Oh dear! Well, for once it is not a deer problem but after living in the house for forty two years with no problem, a squirrel has found his or her way into our attic.

I know many people do not like squirrels for one of many reasons but I have to say we always enjoy them, as their antics and stand-offs provide much entertainment. My husband has come up with many challenges for them over the years, stretching strings with peanuts threaded in the middle from branch to branch, peanuts on hanging strings and peanut boxes with challenging doors. They always solve the puzzles but now one squirrel has taken advantage and gone too far with a challenge not designed for him or her.   

I went into a little attic space by way of a door the other day to retrieve Christmas boxes. Looking at the pink fiber glass insulation, I wondered why some of it had come down. Looking further, on the floor, I saw maple tree seeds. Hmm, the wind could not have brought them in. I knew right away, so started looking further. What was, at first amusing, I realized, was really not and this was a big problem.

In one box of Thanksgiving decorations had been an ornamental dried corn cob of many colours. There was not a niblet to be seen. This feast must have given his teeth a workout but then, when I saw a piece of chewed 2″x4″ framing lumber, I started to get really worried and realized this was going to be more than just peeking into boxes.

An afternoon of pulling out boxes and plastic bags revealed many small stashes of tree seeds and dried crabapples. His or her best stash was in a replica Roman type vase on its side in the bottom of a box with other seasonal decorations. When I picked it up I realized it was packed full of desiccated apples, at least twenty wrinkled and completely dry apples, some with the odd bite.  I believe these had been carefully dried elsewhere and brought in later as there was little smell and no rot. So clever.

Our attic is complicated and has many compartments all interlinked and almost impossible to access.

So, what to do? I was told in no uncertain terms, “He has to go; he has outstayed his welcome!” Being too soft, when it comes to any animals, I dreamt that night of a poor squirrel being abandoned and starving in the forest, not knowing where to find his food. He felt like a garden pet to me along with Toady, Bluejays, Woodpeckers and more.

This unscheduled attic purge provided a nice little minimalist Christmas tree with no greenery but pre-lit branches. I decided to give it to The Gallery. On opening the box at The Gallery a peanut fell out. When I pulled out the tree a lot of peanuts fell out. This box was as packed as the vase but with peanuts. I have to admire this squirrels organizational abilities, food preservation skill as well as his perseverance at entering forbidden places.

I have succumbed to the decision that he must go and a trap has been placed on the incline of our roof where we think he is getting in. We know there are several very small places where he might get in between the soffits and the structure of the roof. Our roof is very high and there is no way at this time to get up there to do anything about these spots so it must wait, but meanwhile Squirrel must be caught. I am very upset about this decision as will my elderly neighbour be, who supplies the peanuts four houses away.

The trap is placed but wiley squirrel has not yet entered. I will update when he has travelled to his new home, where luncheon will not be handed to him as it has been here.

He always was a bit too bold.

Update

I am quite devastated to say squirrel was caught today, (while I was out thank goodness). He has been relocated to a local forest where there are no apples, crabapples, maple seeds or ornamental corn. My husband thoughtfully packed him/her some nuts to hold him over but I worry about him. He will have to build a new drey out in the cold and really search to find food. Bye-bye Squirrel. I wish you all the best and will be thinking of you.

I think I have read too many Beatrix Potter books. I always loved Squirrel Nutkin.