I’ve only been abroad one time, and there were little gecko/lizard things everywhere, climbing up walls and scurrying across roads, and nobody cared. I was constantly fascinated but to the locals they’re just kinda there.

Bonus question to anyone who visited the UK - was there anything that fascinated you but I’d be taking for granted?

Pic unrelated.

        • Blisterexe@lemmy.zip
          10·
          28 天前

          A squirrel in a public park near me climbed up on me to get to the peanuts I was holding, no fear. It was also absurdly obese.

          • Ugh@sh.itjust.works
            51·
            27 天前

            It was also absurdly obese.

            Hey, just like many of our people! Yay, America!

            Those poor lil things… I feel sad for them. :(

          • happydoors@lemmy.world
            1·
            27 天前

            Had the same experience in Ann Arbor, MI. The next day I learned they have a squirrel feeding club and a kid walked around in the morning with granola bars throwing them out to a circle of 20 chubby squirrels

    • blackn1ght@feddit.uk
      11·
      28 天前

      We have grey squirrels in the UK, although they’re not native. They’re responsible for the decline in native red squirrels, you rarely see them now unless you go to particular areas.

      • Eq0@literature.cafe
        5·
        28 天前

        Not only UK. As far as I know the same problem is spreading around all of mainland Europe. US squirrels have a better immune system and a more varied diet, they are also more aggressive and territorial. They are slowly replacing indigenous red squirrels.

        • Ugh@sh.itjust.works
          2·
          27 天前

          Dammit. :( Us humans are so talented at selfishly fucking over indigenous populations and animals in general. Ugh.

          • Eq0@literature.cafe
            1·
            27 天前

            In this case, it was just randomness. Some grey squirrels got randomly transported with cargo between North America and Europe and they found a good spot. There was no human intent behind it… (does it make it better?)

      • affenlehrer@feddit.org
        17·
        28 天前

        Ah, very cool. Maybe I’ll visit again once the current presidency ends. If that’s ever going to be the case.

    • CatDogL0ver@lemmy.world
      2·
      28 天前

      American squirrels can be aggressive. I was eating an apple one day and I kid you not, a squirrel jumped at me and took it from my hand.

    • klay1@lemmy.world
      2·
      27 天前

      and the german ones are really skittish too.

      Those i saw on the canadian campus just lay next to the side walk, chilling. Fat and grey