31 May 2012 - Cats, Critters and Crawlies

For many years I wrote letters to Pop detailing our trials and tribulations with the backyard rodent population. Now I have moved 2000 miles across the country and I still have rodent problems.

The critters, in this case ground squirrels and red squirrels do have one ameliorating function: they keep the cats entertained. They come up on the balcony and eat the sunflower seeds that have fallen from the feeder. It took a couple months before the red squirrels figured out how to go directly to the source by leaping onto the feeder. 

We generally know something is going on when the boys go on high alert. 

This behavior usually has Jack or me or both of us sneaking up behind them to see what is going on. 

The red squirrels drive them crazy because they move so fast. 

The cats are entertained for hours, they pat the windows, natter and pine for the chase. The squirrels ignore them.
 

In the early morning we have quail in the front yard, and better yet, a sunny window. What could make a cat happier than that? Other than not having to share the window, that is. 

In the course of cleaning up the yard, we have discovered many ground squirrel tunnels--not in good places. They have burrows underneath stairs, in the rock walls, under the cement pad for storage behind the garage... you name it, we find tunnels. 

It was more than past time to consider relocation. I borrowed David's live trap and in three days caught three squirrels. I released them all in the same place up Millcreek Canyon.  The cats are not happy about it at all. 

We also have some odd insect activity going on in the lawns. Something is digging holes leaving little piles of dirt surrounding a hole.  I have shined light down the holes and seen a bit of movement, but that's all. It could be bees, worms, beetles... who knows? 

We have amazing mud daubers. They build their rock hard nests in the strangest places. In a back dark corner of the garage the daubers have made nests on a wire and a hinge. 

There are different kinds of nests for different species of wasps that use mud. Some wasps paralyze little caterpillars, then stuff the cells with the caterpillars, lay an egg in each cell then seal it up. When the egg hatches there is a ready food supply.  I found one of these amazing structures as it was being built. 


 
The tranquilized caterpillars are extremely sluggish, and she had a pile of them under her nest, ready to poke into the cells. I just love this stuff! 



Here is a bug I have not yet identified, but isn't he a beaut? I was on the verge of a better photo when he flew. I think I need a camera that can focus and click faster.

The spider babies are hatching now too, and the yard is full of tiny spiders sailing through the air on their gossamer strands. My little microcosm is an wonderful place to be. So much to see on a daily basis. And it all changes so quickly.