Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. A few thoughts... I wonder what people think about using cayenne...cruelty, effectiveness, potential effects on growing plants, etc. Apart from anney, no one has commented on the cruelty factor. I've had cayenne, habanero, and others on my lips, face, eyes, up my nose, in raw cut hands, and on other areas of my body that my hands have touched (use your imagination). Yes, it hurt like hell, but I was perfectly fine after the pain wore off. I'd like to hear if other's have opinions about this. Regarding the Scarecrow Sprinkler, does anyone have any experience with this method? I have concerns about nighttime watering of leaves, especially regarding tomatoes. This seems like an invitation to disease.

If you don't feed them all to the lizzard, try this -- it's "peasant" food, but I always found it very good: Squirell & Pea Stew: 2 to 3 squirrels, cut into serving sized pieces about 1/4 cup of flour seasoned with a bit of salt & pepper 1/4 cup of butter or oil (or a blend of each) for browning 1/4 cup finely minced onion 2 bay leaves 4 cups chicken stock 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 cup potato, diced into 1" cubes (optional) 1 cup carrot slices, about 1/4 inch thick (optional) 1 can (15.5 ounces -- standard size) baby peas Dredge the squirrel in the seasoned flour, shake off the excess. Heat the oil/butter in pan until gently bubbling, add the onion and cook until golden but not crisp or browned, add the squirrel and turn often until browned somewhat on all sides. Drain off the excess oil, and then add everything else at this point EXCEPT the peas. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook for about one hour, or until squirrel is tender. (NOTE -- if you think the squirrel is going to be tough, and you are using the potatoes and carrots, don't add them right away, and cook the squirrel in the broth for about an extra half an hour, THEN add the potatoes and carrots -- this way, the veggies don't turn to mush.) Finally, after the squirrel is tender, add the can of peas, liquid and all, to the pot, bring back to the boil, and simmer another 20 to 30 minutes. If the stew gets too dry or thick, add some additional chicken broth. If it's too thin for your preference at the end, thicken with some additional flour or corn starch. This recipe was something my Croatian grandmother used to make -- don't know if it was something from the Old Country or just something she picked up after she got here -- she lived in a small town in S. Illinois for 74 years AFTER she came to the US.

Tagetes are sickeningly sweet smelling, not only do they deter garden pests, but also the ocasional anoying relative aswell. Hot peppers don't generally deter rodents as only the fruit and most noteably the iner most part of the fruit actually contain Capsacin. However Capsacin could end up in the fruits of nearby tomatoes if the two fruits were to touch, I remember a few years back reading a story in the hot pepers forum about a grower who told his grandson not to touch his habs because they were hot, The beligerent Child told him they were not and touched one with his index finger to prove it, the grower then gently grabbed his grandsons hand and touched it to his toung for an instant and a few moments later he realised just what his Grandfather meant, Habs are intence if you don't do hot often, good ones are intence even if you do.

Marcia, just to let you know I'm very aware of the dangers a cat or any other pet faces by being left to roam wild. The screens Rascal was going through were not on a screen porch but any window on the house that was open so much as a crack. We had the choice of either making her an indoor/outdoor cat or never opening a window in the house ever again! I tried every method I could think of to keep her an indoor cat and nothing worked. My other cats are only outdoor when I am outside with them and go back inside with me. Khyssa is trained to always come to me when I whistle for her and Koneko is completely harness trained. I have always spayed or nuetered my pets as soon as they were old enough and I always get them the full range of yearly vacinations, including kitty luekemia. In the past I've rescued a number of pets that were out running loose in the neighborhood. Usually with the dogs I'm able to find their owners without much trouble but not so with cats. I once had a three-legged tom cat decide to adopt us but at the time I couldn't bring him into the house. I still got him nuetered and got all his shots and took care of him until I was able to find someone to adopt him. I also found a whole litter of white kittens that someone had dumped along side the road that I ended up taking to a local rescue group since all of them had goopy eyes and I just didn't have the money for that large of a vet bill. One of my sister's boyfriends gave her a baby flying squirrel as a gift but she quickly lost interest in it. I ended up being the one taking care of him and found him to be a very affectionate and intelligent animal. We had him for several years but then I bought my own house and with having several cats at my house I couldn't keep Rocky, the squirell, at my house as well. At the time he was living at my parents house but my mom really didn't want him there since he was a bit messy and his cage tended to smell a bit. By talking to an exotic pet store owner I was able to find someone with experience raising flying squirells to take Rocky in. I've been known to nag and scold friends or family members who don't get their pets nuetered or spayed in a timely matter. I'll even go out of my way to find them assistance in getting it done. People shouldn't keep animals unless they are willing and able to take proper care of them. Kara