All the bushy-tailed squirrels seemed to forage and play together, but I never saw No-Tail with them. I knew No-Tail had a special tale, so I began to investigate Today's Big Story. According to Discovery Kids, "When we see squirrels, we often notice their big, bushy tails first. And that's no surprise--this body part can be nearly as big as the critter it's attached to. But the tail is certainly not just there for decoration. Like a tightrope walker holding onto a long pole for balance, the squirrel uses its tail to keep itself steady as it leaps across treetops or does a high-wire act on telephone lines. A squirrel's tale is also told through its tail." Exact words...interesting.
The article continued, "That's because this animal acrobat uses this appendage to communicate with other squirrels. You'll often see its unique body language at work in the woods or right in your backyard. When a squirrel is alarmed, it flicks its tail; when it's feeling aggressive, it fluffs it up. During its breeding season, a squirrel will wave and shiver its tail while approaching the opposite sex."
And finally...
"A squirrel will also use its big, fuzzy tail to keep itself warm and toasty--it'll wrap its tail around itself like a built-in security blanket during wintertime. A squirrel will also use it to cool off during the summer. In hot weather, the tail becomes a sunshade for the squirrel and helps protects it from the sun's burning rays."
Wow...poor No-Tail. What was the tale of his missing tail? Had he been born without a tail? Had a predator snapped it into? Had his tail been hit by a bullet slightly off aim? Had his tail been electrocuted by a power line? His tail was a tale of survival - that much I knew. However he lost his tail, he had survived.
Now, No-Tail was more pitiful than I could have ever imagined. He did not have balancing abilities like the other squirrels had. He had no cool shade in the summer or warm blanket in the winter. And, worst of all, he had no way to communicate with girl squirrels! Today's Big Story was becoming a sad tale, for sure.
Despite all his shortcomings (no pun intended), I really love No-Tail. He is different. All the other squirrels look just alike. I can't tell one tail from another. No-Tail stands out. I always know when he is eating, because he is so recognizable. He almost seems like my special little pet.
I also feel a certain harmony with him. He has definitely had a harsh situation to deal with at some point in his life. His missing tail will always be there to remind him of a time that almost cost him his life. I checked my facts, and once a squirrel loses its tail, it never grows back. For No-Tail, whatever happened cannot be undone.
According to Squirrel.org, (yes, there really is one!), "the squirrel's common name can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, where Aristotle used the word "skiouros," skia meaning shade, while "oura" means tail. Thus the meaning "he who sits in the shadow of his tail" was recorded." I think we all tend to sit in the shadow of what makes us like everyone else. It's how we find our balance. It's how we communicate. It's how we seek comfort. And yet, I believe that when we lose our balance is when we learn to adapt. When we lose what makes us comfortable is when we find what truly defines us, and maybe there is a little more to communication than just flick and fluff.
So what's my happy ending to this tale - a just-right girl squirrel out there somewhere who recognizes a one-of-a-kind tail when she sees one!
I sure do!
Dianne ; )
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