Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the guests themselves, but I can show you how they were gaining entry. It's the rotted-out hole in our facia board that I've marked with a red line in the photo above.
Imagine, if you will, a little furry brown head sticking out of that hole, essentially thanking us for providing such a snug home-away-from home. Both Henry I and saw them up there, on various occasions.
Then, weekend before last, the situation became completely untenable. It sounded like something of a feud going on over this prime real estate, between rival gangs of squirrels. You could hardly hear the TV for their chittering. Yuck!
So I put my foot down and said that something had to be done. What I'd like to have done (and what will be done, as early as possible in the new year) is for all our rotted wood trim to be replaced and painted. But we needed an emergency stopgap measure, to encourage the Sharks and the Jets to move their squabbling elsewhere.
Henry drafted the assistance (and the ladder) of his friend Bobby and the boys went into battle with the rodents. Although not directly. The little cowards made themselves pretty scarce while this Maginot Line construction was going on.
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| sizing up the problem |
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| barrier board selected |
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| putting seasonally-appropriate scrap board in place |
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| the final fasteners |
Here's the finished product. Cheery-enough, isn't it?
I'd also like to say that this solved the problem completely. But we can't be sure. We definitely don't hear the scratching when we're watching TV any more, but I've occasionally caught some of the same kind of noise in my study, on the other side of the house. There's probably another hole.
But that will get taken care of when the house gets painted. AS IT WILL VERY SOON.
I hope all of your holiday guests are of the very-much wanted variety, and that you're having great pre-Christmas visits with them!
6 comments:
that's so sweet, you really believe that your house will be painted soon; on that subject I have a bridge in the north east I could let you have cheap, or if you want something more portable how about a handful of magic beans? (in all honesty bet your house is done before mine)
The magic beans I would take 8-)
An attic inspection to ensure there is not a nest up there might be a good idea. We had that problem. Boarded up the hole. Of course, in winter things freeze in the attic, but come spring... Whew.
And oh yes, the need for replacing/painting the trim...living that, too. I like the festive color!
Good hunting, and Merry Christmas:-)
Henry looked all around the attic and found no sign at all of any animal settlement. We think they're just in the soffits or overhang or whatever that outer area is. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Like Carol, I hope they are all out, and that tiny little ones aren't in there. In San Antonio you won't have to wait till spring to find out.
Someone with some expertise in this area (I hope) told us that it's not the season for nesting and birthing. Hopefully we'll have new wood in place before that comes around!
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