Man vs Squirrel

Wow, first of all, where have I been for the last 6 weeks??? I guess growing a new little human has taken over 99% of my energy. Plus, there's the stuff that I'm supposed to be doing to prepare for previously mentioned little human. Hopefully this weekend, I'll get a better update while I supervise the construction.

On to today's topic...Man vs Squirrel. Who will prevail? A few months ago, we noticed that we had a new alarm clock, the rap-tap-tapping of a squirrel. We would hear him coming and going through the screen just outside our bedroom window. It seemed that he would leave every morning around 7 AM. Now, I think they are quite cute, I even began calling our new attic-occupant Chester. He needed a name, right? So, at first it was cute. We're having a baby, hosting a refuge for a little squirrel. Well, maybe not so cute when you consider the rodent aspect of things. Definitely not so cute when you consider that we would hear him in the attic over the office -- all of those electrical wires may be in his way.

So, the man of the house decided to do the manly thing. We waited for one of those warm winter days. Surely the attic was too warm for Chester to stay up there. He took some new screen and closed up the "entrance". He's a thoughtful guy, so he was careful not to make it too difficult to re-open, should Chester still be up there. The next morning, we were notified as usual around 7 AM that Chester had not left the day before and was hard at work trying to get out. Of course, it was rather cold, and Chester seemed rather aggravated. So, he went to open up the screen. (Not only are we letting dogs in/out, now we've added to the chore of letting squirrels in/out!) Once outside, it was apparent that Chester was quite self-sufficient. The screen had been torn open and the intruder was no where to be seen.

We decided to call in back up. We brought Reno over. He's a German shepherd mix, and known "killer" to the rodent world. Among his greatest kills have been squirrels, birds and even the occasional opossum. Well, after a week or so, Reno decided he had more interest in chasing the squirrels on the ground than in the attic. He was returned to his rightful home, without the promised steak dinner.

This week, we began some much needed home repairs. (Another topic, for another day.) Honestly, I don't know the sequence of events this week, it's been rather chaotic around here. But, he thought the squirrel was out one evening. He and my dad boarded up the entrance. Then, the next morning, yep, he was trying to get out again. At least I think that's what happened. So, he must have let him out. Chester has already sprung forward, so our time schedules are not so well coordinated. I think Chester is now coming/going around 6 AM instead of 7 AM. The area was again sealed off -- wood and screen securely put in place.

Then, this morning at around 6:30 AM....you guessed it! We hear the "rap-tap-tapping". HE could not believe that the squirrel was back in the attic. In my sleepy state (I don't care so much that this little animal is there, in the 6 AM hour, I'm still eager to sleep.) HE jumps out of bed, opens the blinds, looks out the window, and has some choice words for this little rodent. (Yes, by now the cute little squirrel is officially an uninvited rodent occupying our attic, I fear the "gifts" he may be leaving for us up there.) HE then exclaims, "He's trying to get in! He's not trapped in the attic at all. Now, I have to get rid of him."

I wanted to sleep, but, if you could have been watching this, you would have been laughing, too! He leaps out of bed, asks how cold it is outside and begins preparing for his hunt. Well, it was a rather cool morning. It was like 49 degrees outside, and so there they went to hunt the squirrel...BB gun in hand. Within about a 20 minute time span, I hear about 3 shots go off. These were 3 of the weakest shots I've ever heard. I think if a BB would have hit the window, it would have bounced off. I do not think this will actually kill this squirrel. Now, I have to get up and look to see what I see, because this has to be kind of funny. Him in his PJ's, us in the city, him using a dinky little BB gun to try to discourage a little rodent from breaking & entering into the attic. I don't think I could describe this as comically as it appeared to me.

They came back inside. He tells me his story of the hunt. Apparently he's shooting at a squirrel that may be the one occupying the attic. He shot at the squirrel in a tree and on the roof of our house. He believes the sight is off on the BB gun, so next time, he will use the old faithful BB gun from his childhood. He did not actually see the squirrel(s) attempting to get in. Still, I'm sleepy, I just don't care. Then, rap-tap-tap again! Again, he jumps up, and opens the blinds. Chester is there! Chester is looking at us, we are looking at him! HE is off, with the other BB gun. He rushes outside, this time alone because even Daisy & Missy have lost interest. I see Chester is still outside our window. He shoots, the squirrel falls. I think it is over. Of course, this BB shot did not sound anymore powerful, or harmful than before. He comes back in reporting that he hit the squirrel, he claims the squirrel jumped down, landing on all fours, then took off under the fence.

My guess, Chester will live another day to wake me up, and attempt to break into our attic.