I live in a small town where news has become a scarcity. Prior to the advent of The Kewanee Voice, we were limited to the free weekly paper that included local happenings. Now with two sources, things are looking up for a lot of us who want and need to know what’s going on in our own towns and villages.
Galva’s news blotter is actually pretty long and lists the usual infractions: speeders, those driving about sans a license or insurance, residents needing a wellness check and lots of loose dog reports (sometimes so many that I think we could rival “Pamplona’s running of the bulls” with our own “running of the canines”). Unlike the murder and mayhem of bigger cities, the local police blotter is pretty benign. And that’s okay with me.
However, a past issue noted that our men in blue were called out to respond to a report of three dead squirrels in the street. The post went onto say that the trio was removed, and I suspect they were placed in a very flat box. I also recall the times they were called to a residence where a possum had waddled into the living room, summoned to remove frantic birds trapped in downtown buildings and asked to check out a ferret that had likely escaped its cage. I’m wondering what kind of training officers must undergo for such tasks. Apparently, a shovel is standard equipment, along with some boxes. But….I’ve also had their help with problems in our neighborhood and welcomed their presence when the ambulance service carried me off to the hospital. They are really nice to have in town. And I like to think that they aren’t faced with the dangers reported in the major news sources.
But Galva isn’t the only place with animal drama. Recently, the Dallas Zoo reported the theft of two emperor tamarin monkeys. Thankfully, they were recovered unharmed. The monkeys are named for their resemblance to the German Emperor Wilhelm II, although they also looked a bit like Hulk Hogan. They live in small groups and the fathers take on most of the responsibility of caring for their young. The culprit who kidnapped them was found, but the reason for the theft has not been revealed. WWW fan perhaps?
Meanwhile, a British monkey sanctuary hired a Marvin Gaye impersonator to croon love songs to endangered Barbary macaques, with the hope of getting the lady monkeys in the mood to mate. As with the tamarin monkeys, macaque males take on a lion’s share of childcare. Perhaps the Brits need to ramp up day care efforts to get the couples to monkey around. Or maybe try streaming some Taylor Swift.
Now, back to the squirrels. The life span of a squirrel is long – up to 18 years. Unless, of course, you happen to sit too long on a busy Galva street with a couple of your friends. Baby squirrels are called “kittens”, and although many people think they are pests, they help reforest our land, eat pesky insects and inspire robotic engineers. They don’t need romantic music to get them in the mood to mate, nor are they in danger of being kidnapped. Unlike our enlightened male monkeys, momma squirrels shoulder most of their infants’ care, while dad’s out counting his nuts. Amazingly, these critters can find food under a foot of snow.
Next time you are out driving (licensed and insured) give the guys in blue a wave. Watch out for squirrels, don’t monkey around and remember that dogs love the outdoors – just make certain you and a leash are attached to its collar. Walking is good for the both of you. And the police have better things to do.