Chipmunk fishing!
As a child I used to take a pole and a string to make a crude fishing pole like Popeye would use, then tie a peanut to the end. I woud toss it out on the ground and wait for a chipmunk or a squirrel to come along and try to take it- and when they had it firmly stuffed in their mouth I would bring them back and lift the peanut up. The rodents were so stubborn that they'd hang on, little feet flailing about in the air, determined to hold onto that peanut even as I swung them back and forth like furry little pendulums... but after a couple of lift-offs, I'd always take pity on them and toss a few loose peanuts on the ground for them to take.

I demonstrated this to my cousin, and she thought it was hilarious. We took turns playing with the chipmunks... until one simply refused to let the peanut go.

I saw her having a tug-o-war with the little thing, its feet splayed out like a terrier, and her getting increasingly annoyed. I then saw her attempt to yank the peanut back out by whipping the pole around. And then I watched the chipmunk sail about thirty feet through the air and go face first into a very large hemlock tree.

The poor little bugger was stunned, but after a few minutes he was up and hobbling around, and finally bolted for cover when he was able to run. I figured that was the last I'd see of that particular chipmunk- I could identify him by his short tail- and went back to trying to lure the red squirrel who was nearby.

What I didn't figure on was how short a chipmunk's memory is...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 6 Dec 2007, 22:18, Reply)