New species #61: The Variegated Squirrel

            Shortly after checking into our hotel, The Monteverde Hotel & Gardens, we started hearing rumors of monkeys it the trees just behind the reception area. Having already been in Costa Rica 7 of our 10 scheduled days…without seeing a single wild monkey…monkey anxiety (Yes, it is real!) started setting in.

There are four different species of wild monkey in Costa Rica, the Squirrel Monkey, the White-faced Capuchin, the Mantied howler and the Geoffroy’s spider monkey. Internet rumor had it that our previous two hotels had problems with aggressive monkeys on people’s balcony’s looking for food. These rumors were why we stayed there in the first place…nothing! Hearing that there were some monkeys RIGHT NOW, JUST BEHIND the hotel sent me running…well, fast walking to the naked eye…to the grounds just 50 or so yards away.

A young couple walking towards me noticed my camera and asked if I had seen the monkeys? I said no, and they immediately both pointed to a small grove of trees another 25 yards away. It was at this point I kicked it into hyper-drive…more of a trot to the naked eye…to the targeted grove. On my way I could see movement in the branches, sending me into “Ludicrous speed” (Space Balls Reference) …more of a fast jog to any onlooker.

I simply cannot convey my disappointment when I finally arrived, only to see three squirrels feeding in the branches above. Noticing an older couple sitting on a bench another 25 yards or so away, I made my way over, chin to my chest with my lower lip extended…my speed…about the same as a box turtle. When I finally reached my destination, I smiled and asked if they had seen or heard of any monkeys in the area. With the kindness possible smiles, at the same exact moment they both went rapid-fire French on my Indiana ears…now I wasn’t just suffering from monkey anxiety, but a headache as well! 

I smiled and said thank you before walking back over to the trees to take this shot, a new species, yes. But it also made me realize how much I appreciate Marlin Perkins and Jim for my Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom education…as since the age of 5-6 I have known the difference between a squirrel and a monkey!

Taken on: March 24, 2024

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