About six years ago we began to notice the prevalence of squirrels in the ravine we visit daily with our two little dogs. Previously to fixing our brief attention on the squirrels' presence, we had noticed them but as a background, assuming them to be there by birthright, but hardly taking notice.

Then one morning as we ascended the first long hill into the ravine, and coming abreast of a tall old pine that sits at the junction of the first trails, just over the creek, we noticed a small red squirrel, sitting at rest on a small branch adjacent to a tree growing beside the pine. I suppose that's when I conceived the idea of bringing peanuts along with us. The first few times peanuts were brought they were modest in number and sprinkled haphazardly, before a routine developed whereby the peanuts would be placed in precisely the same place in crooks and crannies in tree bark and crotches and atop old snags, daily.

Which was also when we began to notice that squirrels would begin to await our daily deposits, along with the occasional perky chipmunk eager to stuff its little pouch, and crows as well, alert to the daily offerings. A few days ago there was one of the red squirrels traversing an old fallen log, across the creek. Directly behind her, two tiny offspring.

One of which appears to have taken up her favourite vigil at that very place where her mother had long been accustomed to appearing.