Poor Stubby got caught

Some of you may recall my column last year about two chipmunks that I thought were only one.
My honey's dog, Bear Bear, is a small Pomeranian that likes to chase chipmunks. Can't get him to chase a ball or a bone, but he will definitely dash at the striped animals.
Last year he and I both thought there was only one chipmunk raiding Kim's bird feeders. But one summer day I noticed one in the tree filling his cheeks when all of a sudden another one darted across the lawn drawing the fire of a barking Bear Bear who was in hot pursuit. The other dashed down the tree behind the dog and the decoy and headed for cover under the deck. Alas there were two of them.
This spring both chipmunks emerged from hibernation only one had a shorter tail. Whether it was Bear Bear's doing I will never know. We nicknamed him Stubby.
This summer we have enjoyed watching the game. Chipmunks up the tree, Bear Bear perched below them. He tried and tried to no avail. They fooled him time and time again... that is until this past Sunday.
Late in the day we discovered Stubby dead under the trees. Bear Bear won the game, which for Stubby had deadly consequences.
It was a sad moment. It was quiet in the yard for about two hours... then the game began again, this time one on one.
–Until then,
Ken