I’m still negotiating and renegotiating a more or less peaceful co-existence with the various critters that share this space with us.
Since bringing a live trap back from the family farm, putting it in our garden, and baiting it with marshmallows (on the advice of my brother-in-law) I’ve caught and relocated a couple of possums, several squirrels, two rabbits, and a skunk. I let our neighbor up the hill take care of the skunk for me; she added it to the dozen or so she was prepping for release at another location. The bugs and weeds in the garden are another matter entirely, and Suzanne fights that battle every year, with varying degrees of success.
The snakes that occasionally come through the yard are not an issue, although they drive the dogs crazy; I’m learning to recognize Frankie’s bark that translates to “I’ve got a snake here!” A snapping turtle found its way into the front yard, and fortunately I was able to move it to the woods before the dogs got too close and were too slow to retreat.
Birds, mice, chipmunks, deer, and the like are easy to share space with; they generally do their own thing and our paths rarely intersect. In the spring we usually have a few skunks move through our yard and there’s always the potential for a run-in with the dogs. Can’t really chase them off, since they tend to ignore threats and go right on with whatever they were doing before I disturbed them.
The damage that squirrels are doing to our house is considerable, and I have to remind myself that as far as they are concerned this isn’t our house and they aren’t damaging it. It’s just a big thing made of wood that provides excellent shelter as well as something to gnaw on.
I’m currently replacing the cedar siding boards they have chewed through on their way into the insulated space between the inner and outer walls of our house. No doubt an outstanding nest location for raising little ones and/or making it through the winter.
This is becoming more difficult for me as time goes on and I, like the house, am aging. Today I removed and replaced one board and it took me an hour. It was about ten feet up and everything had to be done from a ladder. I am old, not as strong as I once was, my balance is not particularly good any more, and my stamina is pitiful, especially on hot days.
I’m getting better at keeping in mind that, in a way, the squirrels and I are doing the same thing. They are building and maintaining their home, and so am I.
I do wish they wouldn’t choose a location so high off the ground.