Squirrels can swim

Who knew?

A couple of Sumo squirrels decided to have it out on the rim of our above-ground pool this morning. Like real Sumo, it was all over in seconds; the less beefy squirrel fell into the pool. At first, it tried clawing its way back up, but that didn't work. Aw, nuts, if nothing else, the last thing I want is another dead squirrel in the pool (a good reason never to buy a house with an above-ground pool - before you take the cover off in the spring, squirrels fall into the pool, can't get out and drown and then you take the cover off to find bloated squirrel corpses). I raced downstairs to try to get it out with a pole, but I got down there just in time to see it swimming into the skimmer basket (which sucks in water for the filter) and using that to climb out. It looked like, well, a drowned rat, but otherwise none the worse for wear.