Lucky, That was me who did the Bon Bon test. I wholeheartedly agree a test of one experimental specimen and one control is not conclusive. However, my thought is it's better to draw a conclusion from a test of one than a field test where the causative effects of the test are even more spurious. I'm thinking of "water witching" as an analogy. People swear by it and stories abound how so and so drilled a well an there was no water then so and so witched for water and "voila" the well that was witched was a gusher. It's not a completely fair comparison because there may be some science behind the possibility Bon Bons poison squirrels, whereas there is no science behind water witching. But my point is the means of observation is the same and tells us even less I think than an experiment with one "n" and one control. To me, there seems to be other supporting evidence that Bon Bons don't work. I've read some cases of suicide attempts with Plaster of Paris (human attempts, not squirrels) and it took fairly large amounts of Plaster of Paris to cause gastric blockage, and they ate it straight. I don't recall anyone actually died from it because the pain was so extensive, they sought medical treatment. Additionally, there was someone on this forum who posted he placed rat bait around his orchard and found numerous squirrel carcasses afterward (if memory serves, it was something like 13) from eating the bait, which is something that seems to be missing from the Bon Bon accounts. I'm not advocating one way or the other using rat bait for squirrels, just commenting that there is a significant difference between the two accounts. If some credible person were to report the same results with Bon Bons as has been reported with rat bait (i.e. large numbers of carcasses) then I would definitely re-think my opinion of the possible efficacy of Bon Bons. However, as it stands now I suspect not only are Bon Bons safe from secondary poisonings, but safe for squirrels as well. I do wonder if there could be some conditioning effect with the use of Bon Bons. There is a lot we don't know about squirrel behavior. Is it possible Bon Bons give the creatures enough of a belly ache that they avoid feeding in that area thereafter? Sort of like an electric fence can condition livestock? I don't know.

paul!!! just send me the money on all these gizmos.. and you will be just as far ahead.. and just as poor ... just WATER PROPERLY .. and save your money .. and.. short of a soil test.. NEVER FERTILIZE A TREE .. nor a shrub.. nor a conifer[which is a tree] ... and seriously.. hanging water in bags at branch ends??? ... come on.. think about that one for a while.. the time it would take to fill and refill.. you could have just watered the tree and been done with in ... [try holding a gallon of milk.. with your arm straight out from the shoulder ...] all that said.. once a tree is fully established.. it should not need added water.. except in the worst of extended droughts ... tree roots are at least twice as big as the tree up top ... so its under the grass.. and getting nutrients there.. and if you water your lawn.. you are watering the tree ... if this is a recent transplant... then you failed to mention it ... snake oil .. IMHO ken

all outdoor conduit will get moisture in it from condensation unless it is 100% sealed at both ends or pressurized or both. the electronics should be made so that they are fairly well water resistant. i have seen a few of those boxes like you describe, and the control boards are either mounted so that water can't get on them, or basically shellaced so that if it does it cannot get to the electronics, or both.

we don't have them, DH and me. smartphones, iPads..we have flip phones, no internet plan family and friends are sometimes very annoyed with us..:) ok..I can't do things just so it'll become more convenient to them. I tried all my life, and now I want to do whatever's better to me. And that smartsphone's not better..of course it has many many pluses and useful apps, but I'm struggling with it..it makes me dizzy..if kids give me their phone because somebody who called them wants to talk to me too-it's like my brain is being drilled. (regular cellphone btw I also avoid in the evenings when already tired. something with that sound that throws me off.) as for my DH-he plainly hates the idea of being constanly "wired" to the world. I understand him..I also hate this idea. He works a lot a lot of hours..if he also had an iPhone he wouldn't sleep at all. There's this expectation nowadays, of everybody being constanly available.. Kids, they have their smartphones etc(their Dad is always giving them gadgets..he loves gadgets himself, so he likes to give them too). It s considered very rude to have them out during a meal Last time we ate with relatives, and DD was very tired and a bit spaced out, so she checked her phone..I gave her The Look..:) they know The Look..:) was promptly hidden away DS did start having a problem when younger teen with playing games too much. Nothing worked, it was hard for him to establish that self control. until we just became very strict and said " you have two hours two days a week, and three hours on Sunday" or something like this. That worked. Of course if he slips-he looses his other hours this week. So he learned not to. Of course he's somebody who won't lie..so with him, it worked. He's like me-very compliant. Lying makes him so uncomfortable he tells truth just to escape this huge inner discomfort:) He saw some relatives' kids recently and they're glued to their phones..they're younger though, approximately his age when it was hard for him to restrict the time with games...he said "so sad, their addiction is stronger than mine in their age" Of course he still plays, twits, snapschats, whatnot, but he's in control...and he doesn't have much time for games anymore-school and work and sport..very busy. He still texts me to let know he's safely here or there. I had the same thing with DD when she was younger. Now she just calls, almost every day. When I was a teen I had this thing I should be at home by 10, or later 11 pm for example and if not there I call and let know where I am. My late Dad had a very severe heart disease, anxiety could literally kill him..so yes, letting know that one's fine was strongly enforced. Telling bad news was slightly discouraged though..:) So, they always mostly saw my sunny side up..my family I mean.. My kids share with me more..or so I think.. yes, times change my Mom would go to swim in a river for several hours with other kids when she was five or so:) (almost drowned couple times btw..Grandma stayed blissfully ignorant me, Mom already watched like a hawk when I was little and in the water. until I learnt to swim well. but we walked around the city and took buses since very young age and played a lot outside by ourselves..something that you won't see here usually. we were much more independent. me, I'm a pretty anxious mother. I just try to keep it quiet. with some doubtful success:) but I think it's important to understand somebody somewhere worries about you ..take a minute of your time and send this short text. If you already have tyour phone and all. Nobody's going to respect you less for that. It will be the other way around. Be considerate to others, and never be apologetic about it. Now, I'd like others to be considerate to me too, and stop bugging me about how I must communicate with them in a way that will take minimum of their precious time. I still have a cellphone, normal phone, a laptop with internet, and they're totally able to find me when needed. Winking and waving, I don't really understand. Wanna talk-talk. Not in the mood-don't talk. When I'm interested in talking I write them letters or dial their number..same if I'm worried about them. My Mom, I usually talk to her couple times a week, and if she doesn't pick the phone I write to her..same thing if she can't reach me. My going off Facebook was very fruitful, since my brother came to visit us here at last. Otherwise everybody has this illusion of participating..ah we see the pictures, ah everybody's fine, ah why should we come then, plane's expensive, blah blah I'm sorry but the plane expensive to me just the same..and I want to travel to other countries too..)) yet for years I chose my country and family to visit.. Time for them to choose me So I guess they caught my drill. and having my brother here, even for a few days-that was happiness..We felt close again as we did when we were kids. It was real.. ..wow, that was long. Sorry..