Of leaves and squirrels

A couple of weeks ago Mrs Walles and I were preparing to go out when we spotted Myrtle the squirrel out on the back deck clutching a wad of dead leaves in her mouth.

The squirrels collect these to pad their nests with.  We've watched them collecting leaves before, shuttling back and forth from their nests redecorating (often several of them share a nest).  Myrtle wasn't shuttling, though, she was looking at me earnestly and sitting quite still.  When I put some nuts out, she hopped down and dropped the leaves before making off with a snack.

According to the experts a lone squirrel looking for shelter on a cold night will sometimes bring a wad of leaves as an offering to an already occupied nest.  It's pleasant to think that Myrtle was bringing us a little present in return for the (vast quantities of) nuts we give her.  Alas I think the answer is much simpler: she was probably up the hill gathering some leaves for nest, spotted us moving in the house, and hurried down to ask for something to tide her over without even stopping to dump the leaves.  After all, I'm sure with all the interior decorating she'd been doing that she'd worked up quite an appetite!