Squirrel Wars

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Originally uploaded by fredericksx

We have an apple tree in our backyard. The tree produces rather tart inedible fruit, but it looks lovely when it blooms. We also have squirrels that have laid claim to our backyard. Their numbers have increased since last summer (we found two separate "nests" this year), and they've progressed from grabbing half-ripe apples from the tree to stealing vegetables from our garden. My father made it his mission last summer to accost the little critters whenever possible: he'd pick up rotten apples from the ground and throw them at those squirrels that decided to taunt us by eating the fruits and veggies of our labors in our lines of view. This summer he actually had a friend lay some "squirrel poison" in and around the largest nest. To no avail - the squirrels actually seemed to have chucked the poison out of their homes before moving to a harder to locate area. And it would seem that our furry friends have started toying with us hardcore: the pic is of a cucumber that was picked from the vine and then left on the railing directly in front of our backdoor. Not only did those bastards eat half of it, but they left scraps leading all the way down the porch.

I'm pretty sure my father's going to bust out a shotgun and Elmer Fudd-style hat one of these days and go ballistic.