Friday, September 5, 2008

In the Land of Nuts Aplenty

I am beginning to think that our yard is the promised land for squirrels. And when I say promised land, I don't mean the yard with all of the nuts. I mean, the place where squirrels come to die.

When we were looking for houses three years ago, I was not interested in a house with an above ground pool. Not that they're bad, but very often they are these big plastic monstrosities in the middle of an otherwise nice yard that require a ton of maintenance. Alright, yes, I am a pool snob. I was a bit dismayed when we looked out the back window and, despite no mention in the listing, there was an above ground pool. It had a nice enough deck around it and was situated snugly behind the garage, so it was less offensive to me than most. Everything about the house was just what we wanted, though, so we decided that the pool was a minor issue.

At first, I said "let's get rid of this thing" and my husband talked me into keeping it. After enjoying it for the first summer, though, I became somewhat attached to the thing. The next summer, following a poor winterization by two amateurs (the hubby and myself), the pool was in lousy shape. Not one to give in, I refused to drain it and start fresh, so I fought the algae, leaves and critters all summer. Occasionally, I would get in, but generally it was just the thing that caused me enormous amounts of frustration and cost more than a few dollars in chemicals and gear.

Unbelievably, we didn't get rid of it after that summer. We decided to give it one more summer. Big mistake. It was even more trouble than the previous summer and I don't think I ever got in it despite spending countless hours trying to make it beautiful. Towards the end of the summer, it sprung a leak and despite several attempts to patch and resuscitate it, it became obvious that it was a goner. Still, instead of immediately tearing it down, we just left it to sit and collect leaves over the winter.

Come spring, it was FULL of leaves and about 8 inches of water. One warm, sunny afternoon Sophie and I were out touring the back 40 when I glanced into the pool and noticed something furry. Thinking that this must be a clump of leaves, I walked around the pool to get a better look. To my dismay, closer inspection revealed it to be the earthly remains of one unfortunate squirrel. I recoiled but kept my composure. Then I noticed another furry spot, and another, and another. Altogether, there were six sad little squirrels in the pool. I suspect there was just too much water for them to be able to jump out and they drowned. Quel tragique, non?

Of course, I was saddened by this, but didn't really think it foretold ill tidings for other squirrels in our yard. I was wrong. We got rid of the death trap pool, but a month or so later, I found a dead squirrel in our front yard. Laying peacefully under one of the large oak trees, at first I honestly thought it was sleeping. Sleeping. How dumb is that? Like this squirrel was running along the ground and got tired. Stretching its little arms, it looked up at the safety of the limbs overhead and decided that the yard, mere feet from a fairly busy road, was a much better spot to stretch out. I didn't spend too much time looking at it, but there didn't appear to be any injuries. Do squirrels fall out of trees? Do they, um, jump? I asked Neil to take care of it, but before he could, someone or thing had done the job for him. Squirrel gone. Again, I thought this was weird but not really all that noteworthy. But then it happened again. And again. Most recently a couple of days ago.

Now, we haven't put out anything that might poison these little creatures and as far as I can tell neither have any of our neighbors, nor have they had any final visitors. So I'm starting to wonder if squirrels come to our yard to die. Are we the destination for depressed rodents? I mean, how could so many squirrels find their end in our yard in ONE summer? In my whole life, I don't think I've ever seen a dead squirrel (other than the roadkill variety) and now they are EVERYWHERE. What gives?

19 comments:

  1. That is so flippin wierd. It does sound like poison of some sort, though. Does anyone have an antifreeze leak or anything? Antifreeze is a big culprit because it's sweet tasting.

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  2. None of our cars do. It could always be a neighbor's car, but why do they have to come to our yard to die?

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  3. Oh no!! That is really unusual...the pool thing I can understand but the other seems really odd.

    The only thing I can think of is someone has something around or on one of their trees.

    Good luck - I hope next summer is better!

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  4. OMG--that is weird! Maybe your yard has some crazy energy luring squirrels that are about to meet their maker? You could always try a seance. LOL

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  5. Odd indeed . . . I always thought squirrels lived forever. Not to brag, but I once saw a squirrel eating a whole donut while balanced on the power line in my backyard.

    Sad news about the pool.

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  6. Thats so strange about the squirrels.
    I wonder if there's anything you could put in your yard to keep all squirrels away...besides a cat. Ha ha.

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  7. OMG your house is like a squirrel graveyard! We had a run-in w/ suicidal chipmunks in our pool for a time.

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  8. Strange indeed.
    I am also not a fan of above ground pools.

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  9. Sounds to me like you have a squirrel graveyard on your hands. It might get spooky around Halloween!

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  10. FREAKY. But after having a squirrel get into my house when I was pregnant, I am less inclined to feel pity for them. It was VICIOUS. And it didn't run away properly as I wielded a broom and shrieked bloody murder. AND it tried to attack my cat that was checking it out. All while hugely pregnant and screaming on the phone to my husband...

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  11. My first thought when you talked about the half dozen squirrels initially found in the pool that it was some sort of squirrel cult "drink the kool-aid" thing. I know, I'm disturbed. That is weird!

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  12. There *are* elephant graveyards ... maybe your yard is a "squirrel graveyard"????

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  13. Wow! I'd have no idea what to do about that. Or well maybe you could call pest control or animal services, tell them what's going on and maybe they'll have a clue or suggestions.

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  14. Okay, your description of the squirrel deciding to sleep has me laughing out loud. I was picturing Chip and Dale.

    Your girl is getting so big....

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  15. Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day via BATW! I'm glad you liked the commercials. Obviously I'm easily entertained. :)

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  16. orry to hear about the death trap pool but how werid to now have them come to rest in your front yard? could they be getting hit and crawling up to you soft grass to pass?
    too strange?
    hope you can figure it out or they stop.

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  17. BTW I gave you an award ... a yummy one :)

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  18. Wow... That's just NUTS. (hee hee!)

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  19. Oh, I H.A.T.E our pool. Everyone goes on and on about how wondeful it must be ... what they don't realize is there is a science to keeping the water clear. I used to care, but now I just don't have the time. If we're in our house next spring (its on the market now), we've decided, after using it 3 times this summer, its gone.

    And yes - we fine furry friends in ours, too - birds. Lots of birds!

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Give me some sugar, baby!