Looking for Baby Squirrel

Nature’s Hide and Seek

— by Krista Curtis

I watched from my window with mixed emotions: curiosity, amazement, horror, and sorrow. A frantic, baby squirrel methodically scurried up the trunk of an old oak tree in my backyard. It suddenly stopped halfway up. The furry, brown creature appeared to be frightened and trying to hide. That’s about the time I saw a wide-winged bird swiftly fly by.

The bird landed on the dirt ground by the side of the tree. I wondered where the squealy noise was coming from and what kind of unusual bird it was. The unfamiliar brown and white bird’s squinted eyes made it look mean. The proud, focused bird stood still while its feathered head turned in different directions.

My eyes searched around the yard again to try to find out where the whimpering cries were coming from. I looked toward the ground to see the bird’s big yellow feet. Something small and brown wriggled under the bird’s strangling claws. I finally realized it was the baby squirrel crying and squirming. The bird was a hawk.

The squealing sounds came from that frightened squirrel, slowly suffering and dying under the squeezing, sharp claws of the hawk. I realized there was no chance of the baby squirrel ever escaping when the hawk finally flew away with his meal dangling from his murderous claws.