Part 1
Squirrels! Squirrels are in my garden. Not those big grey ones, but small brown creatures. I saw them running on the roof of the house and jumping from tree to tree around it. Then, we started to hear some suspicious sounds. After a short investigation, we found out that one of the squirrel babies fell into one of our drain spouts. The lower end of the spout goes into the ground. There is no way that an animal can climb out of such a spot. After a brainstorm, we removed the lower section of the spout.
You can click on pictures to enlarge them
We even placed a branch as a ladder to help the squirrel....
But, the scared and tired animal didn't get out. We waited and waited... Finally, I gave up.
But, my boys used their own technique: they detached a lower part of another drain spout, inserted a hose into the opening and turned the water on. The squirrel jumped out, wet as a fish
It ran around the house and tried to get back on the roof. Obviously, the squirrel family had its nest there.
Finally, it got reunited with its siblings...
Part 2
Next day, I walked into the bathroom and got the feeling that I was not alone.
I opened the curtains and saw this:
I opened the curtains and saw this:
Two creatures leaned on the window. I looked better and realized that one was watching me and another was sleeping.
Yes, one was hanging on the window screen and sleeping!
They both started moving after I made a noise with the curtains. The sleepy one was trying to hide under his buddy to get some warmth.
I got out from the house and went to look at them from outside:
I decided to clip some California lilac branches, so the squirrels couldn't jump onto the window screen:
When I left to get my clippers and then returned, the two curious creatures were checking the container and my gloves. The branches were clipped under close supervision.
These creatures are cute and funny, but you don't want them to get into your attic, basement or a crawl space. How to get rid of them? Traps can be harmful... While we were looking for a solution, the boys solved the problem. After they chased the squirrels for a couple of days, the squirrel family decided to get away from such trouble, and went back to the tall fir trees. I hope they will stay there...
***Copyright 2012 TatyanaS
Animals are so funny sometimes, but they can also be nuisances when they invade your personal space. Hope you had a great Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I literally had tears in my eyes as I read this. How on earth did you capture so many amazing photos of those baby squirrels? This post made my day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute, and you got some great pictures of them. But boy, they sure can be a PITA. Smart boys!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post in storyline and in pictures. Your photos are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful 2013.
FlowerLady Lorraine
Poor little squirrels! How can anyone sleep when hanging on the window? :D
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely tiny creatures! You've got great pictures of them.
ReplyDeleteTatyana, great photos! I wouldn't want to have them in my house. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYour squirrels are adorable! Are they native Douglas' Squirrels? We only see the introduced eastern gray squirrels here in town. You are lucky to have such interesting creatures living in your garden! Your boys' solution for scaring them off is a good one. Maybe you could rent your kids out as a natural pest control alternative:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photos of these lovely little squirrels! Your boys did good work to save the baby squirrel outof the spout and sending them all back into the fir trees. But they look so cute on your window screens and on the branch.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that the one was sleeping on window screen! What a hoot! One of mine was trying to eat open the hole of one of my birdhouses to make it bigger so he/ she could get inside the other day. They also took off with my apples that I had in my window boxes. We have both the gray squirrels and the ones that you showed, but definitely less of the gray ones.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, as always!
They are no doubt cute, but squirrels are not my favorite garden visitors.
ReplyDeleteThey are cute but it is far better if they stay into the woods and not so close to human homes I guess. No squirrels living around here, so thank you so much for sharing your cute, little visitors here.
ReplyDeleteBye,
Marian
Aww, so cute!! I wouldn't want them hanging on the screens, though. That is so funny that one was sleeping on it!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Years Eve! The babies are so cute!! We had a family last year - the babies are adorable. Now they're all grown up and torment our cats and dogs. We have one that peers in our dining room window looking for the dog!. Wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteLove your captures, but red squirrels are so destructive, unfortunately. Happy New Year! P.x
ReplyDeleteHappy new year!!i dont know so good english,sorry...but your pictures is great.
ReplyDeleteGlorious new year I love the punky fur
ReplyDeleteHow cute they are! Squirrels around my property have learned to be wary since we acquired Autumn the cat. I am glad your squirrels went back to the tall trees, where hopefully they will have a happy 2013 with no intrusions into human habitat! Happy New Year to you, too!
ReplyDeleteThose are the cutest squirrels ever! Kudos to your boys for helping that poor baby get free. Happy 2013!
ReplyDeleteGood thinking on the boys' part to get that little guy out of the drain pipe. If it had died in there you would have had a stinky mess. They are really cute little buggers.
ReplyDeleteI do have a question for you....did you have the camera with you in the bathroom?? or did you go and get it? just curious. hahahaa Great pictures of the curious little guys.
Thank you everyone!
ReplyDeleteJanet, ha-ha, I opened the door, saw them and went to get a camera. It looks like they've stayed there for a long time. They were sleeping!
Reminded me of a time when my cats brought home a mole from the river nearby. As it was trying to escape - it was burrowing under all my plants as it went along - I had to spend the whole day putting things right as some of the plants had been completely uprooted by it's antics!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog - but not so great if they do damage to your property!