Flying Squirrel

In the continuing saga of the creatures on my company’s property, here is a story about one who came inside.

Our security system called me at 4:00 this morning.  Actually they called at 1:30 but I was so sound asleep that I didn’t hear the phone ring.  I heard the talking caller ID announce the call at 4:00 and woke up.  After I answered the phone and tried to comprehend what the security person was telling me, I finally got that the alarm was triggered in our main hall.  I asked if it was triggered at one of the entrances and she said that it was just the main hall.  She also mentioned that they had called at 1:30 with the same problem and no one had answered.  I explained that I had been asleep and asked if the police had been called at 1:30.  Yes, they had been called and, since they didn’t call back, the security company assumed that all was well.  She also said they had just been called for this alarm.

At this point, my sleepy brain began to work and I told her to cancel the police and I would go and check it out.  Yeah…brave of me but I figured that since it was just the main hall alarm, no one was in the building.  Of course that may have been more of sleepy brain logic than actual clear thinking.  Either way, I threw on my clothes and drove over to check the building (scraping frost off my van first…pretty nippy at 4:00 in the morning in Maine in October).

When I arrived at our driveway, the police were there…about to drive away.  I stopped and identified myself to the officer and he said the security company hadn’t reached him and asked me if I wanted him to accompany me to the building. I figured since he was there, that probably is the safer course of action.

We went into the building and wandered around, checking the rooms.  There wasn’t anything touched or out of place so we were going to chalk it up to a faulty alarm when there it was. Crouched in the corner of the main hall.  A tiny little furry creature.  I thought it was a chipmunk, since I am now so familiar with them, but this was different.  Light gray, skinny tail, big ears, and huge eyes.  I couldn’t figure out what it was and neither could the officer.  It was clear, though, that the little thing was terrified.  As we watched, he slowly inched his way into the furnace room and scurried out of sight.

Since that mystery was solved, except for what kind of creature it was, I secured the building and went home to go back to bed.  Of course, it took me a good 45 minutes before I could fall back asleep…probably a combination of adrenaline and the cold.  Needless to say, I have been really sleepy today.

Later in the morning, I was talking with someone who had come in looking for a job (will probably blog about this in the future) when, who should appear…. the little furry creature.  The guy looking for work left and I paged one of the guys I work with.  He came out and, between the two of us, we managed to scoot the little guy out the door.  He was also able to identify it as a flying squirrel.  Which would explain how the alarm was triggered.  The little guy must have flown in front of the sensor.

Poor little baby flying squirrel.  Let’s call him Stevie.  Stevie the Flying Squirrel.

Stevie was probably just looking for someplace warm to sleep. Instead these giant creatures scared him and then pushed him out the door with a large sweepy thing (broom).

Here I am (Stevie thinks) fresh out of the nest.  Mom and Dad said I have to make it on my own.

Here’s a tube!  Let’s see what’s at the end.  Oh boy!!  It’s warm in here!!  The floor is a little hard and cold but the air is warmer. I’ll just hang out in here.

Uh oh.  Some giant creatures have just walked by.  Good.  They didn’t see me.  I hear them moving around. What should I do? I’ll stay in the corner here and be really, really still.  If I don’t move, they can’t see me.  Oh no…that theory isn’t working. They keep watching me.  What do they expect me to do?  Tricks?  I’m not some silly circus animal.  Wait…look…there is an open door.  I’ll hide in there.  Phew…they left.

Later in the morning….

I’m awake now.  I guess I’ll go exploring.  Floor is still hard and cold but there must be food around somewhere.  Uh oh.  There is one of those giant creatures again.  If I stick close to the wall, maybe it won’t see me. Oh no….there’s another one!!  And this one has a giant thing that he keeps pushing at me.  Stop that!!  I can see the outdoors but there is an invisible force field in the way.  I’m trying to leave.  Stop hitting me!!  Wait….I smell air.  I’ll head that way.  Drat…another invisible force field.  Maybe I’ll try climbing it.  Stop hitting me with the giant thing!  Wait….there it is.  This is more familiar.  Grass, dirt, colder but more friendly.  No giant creatures and no big giant thing poking at me.  Ah…now to find Mom and Dad to tell them of my adventure.

Those would be the thoughts of Stevie the Flying Squirrel on his big adventure.  And he’s back in the wild where he belongs.  Let’s hope he lasts longer than Charlie the Chipmunk.