Smarter Than Squirrels

Down Girl and Sit protect their masters from the cat next door

Two canines have a ball trying to train their masters

Even for a woman as sensitive to wild animals as Grace 1Spruch, the arrival of a squirrel inside her Greenwich Village apartment one morning came as something of a surprise. She had always loved the squirrels she saw in Washington Square Park, but she never met one so forward as the one climbing up her rubber plant. Dr. Spruch didn't know it then, but this was the beginning of a strange and wonderful relationship. Gradually, other squirrels began to climb the fire escape to the Spruchs' fifth-story window. All were welcomed -- with certain restrictions, of course. There were regular office hours, and the squirrels soon learned not to scratch at the window until given the signal -- stirring within the apartment. Some were bold about walking right into the house, examining the Spruchs' possessions, and burying their nuts under pillows. One categorically refused to leave at closing time, even when rudely chased. Others, more retiring, were content to munch nuts and fruits on the windowsill. Since Spruch is a scientist as well as an animal lover, her observations gain a special force and precision, and she manages to achieve the best kind of popular science writing: scientifically sound, carefully observed, intellectually challenging. Despite our familiarity with squirrels as part of the urban landscape, surprisingly little is known about the habits of these creatures, and Spruch is able to make some interesting contributions to this subject. But most of all, this is a book for animal lovers -- a loving, yet unsentimental account of a fascinating episode in the natural history of a large city.

Researched, Clever as a Fox will challenge your previously held notions about animals and the measure of intelligence, both theirs and ours.

In this lively and irreverent book, Jamie Gerdsen presents hard-learned lessons for inspiring innovation in traditional industries, such as manufacturing or his own heating, cooling, and plumbing company. Through personal stories of trial and error and eventual triumph over the roadblocks to change, you'll discover how to embrace and foster innovation in your own organization. Discussions include hiring, employee motivation, professional focus, coaching, the business cycle, and work-life balance. In traditional industries, you might find more dogs than squirrels, more thoroughbreds than quarter horses. A leader's first instinct might be to work himself into a stupor trying to manage all of the tasks required to make change stick. But with Gerdsen's guidance and relatable tales, you'll see how to get everyone rowing in the same direction to pull the company forward together.

Bird-loving Americans share a common problem: squirrels! These fast, greedy, incredibly crafty, fluffy-tailed rodents pillage birdfeeders before owners' very eyes. For 25 years, Outwitting Squirrels has been leading the charge to help bird lovers defend their feeders. This classic defense manual for the besieged birder has been fully updated to deal with the more tech-savvy twenty-first-century squirrel. It provides 101 cunning strategies, both serious and hilarious, for outsmarting these furry, but not so cute, creatures. Adler discusses the different bird personalities and the best seed to attract them. He rates birdfeeders based upon how squirrel-proof, or squirrel-vexing, they are and discusses creative antisquirrel structures and devices. Spooker poles, Perrier bottles, baffled fishing line, Teflon spray, Vaseline, water bombs, cayenne pepper, and Nixalite—the author has tried them all, and here he regales intrepid bird feeders with his squirrel-thwarting adventures and misadventures.

A book illustrating and explaining a series of strategems to keep squirrels from eating and ruining yards and gardens when more traditional tactics fail.

Love is in the air with another irresistible photographic story of wild squirrels in homemade miniature settings, delighting readers and animal lovers of all ages. A companion to The Secret Life of Squirrels and Merry Christmas, Squirrels! sure to surprise and enchant readers young and old! Mr. Peanuts spends his days climbing trees and gathering nuts--but he wishes he had another squirrel to share his time with. When he meets a special squirrel friend, he soon finds himself falling in love! They visit the bookstore, go to the park, and have a romantic candlelit dinner. Will Mr. Peanuts get his happily ever after?