Rodentia

[magid]

Dateline: July 6

Act I: Late morning.
I heard something fall in the kitchen, and went to investigate. A squirrel had knocked something over, and ran onto the porch as soon as I came to investigate. I pulled the screen door shut (it's been more wonky than usual since the painters have been), hoping that would foil further incursions.

Act II: Same day, mid afternoon.
I heard a grinding, gnawing sound. Back to the kitchen, to find the squirrel had gnawed a corner of the double-bagged groceries from Trader Joe's (thank goodness for heavy paper bags). It leapt through the missing screen panel (missing for something like eight years now), and out to the porch. It hadn't gotten into any of the food, luckily. I closed the door to the porch shut, annoyed to be losing the cross breeze, and further annoyed when I noticed the squirrel seemed to have dug up some of my plants.

Act III: Same day, still afternoon.
I went to the kitchen, and the squirrel was running around between the screen doors and the French doors, looking for a way in. I banged my fist on the door a couple of times, making it thoroughly frantic until it figured out how to leave.

I've left the door closed since then, and haven't noticed further disturbance (at the doors or either open-but-screened window).

Conclusion: time to replace the screen doors.

Comments

[fairdice.livejournal.com]

...or else replace the local squirrels.

[magid.livejournal.com]

If I could do that, I'd deal with the local mosquitos first!

[sethcohen.livejournal.com]

You could invest in anti-squirrel technology. We have some of that. They're called "cats".

[magid.livejournal.com]

Alas, for the allergies cause sneezing and watery eyes, which worsen over time...