Squirrel vigilante

For many days, Mrs Squirrel came to eat by me, using that human shield to good effect.

On one occasion, she was eating at me feet and I saw the male squirrel use some canny tactics. Instead of coming up to her flanks, where I'd see him, he crept into the hedge and scurried under the bushes to approach her from behind and out of my sight.

I knew he had reached her when she started screaming. He was wary of coming closer as I was right there. She looked up at me as though to say, "Well? DO something!!" So I waved my hand toward the male who scampered off.

"It's, OK, Mrs S.," I said, "the coast is clear." And she stepped forward and resumed eating.

It's funny as her tolerance or confidence varies day by day. Also, she can cope with me moving my legs, but moving my arms scares her. My voice can seem to reassure or scare her. I can't work it out.

She will sometimes tremble close to me, but the males chitter - which I now think is a growl. She barks and screams at them. All I hear from her is the sound of eating peanuts.