Critters Hate a Vacuum (and not the kind that is used to dispose of them . . . )

A week since my last entry announcing the demise of Chip-Chip has now seen how much critters hate a vacuum: As I sit writing this post, a brigade of gophers (13-lined ground squirrels) has taken up strategic positions around the deck and the gardens. An undisciplined lot, they spend more time chasing each other around than in performing their missions, which, unfortunately, includes attacking the strawberry bed and eating the strawberries. But do they eat them? No. It's as if they want to nibble every last one of the strawberries to make sure that they get the sweetest one, leaving behind dented and wounded strawberry casualties. Okay, enough of the military analogies.


Now for the other news . . .


Two young chipmunks just appeared by the deck. They were very skittish and darted off as soon as they saw me. But the summer is young. The peanuts are plentiful . . . and the reconnaissance has just begun.

The End

Unfortunately, the first post is the last post concerning Chip-Chip. Since his early visits, he suddenly disappeared and has not returned now for months.

The conclusion is indisputable.

Chip-Chip and company have left, moving on to other places and peanuts and laps. The gophers--make that the 13-lined ground squirrels--have taken over his burrow beneath the garage foundation. Even Mangy the grey squirrel seems to notice his absence. It was a good run while it lasted.

Good bye . . .