Over the seasons we've spent in this house, I have planted and maintained a large number of crocus bulbs, and other flowers, and I eagerly await their arrival every year around late Feb / early March. My little crocus bed is quite sizeable, and should effectively be very bright and colorful. However, for the last three years, my anticipation and excitement has been decimated by a very spiteful little creature. To wit, please see the photos below. Do you see the problem? While the crocus leaves are healthy, green, and lovely, the flowers have all been snipped off at the base by a pesky, persistent, puny little rodent.
This year, I declared battle. After three seasons of watching our neighbors crocuses bloom and greet spring with wild abandon, I decided that this year I would invest in next year's spring, and I slyly laid a trap for the little pest. I think the squirrel had an initial interaction with the trap which really angered him, because the next morning I found that one of my primroses had been signficantly "dead-headed," referring to the gardener's process of removing dead blooms to allow the plant to focus energy on growing new flowers. Perhaps I should use the word "butchered." Judge for yourself ...
Last night after work I found the trap on its side, with the bait looking dismally rainsodden. I fancied that the squirrel had been in the trap, freaked out, and turned it onto its side so that the closure mechanism fell away, and he escaped. This morning, I moved the trap nearer the butchered primrose, added sliced almonds from our salad accents bag, and welcomed my friends and their kids as they arrived for play group.
At the end of play group, Lazslow started to freak out as I was hugging my friend Nicole. I headed for the window, and looked away, disappointed that nothing was there. Nicole said, "No, I think there's something in there!" Sure enough! I had caught myself a squirrel! I'm not sure if this is THE squirrel, but I am going to get rid of him. I'll wait until Pat gets home, and maybe together we'll truck him several miles away. Animal Control said they recommend we "put him down," because he'll just be a nuisance to another home owner, or he'll be easy prey for a predator. I'm not sure what we'll do, but I think Pat should definitely get to see the evidence of my critter victory.
And thanks to the wonder of modern technology, here's evidence for you too!
I should also add that this may be the end of an era for Lazslow. He has truly enjoyed chasing this squirrel as the squirrel creeps around under our deck, and under our shed, and under fences Lazslow can't get past. He also stands outside the door barking for us - not to be let in, but for us to come out and help him antagonize the squirrel. I hope this is the squirrel in question, so we might have some more peaceful evenings. I am not certain, however, because this squirrel has his full tail, and Pat and I both witnessed Lazslow removing a large portion of a squirrel's tail last summer. Does anyone know if squirrels' tails grow back?
2 comments:
Good Luck!
Barney Jackson did that for years . . he trapped squirrels and took them out to the dessert to release. A new one always replaced the old one. We haven't had any since we got rid of our walnut tree. I planted tulips last fall for the first time in years. The squirrels always ate the tulip bulbs. We might have some this year.
Miss you.
No answer on the tail-grow-back idea, but since we at any moment of time have two or three squirrels playing in our backyard, and Chloe just sits calmly on the patio and watches, I'm envious that you think catching one squirrel is going to fix your problem.
Personally, I think when you get rid of one, five more come in. That is five more tails!
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