As spring sunshine finally warms Southern California, some of its smallest residents are slowly emerging from months of deep sleep. One by one, hibernating ground squirrels crawl out of their underground dens — rested, ravenous, and ready to greet the world again.
Their first order of business? Food. Lots of it.
The tiny creatures scurry toward the nearest stash of seeds, nuts, and fruits, pausing to soak in the sunlight and sounds they’ve missed all winter. For many squirrels, this reawakening is a quiet, private affair — or at least, they think it is.
That is, unless they happen to wander onto LouAnne Brickhouse’s property.
Brickhouse has outdoor cameras placed throughout her yard, carefully positioned to capture the everyday magic of the wildlife who pass through. She shares these moments on social media under the name The Daily James, and over the years, she’s become well acquainted with her bushy-tailed neighbors.
After more than a decade of observation, Brickhouse knows exactly when the California ground squirrels disappear — during extreme heat or cold — and when they’ll eventually return. When that time comes, she makes sure the fridge is stocked.
“California ground squirrels hibernate and estivate in extreme weather conditions,” The Daily James wrote on Instagram. “We haven’t seen them for months. But now they’re back, and we’ll be sure to always have extra romaine lettuce and carrots in the fridge.”
Because Brickhouse gives the animals space and rarely interacts with them directly, the squirrels feel safe enough to linger — and even relax — when they visit her yard.
Recently, one particularly groggy squirrel wandered onto her back deck shortly after waking up from hibernation. He happily munched on the fresh snacks waiting for him, but after finishing his first round of food, he did something that melted hearts online.
He stretched.
After months curled up in a dark burrow, the squirrel launched into an impromptu yoga session, extending his front and back legs as far as they’d go. The long, slow stretches looked exactly like something any human might do after waking from a very long nap.
Refreshed and re-energized, the squirrel grabbed another bite to eat before scampering off toward his next adventure.
You can watch his adorable post-hibernation stretches here:
Brickhouse continues to watch for more of her wildlife friends as they reemerge into the warm spring air. While the animals are lucky to have such a respectful human neighbor, Brickhouse insists she’s the one who benefits most.
“We consider them our friends,” she wrote on The Daily James website. “It is no exaggeration to say these friends have completely changed our lives, taught us how to respect and love, and provided profound insights into our world.”
To keep up with Brickhouse’s backyard visitors, you can follow The Daily James on Instagram and Facebook.
