How much Virginia Wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck Virginia Wood?
Previously in this journal, I breathlessly reported the breaking news of a beaver attacking our garden.
I quickly came to my senses, but such is the nature of social media that I'd already kinda made a fool of myself with that call.
However, it did quickly lead to the loan of a suitable trap. Unfortunately, the bugger didn't come back for the next few days as far as we could tell.
And then we had to leave for a long weekend, so I put up netting around everything we cared about, sprayed foul-smelling repellent (think putrified eggs, which is in fact what it is), put away the trap for the time being, and hoped for the best.
There was no sign of forced entry when we got back, but C saw it wandering the backyard as soon as we got home. I put out the trap again, hopeful that a lure of broccoli would be sufficient temptation.
Anyway, today the door slammed shut on this fugitive from justice:
It was of course a harmless widdle woodchuck, or groundhog if you prefer. Whatever, it was the biggest damn rodent (10 pounds? It felt like a typical housecat in weight) I've ever had to carry anywhere.
And it had nasty sharp teeth and razor sharp claws too! It lunged at me, I tell ya!
I drove it to the Fells, to the Virginia Wood as a matter of fact. I hope it finds a better life there than it had in the backyards of Somerville, but I'm sure it won't be an easy transition for it. If not, there's always the backyards and gardens of Melrose...
I quickly came to my senses, but such is the nature of social media that I'd already kinda made a fool of myself with that call.
However, it did quickly lead to the loan of a suitable trap. Unfortunately, the bugger didn't come back for the next few days as far as we could tell.
And then we had to leave for a long weekend, so I put up netting around everything we cared about, sprayed foul-smelling repellent (think putrified eggs, which is in fact what it is), put away the trap for the time being, and hoped for the best.
There was no sign of forced entry when we got back, but C saw it wandering the backyard as soon as we got home. I put out the trap again, hopeful that a lure of broccoli would be sufficient temptation.
Anyway, today the door slammed shut on this fugitive from justice:
It was of course a harmless widdle woodchuck, or groundhog if you prefer. Whatever, it was the biggest damn rodent (10 pounds? It felt like a typical housecat in weight) I've ever had to carry anywhere.
And it had nasty sharp teeth and razor sharp claws too! It lunged at me, I tell ya!
I drove it to the Fells, to the Virginia Wood as a matter of fact. I hope it finds a better life there than it had in the backyards of Somerville, but I'm sure it won't be an easy transition for it. If not, there's always the backyards and gardens of Melrose...