We’re talking in the literal sense, not the I-must-be-losing-my-mind capacity. Although having these pesky little critters in your attic could very well drive you crazy. (We all know what a short drive that is).
I live on the top floor of an apartment building. No worries about maintenance or repairs, yard work; you know the drill. It feels somewhat safe: no one can climb in through the windows, at least not unnoticed.
Be that as it may there is one unique problem I had never anticipated: squirrels getting into the crawlspace above my apartment.
It’s annoying, and a little creepy, to hear these little critters scratching around up there. But not nearly as annoying as when they actually get into your home.
I happened to be off work one day, lounging around on the couch doing as little as possible. I kept hearing these rattling noises. I thought it was my next door neighbor rattling around in the kitchen. I ignored it and continued doing nothing.
The noises persisted and they were beginning to get on my nerves. I sat up on the sofa and looked into my kitchen which flows from the living room. Lo and behold, there was a squirrel sitting up on the kitchen counter looking for all the world as if it belonged there!
I was too stunned to move at first but after several seconds I got up and slowly walked toward the kitchen. Before I was halfway there, the little critter jumped from the counter onto the kitchen floor and proceeded to hop, skip and jump its way into the living room.
I figured my two cats – Zipper and Clairee at the time – would pounce on the little varmint. Au contraire. They were fascinated by this little gray thing hopping around in their territory. They followed it around the living room, sniffing at it as it pounced up onto the arm of the sofa like it lived there.
I had to get it out of there. It did not belong in my house. But squirrels aren’t like kittens or puppies. You can’t just pick them up. They get vicious if you try.
So I grabbed a little blanket I keep on the back of the couch with the intention of tossing it over the squirrel, wrapping it up, then letting it go outside the door.
Of course, Mr. Squirrel had other ideas.
Before I could throw the blanket over it, the squirrel scampered back into the kitchen. I followed, blanket in hand, and got there in time to see the little pest shimmy its way into a small crack between the refrigerator and the cabinet.
Now what?
I placed a long wooden board against the crack with the hope the squirrel wouldn’t knock it down or find some other way in.
Later that day, after a frantic phone call to the maintenance department, the maintenance guy arrived to investigate. He pulled the stove away from the wall and guess what he found?
A hole. A large hole in the wall behind the stove the same size as the stove!
I had already lived in this apartment for a few years but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine there was a hole in the wall behind my stove. Who moves the stove? And why would anyone leave a gaping hole behind it?
He repaired the hole to keep the squirrels out. But they still manage to scratch around up there in the crawlspace, especially during winter.
I have checked and rechecked my apartment: closets, behind all the furniture, I even have a large non-working refrigerator (it’s going to be an art piece one day, I swear) sitting in front of the dryer vent (no dryer). Haven’t found another hole yet, but as everyone knows, those little varmints can chew their way through just about anything.
Any more get in and I’m liable to get a little squirrelly myself.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen, visit her website at www.penspen.info or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.
I live on the top floor of an apartment building. No worries about maintenance or repairs, yard work; you know the drill. It feels somewhat safe: no one can climb in through the windows, at least not unnoticed.
Be that as it may there is one unique problem I had never anticipated: squirrels getting into the crawlspace above my apartment.
It’s annoying, and a little creepy, to hear these little critters scratching around up there. But not nearly as annoying as when they actually get into your home.
I happened to be off work one day, lounging around on the couch doing as little as possible. I kept hearing these rattling noises. I thought it was my next door neighbor rattling around in the kitchen. I ignored it and continued doing nothing.
The noises persisted and they were beginning to get on my nerves. I sat up on the sofa and looked into my kitchen which flows from the living room. Lo and behold, there was a squirrel sitting up on the kitchen counter looking for all the world as if it belonged there!
I was too stunned to move at first but after several seconds I got up and slowly walked toward the kitchen. Before I was halfway there, the little critter jumped from the counter onto the kitchen floor and proceeded to hop, skip and jump its way into the living room.
I figured my two cats – Zipper and Clairee at the time – would pounce on the little varmint. Au contraire. They were fascinated by this little gray thing hopping around in their territory. They followed it around the living room, sniffing at it as it pounced up onto the arm of the sofa like it lived there.
I had to get it out of there. It did not belong in my house. But squirrels aren’t like kittens or puppies. You can’t just pick them up. They get vicious if you try.
So I grabbed a little blanket I keep on the back of the couch with the intention of tossing it over the squirrel, wrapping it up, then letting it go outside the door.
Of course, Mr. Squirrel had other ideas.
Before I could throw the blanket over it, the squirrel scampered back into the kitchen. I followed, blanket in hand, and got there in time to see the little pest shimmy its way into a small crack between the refrigerator and the cabinet.
Now what?
I placed a long wooden board against the crack with the hope the squirrel wouldn’t knock it down or find some other way in.
Later that day, after a frantic phone call to the maintenance department, the maintenance guy arrived to investigate. He pulled the stove away from the wall and guess what he found?
A hole. A large hole in the wall behind the stove the same size as the stove!
I had already lived in this apartment for a few years but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine there was a hole in the wall behind my stove. Who moves the stove? And why would anyone leave a gaping hole behind it?
He repaired the hole to keep the squirrels out. But they still manage to scratch around up there in the crawlspace, especially during winter.
I have checked and rechecked my apartment: closets, behind all the furniture, I even have a large non-working refrigerator (it’s going to be an art piece one day, I swear) sitting in front of the dryer vent (no dryer). Haven’t found another hole yet, but as everyone knows, those little varmints can chew their way through just about anything.
Any more get in and I’m liable to get a little squirrelly myself.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen, visit her website at www.penspen.info or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.