Not today, clawed enemy. Not today. 


In a glorious enactment of escape by ejection seat, this ninja squirrel hurls itself into the air to evade the clutches of what appears to be a Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni). The clip, posted to the Wild Jersey City Facebook page, comes our way from Lincoln Park, an urban park in New Jersey's second most populous city.

While the raptors are insect-eating experts for much of the year, small mammals, particularly rodents, are added to the menu come breeding season. But not squirrel. This squirrel will not be eaten today.   

__

Top header image: Younn Hazo, Flickr