Friday 22 June 2018

Going Squirrelly

This morning, on the second day of summer, Pips and I wandered out to the back yard, where I sat with my coffee and supervised her roamings. There was a robin with a beak full of worms that stopped by, high up in the old elm to peep and chirp at us before flying off to stuff those worms down the gullets of hungry chicks. A tiny little bird, whose identity is unknown to me, flitted through the trees, peering down at us from around branches. Pips watched with interest but made no move to hunt.

Then came the squirrel. I have seen it many times in the trees in my yard. It is a small red squirrel and not very noisy. I have found when grey squirrels are about, they raise a cacophony of chitter chatter that gets irritating pretty damn quick. This little one occasionally cheeps but usually just shows its annoyance with a frantic tail bouncing rear end dance along the tree branches.

As we watched squirrel's antics, I could see it was inching its way lower along the tree trunk. So could Pips. She was being very patient, sitting very still in front of my feet.

Then suddenly, the squirrel took off down the tree to the ground and zipped behind the shed. The base of this tree touches the shed, so it was a pretty easy get away, but both Pips and I burst into action in time to see it disappear under the far side of the shed. There is a wooden base under this metal shed and I have noticed it is getting a bit worse for wear but I had no idea squirrels were living under it. For all I know, there are rabbits as well, although I have not seen any evidence of rabbits in the yard for several years. There are mice, though, of that I am sure.

There are white footed deer mice living under the shed, and I have a poison bait station inside the shed. They can transmit hanta virus through their droppings and urine, which can aerosolize once dried. I sure don't need to be breathing *that* shit in, thanks but no thanks. (Infection with hanta virus can lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which can be fatal, and is a reportable disease. I knew someone a few years ago whose son died of this after working on the plumbing under a cabin without the proper respiratory protection. It was a long slow demise, terrible to watch as he withered away, struggling to breath. He was 25.)

I know for a fact that three mice have already succumbed as I have found their little carcasses, which have been disposed of so nothing else will eat them (read: Pips) and die. The poison is warfarin (ie: rat poison), which is an anticoagulant (thins the blood) and they die from massive internal hemorrhage. Sorry for the gruesome imagery but I don't want that to happen to my cat by accidental ingestion. When I have the shed open, she is not allowed outside the house. That pisses her off to no end!!

I have not seen evidence of the squirrel inside the shed, which is good, because the lawn mower and all my yard maintenance equipment is in there, plus my bike. So far, nothing obviously chewed. If that becomes evident, trapping and relocation is going to happen fast! There is a large park with a heavily forested area nearby, which would be the transplant location. Here is the little furry one in action.

12 comments:

  1. Nice squirrel video and write-up! Your back yard is such a lovely green habitat this time of year. Any deer visitors?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Way too many trees in my little yard for my liking, but I don't have the money to have a few taken out. There are 8 in my tiny yard (the entire lot is 30' x 100' and the house takes up a good portion of that.) No deer in my yard, as I have a 6' wood fence all around and live in the middle of town. Not sure how Pips would react to one of those!

      Delete
  2. I totally agree with LX. You do have fascinating wildlife in your yard (and neighborhood). That small squirrel looks fantastic doing his dance and running around that tree.

    Good points about the dangers that can be transmitted by pests. And pet (and human) safety is important.

    I hop you're enjoying the summer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I normally let wildlife be, as I believe in the live and let live for the most part. But when my health and existence, and that of my kitties, may become threatened, I take action to protect me/us. The summer heat is lovely!!

      Delete
  3. I often wonder what goes on in the hedge banks along the Devon Lanes, sometimes a squirrel will pop out... or a weasel, or polecat.... and at night time the sounds of life are noisy.
    Anyhow, yes... pests and diseases and keeping pets safe - it's a headache!
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sure the hedges are very busy places! I had to look up what a polecat is, and discovered it is a ferret. Who knew? People keep those as pets over here. We have black footed ferrets in the west, which are highly endangered but really cute. And yeah, keeping the pets and peoples safe is imperative, but usually I don't like to exterminate things. However, with a disease like that caused by the hanta virus, I make an exception. Hope you and Sid stay safe on your outings! xoxo

      Delete
  4. Grandma use to call them "rats with tails" and her cats were forever chasing them up a tree.

    One of my senior citizens traps squirrels in his yard, then brings them to the Center (all of 6 blocks away) to "release" them. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They definitely are pests, aren't they?

      Six blocks means nothing. I bet the squirrels come right back! ;-)

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. And Happy 4th to you! I wasn't getting the comments emailed until Savannah and you and Eros all mentioned there was a fix, so now I am getting them again (big thank you!!).

      Delete

So you have something to say about all this, do you?
Well, let's hear it, then!