What are Tree Squeaks?

Answer 1

On the lighter side...

Tree Squeaks are small squirrel sized animals that frequent both deciduous and coniferous forests. Their furless hides are rough and brownish looking very much like the species of tree they inhabit. This protective coloration prevents them from being seen except by the most diligent of observers. They customarily hug limbs, trunks and branches in an effort to blend in.

What the casual hiker will observe however is their high pitched squeaking calls (hence the name) during walks through the more remote woods. These calls become more pronounced during high winds when the troop of Squeaks will call to assure each other that they are still there.

The Squeaks were originally a common animal throughout North America and Europe, to the extent that a common British dish was called "Bubble and Squeak". However pollution and urbanization has had a devastating impact on their numbers and the British have resorted to using leftover roast beef in this traditional meal. This is somewhat similar to the use of bogus ingredients in Haggis (the Scottish national dish) in place of actual free range or wild Haggis (the actual animal).

Human/Squeak interaction is limited except that Squeaks appear to delight in unnerving back country hikers by surrounding their campsites and squeaking up a storm.

The Tree Squeak has contributed to idiomatic English in phrases like "That was tight Squeak" (Meaning: Wow! I drank too much), "I barely Squeaked through" (Meaning: I always wear shirts that look like my wall paper so my wife can't find me to give me more chores)

There is also the Narrow Squeak that can only be shot by archers.