Farewell to Cyril – The Acrobatic Little Git

 

Today I have to say goodbye to one of the café’s most notorious regulars.Cyril the Squirrel is no more.I witnessed his final performance this morning while I was making a cup of coffee. Felicity decided she wasn’t waiting for the official breakfast service and took matters (and Cyril) into her own paws.Cyril was many things:

• The undisputed champion of ignoring baffles
• The inventor of the “unscrew the lid and go in from the top” technique
• The only creature who could empty an entire feeder in a single day and still look innocent
• A world-class roof tap-dancer (“pit pat pit pat pit pat”)
• A constant source of muttered “you absolute little git” under my breath

He turned every anti-squirrel device into his personal Olympic training ground. He hung upside down, parachuted in from above, and judged my plating skills like a tiny furry food critic.He was annoying. He was bold. He was ridiculously entertaining.And now he’s gone — turned into fox fuel in one swift moment.The garden feels a little quieter this morning.There’s a small, cheeky-shaped hole where the chaos used to be.Rest in peace, Cyril.You were a proper character, and you made the wildlife café a lot more interesting (and expensive).