Tales from Acadia: Dog-Friendly Camping and Squirrel Chases

Brodie's Adventures | Maine | New England

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Join Brodie on a dog-friendly camping adventure in Acadia National Park. Experience humor, excitement, and playful encounters with squirrels as Brodie embarks on an unforgettable journey in the great outdoors.

Introduction: Och aye, fellow adventurers! It’s yer pal Brodie, the Scottish Terrier with a nose for excitement and a tail that never stops waggin’. This time, Brian and I found ourselves in the wild and wondrous Acadia National Park in Maine—a place where the forests are thick, the trails are endless, and, as I soon discovered, the squirrels are especially cunning. Join me as I recount the tale of my most daring pursuit yet: the great squirrel chase!

Day 1: The Arrival and the First Encounter We arrived at Acadia National Park bright and early, the salty sea breeze minglin’ with the scent of pine trees. As soon as we stepped out of the car, I could tell this place was special. The air was crisp, the ground was soft under my paws, and the forest was alive with all sorts of sounds and smells. Brian set up camp at the Blackwoods Campground, while I did my usual perimeter check, makin’ sure our new home was secure.

As I sniffed around, somethin’ caught my eye—movement in the branches above. I looked up and there it was: a squirrel, sittin’ on a low branch, lookin’ down at me with those beady eyes. My heart skipped a beat. This wasn’t just any squirrel—this one had an air of mischief about it, like it was challengin’ me to a game of cat and mouse (or, in this case, dog and squirrel).

I barked, my tail waggin’ like mad, and the squirrel responded by flickin’ its tail and scurrying further up the tree. I gave chase, but before I knew it, the squirrel had vanished into the canopy, leavin’ me standin’ there with my paws on the trunk, lookin’ up at nothin’. This was no ordinary squirrel—this was an adversary, a worthy opponent. And thus, the great squirrel chase began.

Day 2: The First Attempt The next mornin’, we set out on our first hike of the day along the Jordan Pond Path. The trail was beautiful, windin’ around the crystal-clear waters of the pond with views of the Bubble Mountains in the distance. But I wasn’t here for the scenery—I was here to catch that squirrel. I kept my eyes peeled, my ears perked, and my nose to the ground, ready to pick up its scent.

And then, there it was—just ahead on the trail, sittin’ on a rock as if waitin’ for me. The same squirrel, with that same cheeky glint in its eye. I crouched low, tryin’ to sneak up on it, but as soon as I made my move, it darted off, disappearin’ into the underbrush. I tore after it, weavin’ through the trees and jumpin’ over roots, but the squirrel was too fast. It led me on a wild chase, zigzaggin’ through the forest until, once again, it vanished into the treetops.

I stopped, pantin’ and frustrated, my paws diggin’ into the dirt. How could it be so quick? Brian caught up to me, laughin’ and tellin’ me I’d given it a good run, but I wasn’t satisfied. This squirrel was my nemesis, and I was determined to catch it.

Day 2: The Squirrel’s Tactics We continued our hike, headin’ up the South Bubble Trail, which led us to a spectacular view of Jordan Pond below. But I wasn’t interested in the view—I was on high alert, waitin’ for another sightin’ of that squirrel. And sure enough, as we made our way back down the trail, I spotted it again. This time, it was perched on a low branch, munchin’ on an acorn, actin’ as if I wasn’t even there.

I knew I had to be smarter this time. I crept forward, movin’ slow and steady, my eyes locked on the squirrel. But just as I was about to pounce, it dropped the acorn and dashed away, leadin’ me on another wild chase. This time, it led me into a tangle of bushes, where I got stuck tryin’ to follow. By the time I freed myself, the squirrel was long gone, leavin’ behind only the faintest trace of its scent.

Brian helped me out of the bushes, and we continued on our way, but I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about that squirrel. It was too smart, too quick. I had to come up with a new plan if I was ever gonna catch it.

Day 3: The Perfect Plan That night, as we sat around the campfire, I plotted my next move. The squirrel had outsmarted me twice, but I wasn’t gonna let it win again. I needed a strategy, somethin’ that would take it by surprise. I remembered the stories Brian had told me about how humans use traps to catch their prey. Well, if humans could do it, so could I.

The next mornin’, we set out early on the Beehive Loop Trail. This trail was steeper and more challengin’, but I was ready for it. As we climbed the rocky path, I kept an eye out for my nemesis. And then, as we reached the top of a ridge, I saw it—sittin’ on a rock, once again, as if it had been waitin’ for me.

This time, I didn’t chase after it. Instead, I picked up a stick—just the right size—and placed it on the ground, right in the squirrel’s path. Then I backed away, pretendin’ not to notice the squirrel, hopin’ it would come down to investigate. It took a few minutes, but eventually, the squirrel crept closer, eyein’ the stick curiously.

I held my breath, waitin’ for the right moment. As soon as the squirrel got close enough, I pounced! But the squirrel was too quick—it grabbed the stick in its mouth and dashed away, leavin’ me empty-pawed once again. I couldn’t believe it! Not only had it escaped, but it had taken my stick as well. This squirrel was cleverer than I’d thought.

Day 3: The Final Showdown By the afternoon, I was startin’ to lose hope. We’d hiked all over the park, and I’d chased that squirrel more times than I could count, but it always managed to slip away. Brian tried to cheer me up with some treats, but I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about my elusive prey. I had one last chance to catch it before we left Acadia, and I wasn’t gonna waste it.

We headed to Cadillac Mountain for our final hike of the trip. The views from the summit were amazin’, with the ocean stretchin’ out below us and the forests spreadin’ as far as the eye could see. But I wasn’t here for the views—I was here to find that squirrel.

As we made our way down the mountain, I caught a glimpse of somethin’ movin’ in the underbrush. My heart raced—it was the squirrel! This time, I didn’t chase after it blindly. I watched as it darted from tree to tree, waitin’ for the right moment. When it paused on a low branch, I made my move.

I ran full speed, jumpin’ over rocks and roots, zigzaggin’ through the trees just like the squirrel had done before. The squirrel saw me comin’ and took off, but this time, I was ready. I kept my eyes on it, followin’ its every move, and just when it thought it had lost me, I leapt forward, landin’ right in its path.

The squirrel froze, starin’ at me with wide eyes. I had it cornered—it couldn’t escape this time. But then, somethin’ unexpected happened. Instead of runnin’, the squirrel dropped the stick it had been carryin’ and scampered up a tree, disappearin’ into the branches.

I stared at the stick, puzzled. Why had it dropped it? I sniffed it cautiously, and then it hit me—this was the same stick I’d tried to use as bait earlier. The squirrel had been carryin’ it around this whole time, leadin’ me on a chase across the park. And now, it had left it behind, as if to say, “Well played, lad.”

I picked up the stick, feelin’ a mix of triumph and respect for my cunning adversary. I hadn’t caught the squirrel, but I’d earned its respect—and that was enough for me. I trotted back to Brian, waggin’ my tail, feelin’ proud of my efforts.

Conclusion: And so, fellow adventurers, that’s the tale of my great squirrel chase in Acadia National Park. I didn’t catch my nemesis, but I came close, and I learned that sometimes, the chase is more important than the catch. The thrill of the pursuit, the excitement of the challenge, and the bond between hunter and hunted—these are the things that make an adventure truly memorable.

Until next time, keep yer tails waggin’ and yer spirits high!