The Squirrel Whisperer

Yesterday I was drinking my morning coffee, singing whatever song was just on the radio and walking into work.  Our building doors are in an alcove, so you aren't quite sure what you're going to see when you come into the area.

Usually I see some bugs, a soggy newspaper and leaves.  It's nothing frightening.  I realized yesterday it could be. 

My office is in a building that is part of a much larger complex.  We are surrounded by trees, flowers and wildlife.  A couple years ago we experienced wildlife.  A foul odor permeated the building for days.  It was the smell of death and a little something extra.  Apparently a skunk had crawled into the duct system and couldn't get out.  Add 100 degree temps and you get a science experiment that I never want to relive.

There has also been rumors of aggressive squirrels.  A co-worker of mine was charged by one as she was walking into our building last year.  While I think they're cute, I don't want to get close enough to one to test that story out.

You can imagine my surprise when I walked into the alcove yesterday to see this:

Let me enlarge it and make it blurry for you:

See that squirrel-rodent trying to get to work on time?  He (or she, I'm not sure I can tell) was trying to figure out how it got here and how it can get out.  I've seen these things scale trees before so I'm not sure why it couldn't scale the half wall right next to it that leads to freedom, but it couldn't.

With the story of my co-worker being charged by one last year and this guy (girl?) looking a little stressed about being trapped in an alcove and possibly having to work, I decided to back away from the situation.  With my luck he (she?) would charge and I would drop my new ceramic coffee mug and then where would I be? 

I decided to do what my aunt used to do with squirrels when I was little.  I'm not sure this ever worked for her, but I decided to try it.  I started making kissy noises.  Either I sounded sweet to the little guy (gal?) or he (she?) was planning to charge, but he (she? it?) started to come out of the alcove.  I started to back away, while making kissy noises.

I realize that anyone in the parking lot would've seen just me making kissy noises toward the entrance and think that it was some kind of new blessing one gives their office building or that I was not of my full wits.  I like to think that I now have a special gift with the squirrel world.  That little guy (girl?) will go back to his (her?) friends and tell them of this lady who makes a delightfully pleasing sound and saves them.

I'm like the squirrel whisperer.  I'm not entirely sure I want to test out my newfound abilities any time in the near future again!