As most Patriots know, at the head of today's bushytail horde, the Squirrel Enforcement Army, is the infamous Tufty the Traffic Safety Squirrel.

Tufty burst upon the scene in the 1960's with his Tufty Club and it's manifesto of terror (see link below). But who preceded Tufty?

To answer that question we bring you our series...

AROUND 1926, THERE WAS AN ENGLISH FOREST CONTROLLED BY A THEIVING MAGPIE. ONE DAY, A BRASH YOUNG HOOLIGAN SKWERL NAMED SHADOWTAIL ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.

SHADOWTAIL MOVED SWIFTLY TO OUST MR. MAGPIE FROM HIS NEST AND FROM CONTROL OF THE WOOD. THE OTHER ANIMALS WERE THRILLED AND RALLIED BEHIND SKWERL SHADOWTAIL. THEY REALIZED TOO LATE THAT SHADOWTAIL'S PROTECTION CAME WITH A HIGH PRICE: HE DEMANDED BOTH TRIBUTE AND SERVITUDE FROM THE FOREST FOLK.

SHADOWTAIL'S STAR CONTINUED TO RISE WHILE THOSE AROUND HIM TOILED TO MEET HIS DEMANDS. HE BUILT A HUGE MANSION FOR HIMSELF, SQUIRREL HALL; MARRIED; AND SIRED A LITTER OF SOON-TO-BE THUGS...

JUST WHEN THE FOREST FOLK WERE ABOUT TO LOSE HOPE, AN OAK TREE FAIRY APPEARED AND PROMISED TO SET THINGS RIGHT. SHE CONJURED UP A HAWK AND SET ABOUT KIDNAPPING SHADOWTAIL'S BROOD.

A MOMENT OF TRUTH HAD ARRIVED FOR SHADOWTAIL. APPARENTLY, HE'D FORGOTTEN THAT MOST ENGLISH FORESTS HAVE RESIDENT FAIRYS AND PREDATORS; NEITHER OF WHOM BOW TO ANY SKWERL'S SHENNANIGANS. IF HE HOPED TO SAVE HIS FAMILY HE'D HAVE TO RELINQUISH POWER AND TURN HIS SPRAWLING ESTATE INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE FOREST FOLK...

SCENES FROM SQUIRREL HALL
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CHOOSING THE BETTER PART OF VALOR, SHADOWTAIL DID RELEASE HIS GRIP ON THE FOREST. HIS WIFE LEFT WITH THE CHILDREN FOR THE NORTH AND KIELDER FOREST. AS FOR SHADOWTAIL, SOME SAY HE WAS BANISHED TO A REMOTE AND HOSTILE REGION IN CENTRAL ASIA. EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS PLACE HIM TENDING BAR IN AN EXCEEDINGLY SEEDY SECTION OF SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN. HOWEVER, THAT SIGHTING IS STALE; HIS CURRENT WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN.