Larry Hurley’s Photo Of The Week: New Year’s Resolution: Lose Weight!

January 21, 2025
Larry Hurley
Wildlife
1 Comment

I’ve published this before, but hope you all don’t mind seeing it again. This photo was taken December 3, 2001, in my Maryland back yard.

And no, it’s not photoshopped, it’s not AI, etc. Well, maybe cropped a little.

It’s actually a young squirrel that managed to defeat the “squirrel-proof” grid protecting this bird feeder.

He squeezed in through the grid, gorged on sunflower seeds, and then couldn’t figure out how to get out again. Once he noticed me taking photos, squirrel adrenaline took over and he squirmed frantically until he managed to get his head and shoulders through, and then he was dashing to the closest tree, no doubt belly dragging on the ground.

Next time I see an “All You Can Eat” buffet, I’ll bear this photo in mind and pass on the dessert.

Larry Hurley

Larry Hurley worked at Behnke Nurseries from 1984 until the business was composted in 2019, primarily with the perennial department in growing, buying and sales.

Before landing at Behnke’s, he worked as a technician in a tissue culture lab, a houseplant “expert” at a florist shop, and inventory controller at a wholesale nursery in Dallas. With this and that, ten years passed.

When his wife Carolyn accepted a position at Georgetown University, Larry was hired at Behnke’s for the perennial growing department and garden center at Behnke’s Largo location.

In 2021, Larry and Carolyn moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family and further from traffic. After 37 years in a shaded yard in Maryland, he is happy to have a sunny lot where he can grow all sorts of new perennials, if only he can keep the rabbits at bay. He also enjoys cooking, traveling, and the snowblower.