know who has it easy in Chicago? (Humboldt: houses, college)

[A2DAC1985]

Squirrels. That's who.

I was walking my dog the other day and noticed something odd about the squirrels in the park we were passing by. They were fat. All of them. Some seemed "morbid" for a squirrel, and some just seemed "chunky". I didn't see any "skinny" squirrels like I had in other places I've lived. Other cities, college towns, rural environments, and at MOST the squirrels could look "chunky", but were rather lean for the most part.

My dog tries to run after one of them (but is leashed) and the squirrel makes a lightning quick () get away to the nearest tree, able to jump a solid 5 inches forward at a time and an astounding two inches in the air .

It certainly seems like these squirrels have an easy life in the city given their unsual girth, lack of signs prohibiting feeding of squirrels, and all the squirrels I have noticed have had all apendages and toes... unlike the pigeons around here.

There were a group of pigeons on the sidewalk just watching the tubby little squirrels run about and play, and I couldn't help but think about the squirrelification that has taken place in Chicago. I mean, those used to be dense, vibrant cores of trees that were very walkable and had plenty of amenities neary by like good trash cans and vibrant light poles. But now squirrels have taken over those charming limbs, and have started on the side branches, and turned them into homogenized enclaves of rotund rodents.

[ChikidII]

I am not sure where you have lived before (maybe in warmer climates) but squirrels tend to fatten up a lot around this time of the year before the hard cold hits as I believe they semi-hibernate or maybe hibernate completely? While I am not going to say we have skinny squirrels in the summer, come April, May and onto summer the squirrels are much leaner.

Just like any other city, the squirrels have plenty of food for them be it natural grown (like from trees and what not) or from the garbage.

[emathias]

My Kentucky friends tell me they make good eatin' too

[eevee]

Ah, from the luminary who brought us the "pigeons have it tough" thread, we now have the long awaited, epic follow up: "squirrels have it easy"

As mentioned, tis the season when squirrels go nuts (pun intended) looking for food before winter hits. You will see a few squirrels running around in the winter, but for the most part, they hole up until spring. I don't see many people feeding squirrels in Chicago. If you want to see pampered squirrels, take a trip out to the Boston Common where the squirrels are practically tamed, will take food from your fingers, and even sit on your shoulder if you let them (note: don't let them. Their nails are quite sharp!)

[aragx6]

They're sure prettier than rats.

Unless they've been squooshed by a truck. Then they look about the same.

[andrew61]

I've never noticed any "fat" squirrels. In fact, squirrels all look alike to me... with the once-in-a-blue-moon exception of when I run into a squirrel that's a different color from what we normally see in these parts.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by andrew61

I've never noticed any "fat" squirrels. In fact, squirrels all look alike to me... with the once-in-a-blue-moon exception of when I run into a squirrel that's a different color from what we normally see in these parts.

First time I ever saw a black squirrel was when I lived in East Humboldt Park. That area had a lot of them. Not sure if they're in other parts of the city or if they are clustered in that area

[A2DAC1985]

Originally Posted by eevee

First time I ever saw a black squirrel was when I lived in East Humboldt Park. That area had a lot of them. Not sure if they're in other parts of the city or if they are clustered in that area

Well, if Wikipedia is to be believed, that was an original dense cluster of trees that was an original enclave of the "black" squirrels... But now? After the squirrelification there's nothing but McTreehouses lining the sidewalks...

[jahk]

and they've had to let go luxuries like health clubs and shopping at the organic farmers' market. Now they have to live on potato chip crumbs and soggy old french fries they scavenge from trash cans. Pigeons still fly for exercise, and they can cover a much wider area looking for food, so they're more likely to find something healthy. (Failing that, they just hop on the train and ride to the store.)

[Thepreacherswife]

Outside squirrels and pigeons, you know who has it easy in Chicago? People with "Daley" and "Alderman" in their name somewhere.