Squirrels Watch
Squirrels have long since been a part of Pinelands' history. Ever since I moved here when I was 5 years old, I can remember seeing squirrels all over Pinelands. They would run along fences, across telephone wires, through the trees, and of course (as kids) we'd do all the hard work for them: finding pinecones, picking out the pinenuts (aka 'pidtjies') and leaving them in a convenient location for them to find and eat.
Even now, every weekend in the mornings, I'm blessed to be able to hang about on my balcony and watch the squirrels play in this very field. They chase each other up and down the trees, and across the grass and the pine needle floor.
If our cat is anywhere near, then we hear a loud chack-chack-chack until we go and find him and bring him in so the angry little squirrel can move off to safety.
It truly warms my heart to see them dashing about in this field whilst I sip my coffee at sunrise (ok, who am I kidding, I don't wake that early! But alright, it's sometime in the morning :P)
Sadly these days, too often squirrels in Pinelands are found dead on the side of the road, knocked over by someone speeding along. Please remember the speed limit (60km/h) and watch out for squirrels, dogs, and cats!
This cache is in memory of all those squirrels, as well as all the living ones, who hide away in the pine trees and play in the field. Maybe while searching for this cache you'll spot one...I know we did when we hid it!
- Please bring a pen or pencil with you (in case the current pencil breaks). There is a pencil inside, but always wise to bring another along just in case :)
- Please don't remove the log paper if/when full, leave a note online and we'll replace log soonest. We'd like to keep the log papers :)
- If you have something small enough (like a charm) to leave inside, please do! But this is not a large enough cache for trinkets unfortunately.
- Whilst available 24/7, I wouldn't recommend this cache at night, especially if you're alone.
- Exercise stealth as passing cars, nosey people from the flats, and passers-by could notice you looking/retrieving the cache.
- Please use parking waypoint and avoid parking in the road in Avonduur.
- Co-oridinates might be a little off due to the trees but it's not too far off.
Some facts about squirrels:
- Whether they dwell high in a tree or in an underground burrow, female squirrels typically give birth to two to eight offspring. Babies are blind and totally dependent on their mothers for two or three months.
- Like other rodents, squirrels have four front teeth that never stop growing so they don't wear down from the constant gnawing.
- Squirrels are extremely intelligent creatures. They are known to put on elaborate bogus food burying displays to deceive onlookers. The fake burials are to trick potential thieves, such as other squirrels or birds, into thinking that they have stored their food stock there. Any observers planning on taking the stash will then focus on the bogus burial site, allowing the squirrel to bury the real stash elsewhere safely.
- Squirrels communicate with each other through various vocalisations and scent marking. They also use their tails as a signalling device, twitching it when uneasy to alert other squirrels of potential danger.
First to Find: Arrows of Legolas