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23-May-2005
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#1 |
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Bonsai nare-do-well
 
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Tree rats
Lately the squirrels have been getting into my work area. Doing the usual damage. Digging holes and generally messing things up.
The wife won't let me shoot the little buggers and poison is out of the question because of my dogs.
In desperation I bought one of those fake owls that Wal-Mart sells.
The head is on a spring and it bobs up and down and spins around with the slightest breeze. Sort of like those dogs that just about everyone had in the back window of their car years ago.
It worked. Scared the heck out of the squirrels. They left the area pretty quick. Problem is that they are darn smart. Did not take them long to figure out it was a fake owl . Before the day was out they were back.
Another $20 wasted in the war against the tree rats.
I was just about to give up on the darn thing and chuck it in the trash when an old gentleman stopped by. He got a chuckle out of my plastic owl. I told him my tale of woe and he looked at me like I was crazy.
He spent some time explaining to me the nature of squirrels. The have a good sense of smell to go with that good eyesight of theirs. Plastic is not a scary smell.
He grabbed the owl and rubbed it all over one of my dogs. (the dog wasn't all that pleased) Now he said it looks like an owl and smells like a dog. It will scare the heck out of them.
I thought he was crazy but didn't want to hurt the old mans feelings so I just said thanks.
Funny thing is that was about a week ago and guess what I haven't seen in my yard lately. No holes dug into my bonsai soil either.
Maybe that old guy wasn't all that crazy.
Now every morning when I water my trees I grab that owl and rub it on the dog. She still doesn't like it all that much so most of the time I have to chase her into a corner to do the deed.
For the past couple of days I have been moving the owl to different spots on the tables after I water. Figured that might help the illusion a bit.
Not sure how long this will continue to work. Maybe it doesn't. Those squirrels could be messing with me. They could be hiding up there in those trees laughing their butts of at the joke they are pulling on me. They are sneaky little devils.
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23-May-2005
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#2 |
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YOU CAN NOT RUSH TIME
 
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Ron, great story... who would have thought to try it.......but wouldn't it be better to rub that decoy owl on a 'real' owl?
 Jay
__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49... Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing |
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23-May-2005
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#3 |
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Bonsai Otaku
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Ron,
Great story it had me in stitches. I know that you probably meant that this story be useful as well as comical, but the thought of you chasing a dog around the garden and rubbing a plastic owl all over it, nearly made me fall off my chair. Fish. PS If you have dogs, why do you need a fake owl ?
__________________
Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill. HEALTH WARNING: Engage brain fully, before typing into keyboard. "We are the average gamers and we'll kill you badly. There'll be no finesse. no fancy tricks, no inventive attacks, just 2 whole smg clips and a rain of 'nades." |
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23-May-2005
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#4 |
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Enthusiast
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert
Country: United States
USDA Zone: 11
Posts: 5,415
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I'd put that owl on a long pole sunk into concrete in a bucket, and move it around the yard every day too.
Reminds me of the show "Daylight Robberies" or something, it was people who like to feed birds versus the squirrels that like the bird food. Those squirrels are SMART. One was going up inside of a vending machine, pulling the spring, and getting itself a Payday bar, couple of times a day. They finally caught it on tape. Joanie |
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23-May-2005
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#5 |
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Amazing how many threads these little rats are responsible for:
Squirrel Problem Squirrels are digging up my moss Grrrr...Squirrels Tree Squirrel Problems A rat in the garden True Bonsai Stories Busy guys, huh? Will |
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23-May-2005
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#6 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Chief
 
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Ron,
there's only one thing that will work for sure, and that is to cut down every tree in a one sq. mile radius. Since I moved to a new subdivision where the biggest trees are no thicker than a broom stick, I haven't seen a squirrell in three years. Before that where I was surrounded by forty ft trees, it was all out war with them varmints. I too tried the squirrell thing and was probably the laugh of the day with them. Since you can't shoot a gun in city limits, I was forced to trap them in a squirrell trap and relocate them. Some of them were probably back at my place before I was. I mentioned to a few people that I was trapping them and their mouth started watering and practically begged me for their hides. Sorry but I'm not about to partake in someones eating fantasy. Besides my little grandaughter would probably disown me. 
__________________
Thomas J. 
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23-May-2005
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#8 | |
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Bonsai nare-do-well
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Quote:
Guess so. You sure do a lot of research on them. ;o) |
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23-May-2005
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#9 |
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Attila Soos
Join Date: Jan-2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Country: USA
Posts: 1,946
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Tree rats... bring back nice memories for me.
About 10 years ago, I was coming back from a date with a pleasant company. As I opened my apartment, we were greeted by about 25 tree rats. On my bed, walls, courtains and inside the toilet, they were everywhere. My lady started screaming uncontrollably...I had to call a taxi from a pay phone and never saw her again. Since this is a forum rated G (for general audience), I will skip the second part of the night when I went back into the apartment... Sorry for the diversion, Attila |
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23-May-2005
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#10 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Chief
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Hi Ron,
Great post, I laughed reading it. I can just imagine the look on the dogs face... "Oh great, here he comes again with that damn plastic owl to rub on me." Squirrels are smart, and have great problem solving ability. There used to be a beer commercial on TV here in the UK a few years ago where a real squirrel used to traverse an obstacle course to get the drink. Anyhoo, hope the plastic owl works. All the best, Aaron Last edited by Aaron_K : 23-May-2005 at 08:13 PM. |
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