They say one of the main reasons humans rose to the top of the food chain in the animal kingdom is because somewhere along the line, we developed opposable thumbs, which allowed us the ability to use hand tools, as well as give Likes on Facebook. But because of our biological advancement, we homo sapiens have neglected nature’s original and still most common part used for grabbing… the mouth!
The very idea is disgusting to a lot of people, largely due to our irrational fear of germs. Yet you’ve no doubt seen your dog put all kinds of nasty things in its mouth, and they say that
a dog’s mouth is much cleaner than a human’s…. well, OK, that’s just a common myth. But still, think of how many practical uses we could find for using our mouths for more than just eating and talking. Mouths are good for opening stubborn bags of potato chips, they are perfect for chewing through rope when we find ourselves tied up, and they serve as a convenient holding place for items when your hands are already occupied. Teeth are stronger and better at clenching on to objects than our manual digits are. We have so underutilized this amazing organ all animals are blessed with.
Squirrels are masters at using the mouth to transport items from one place to the other. Their mouths can even expand much wider than a human’s can, allowing them to carry things that seem almost as big as their head. Today’s Saturday Squirrel grabbed a choice corn kernel that fell off of one of the cobs I place out back, and decided to take it back up in the tree to nibble on his golden treasure with a pretty view. He looks so cute scurrying back up the tree with the round yellow orb clutched tightly in his mouth. No worries about the five second rule for this squirrel!
Have a tasty weekend everyone!
ooooooh…squirrel with corn stuffing. must look up that recipe.
(great pix, btw!)
Ummmm, squirrels with corn would get stuck in your teeth. I think I just saw a nice, fat, juicy possum mosey along over that way…
I dated a guy – very briefly – who would open beer bottles with his teeth as a demonstration of his masculinity. It was all fun and games until he inadvertently pulled one of his teeth out and started wailing like a banshee.
Did he crush aluminum cans on his head too? I’ve always wondered about people who confuse showing off with acting like a douche…
I don’t recall. The beer bottle in the mouth incident left a big impression. Mostly because of the screaming. I don’t really recall much else about him other than your assessment is correct – hard core douche.
My mouth already gets me into enough trouble with the talking and eating usage, ESN. No need for me to add more. I must admit, your squirrelly friend looks like he could haul around a whole wrapped loaf of bread if that’s what you put out in the backyard.
Whatever I put out in my backyard never lasts long, that’s for sure…
He is very resourceful, and thanks to you, he didn’t go hungry.
No furry critter who passes through my yard is going to go hungry…
So cute that I don’t even have a sarcastic comment 🙂
Good! Now he won’t have to throw his corn at you! 🙂
Soooo cute! and such excellent photos!!! 🙂
Thank you! These were some of the first pictures I took with my new camera I got for Christmas, and the first really good close ups… and a rare look at one of my squirrels while I was actually standing in the backyard with him rather than shooting out my window!
This is, hands down, the cutest post you have ever made. Absolutely adorable squirrel shots too! AH-HA! I just read Gentlestitches comment and your reply… that explains the great photos. Lucky you! 😀
Recently, I spotted a little squirrel gathering large quantities of leaves in its mouth. It would then return to a large cache of leaves up high in the neighbors oak tree. I never realized until then, that it was his nest, and he was carefully using them to reinforce his abode!
Thank you!
I did a Saturday Squirrel feature last year on nest building. Unfortunately, the pictures were quite crude, but I did catch one of my front yard squirrels hauling new “building material” to its nest…
https://evilsquirrelsnest.com/2013/05/04/never-stop-improving/
love the pictures 🙂
and as far as using our mouths more as humans? considering I have two kids, I have gotten good at learning what all my mouth can help me carry over the years. lol (NOT the kids by the way. Just thought I should be clear on that point. haha)
Awww, every good mother in nature uses her mouth to transport the kids around!
The Little Prince has no problem at all with using his mouth as a way to transport things when his hands are full. He also has no problem letting the five second rule turn into the 15 minute rule. And, sometimes he’ll even throw his food on the floor and then go and pick it up and eat it straight away as if it were missing that one spice it could only get after spending time on the floor: dirt.