Squirrel & Chipmonk Encounters

Red Squirrels - 2008 ~ by Trish ~
A family of red squirrels has taken up residence in our pump house. Can't blame them, the pump house is well insulated and a couple of 100-watt light bulbs keep it toasty over the winter. This will be the squirrels' second winter there and, unfortunately, the population has increased enough that they've started messing with the insulation. I fear it's only a matter of time before one takes a big, final bite out of an electrical wire. (Pretend I never said that, maybe we'll make it through this winter with no fatalities or electrical failures.)

Why don't I get rid of them, you ask? Simple. They're CUTE! I can't bring myself to evict them. I know how they get in the pump house - can't get myself to plug the hole. They travel to and from the pump house and a large, nearby cedar. Little pump house guards; they scold the cats and me as we approach. What would I do with them if I trapped them? Using poisons near the well-head is a theoretical no-no. (Although, we have a drilled, 233-foot well, with a sealed head outside of the pump house proper, so the poison thing is somewhat less critical. Still, you don't want to inadvertently contaminate your own water supply.)

The problem will only get worse, you say. That's true. But I'm also armed with the knowledge that we're rebuilding the pump house next spring - a more exotic water system involving larger tanks and possibly harvesting geothermal energy. (Griz is an engineer, he can't stop himself.) So whatever damage the squirrels render is only temporary.

So, you won't poison the squirrels to avoid contaminating the water, you say. Well, what about water contamination by squirrel poop? Hedging: a little organic matter in the water never hurts; obviously one can't control all forms of contamination - like insect parts, dust, and the occasional tiny turd. Our well-water is also treated. The guts of the pump house are a chlorination and filtration system - which would probably also handle warfarin if I decided to use poison if any made it into the water. I admit it - my squirrel diplomacy is all rationalization, based on cuteness.

You'll change your mind when they chew the wiring and the water stops flowing, you say. But no, our well is low-flow artesian and located at the top of our sloping property. We get water even when the power is out (though with less volume - no dishwasher or laundry in power outages).

But if the wiring gets damaged, you'll have to call an electrician, you say - and that can get expensive. Handily, of the many varieties of engineer - Griz just happens to the electrical type. (I know, I SO take him for granted.)

Squirrels are rodents, of course; but by virtue of their "cuteness", most of us don't think of them that way. You know if a family of rats (even mice) was living in the pump house, I'd get rid of them in a flash. IT'S RODENT DISCRIMINATION - and it's based on that classic premise of discrimination - how you look established through cultural precedents based on how your ancestors looked.

I admit it - I'm a mouse/rat bigot. Spiritually, I try to honor ALL life, but when it comes to mice and rats, I'll honor them outside of my house (and out-buildings), thank you. I don't bat an eye when the cats capture a mouse or field vole (aka field mouse); I praise the cats as good hunters, look the other way and let them have their fun and snack. In summer, the cats are also reasonably successful bringing in baby wood rabbits. When the bunnies seem unharmed (other than psychological trauma), I sometimes rescue them. Definitely discrimination - possibly even betrayal from the cats' point of view.

Although the squirrels' arboreal skills make them a rarer variety of prey, Dart sometimes snags an adult squirrel as it traverses the ground from tree to tree. But when the prey is that large (full sized voles, half-grown bunnies, adult squirrels), the cats make a quick kill and don't play around - so there is no option for rescue. Law of the wild - that's what I tell myself. I'm not one of those who promotes making vegans out of cats. Cats are true carnivores, not even omnivores like dogs. Other than attempting to train the cats to keep their prey out of the house (not always successful), I don't mess with their hunts - other than when it's those CUTE little bunnies.

I'm not going to roust the squirrels. Let them have another warm winter, although I'm a little concerned about creating a generation of red squirrels that won't grow thick winter coats - light-bulb dependent tamiasciurus hudsonicus. When eviction occurs, I'll handle it as the weather warms - at least give the little buggers a chance to fluff-up before the next cycle of cold temperatures.

The mice, rats and voles, of course, will have to fend for themselves against all elements, including the cats.

Grey Squirrel - 2012 ~ by Griz ~
Occasionally we see a huge, battle-scared, old Gray Squirrel but we must be on the very edge of his territory because Gray Squirrel sightings are few and far between. This young female showed up 5/25/13 (seen her several times under the bird feeder).

Grey Squirrel - 2013 ~ by Griz ~
I got a squirrel problem. A big Grey Squirrel has been jumping from the porch rail to the bird feeder 4' away, shoveling out 1/4 of the seed onto the ground, then jumping down to eat it. In 2 days, he has almost emptied the feeder. I moved the feeder over to 6' from the rail and only reduced his successful leap rate. In frustration I reverted to pain. I figured a well-placed pellet at low power would hurt like hell but not break the skin. One pump of pellet gun, aimed for right hip as he moved away from me, and fired. The gun must have already had pressure prior to my pump, cause the shot went high, hit him between the shoulder blades and broke his back. It was a mad scramble to catch him before he crawled up a tree, dragging himself by front legs only. I dispatched him. My rule is "you kill it - you eat it". but this was midsummer and like rabbits, you don't eat them unless the month has an "R" in it (they are packed with worms and other nasties during warm months). Over 10 years later and I'm still wearing his tail on my work hat as a "Badge of Shame".

Chipper - 2012 ~ by Griz ~
Every year we have at least one "family" each of Chipmunks and Red Squirrels resident on the property. Young Red Squirrels and Chipmunks often became "dinner" for Dart-the-Cat. But since the cats have been gone, both have started venturing out of the trees and across lots of open ground to collect "spillage" from under the bird feeder that hangs outside the living room window. I tried for a long time to get good pictures of them when they come down to the house, but they are very skittish and disappear as soon as they detect my presence.

Then one day I was out on the porch filling the bird feeder and spilled some as I was pouring it into the top of the feeder. The next thing I knew there was a chipmunk at my feet stuffing his face with sunflower seeds. When I moved, he shot out of sight under the porch but was back at my feet looking for sunflower seeds as soon as I stopped moving. He became a real regular so I named him Chipper. Whenever I saw Chipper on the porch, I would open the door and put his dish (a water bottle cap with 3-4 sunflower seeds in it) next to the porch railing. Then I would stand still with the screen door open and talk to him as he stuffed them in his cheeks before running off. After a while 3-4 sunflower seeds were not enough for him and he would beg for more. Sometimes he would climb up on my foot and look straight up into my face (with bulging cheeks) and "speak" to me. It got to the point that as soon as I opened the door he would rush forward trying to get in the house and I had to push him back out with my foot so I could put down his dish.

Then he was gone. I realized I had not seen him for a few days and never saw him again.