It really was quite a wild afternoon. Isn't he adorable. He was only about eight inches long, which is apparently normal for them. And I loved how angry he looked _ like how dare you take a picture of me while I'm trying to figure out how to get out of your house? Meanwhile, as much as the pets added to the problems, I don't think any of them noticed the rather big bird flying around the house. I guess all my pets are focused on lizards and mice and other floor-dwelling critters.

I have dealt with the squirrel problem for 13 years +. I love and enjoy them and it is not true that they carry illnesses. Even rabies is quite rare . I also have two pet rats which are extremely clean and smart like my dogs I have rescued little squirrels, I love them as a species but they are not having anymore of my hard work, And it is hard working clay soil, never mind having to watch it all day. After 13 years I still cant fill even one basket of tomatoes or cucumbers. They ate the young watermelons broke the tomato plants, uprooted just about everything else. I have been wanting to help my neighbors with fresh veggies but I am not left with even enough for me . In spite of my love of this animal I must do something or this will be my last year because it is physically and mentally killing me. Shooting them is illegal ,trapping is useless and expensive.... so I am bringing out my slingshot been a while ! (hot pepper sauce is temporarily uncomfortable but does no permanent damage)so if someone gets that to work it would be better then having to resort to this option. (I tried it many times)I also heard from someone who tried it predator urine it only works if the animal knows its a big predator. Mine are city dwellers who are not afraid of a rottweiler or my four dogs. As soon as they go in they are there. Haunting :o) or soon they will be. Sorry skippy these veggies and flowers are all for me now you little thugs are too greedy and destructive. Move on or be mowed under. I still feel bad but this is insane like a gang here only to destroy. Last year they bit almost every tomato in the garden. The ones not bit were on the ground. Its not a hobby garden but serious hard work.... My husband will be pleased he was all for killing them the first day. I tried every legal means,tried to live with them nothing worked. No other choice left sadly. And for the record I know its probably been said before but If you want to feed squirrels wait till fall and use native foods they actually need like acorns,chestnuts,,, NOT PEANUTS EVER if you love them and your neighbors just don't PLEASE, because you are contributing to the problem. It has no nutritional value. The squirrels will have mangy coats, they wont forage for the proper food, which could mean starvation but most likely you will just have ugly bald squirrels digging up your garden to bury or find those peanuts . Hey I hit my practice target the second shot, but can I actually do it? I can only hope because I need my garden and my sanity intact.

The cats that disappeared for a few days, then returned - did they have the tips of one of their ears missing when they returned? It could have been someone doing trap-neuter-release with them. Usually when this is done, the tip of one ear is snipped off to identify the cat as having already been trapped and neutered or spayed. I got a neighborhood cat neutered a year or so ago, and paid them not to notch the ear, cause DH was strongly opposed to that part. We didn't know who the cat belonged to, but thought he might belong to someone. Anyway, we had him for close to a week before re-releasing him. We actually didn't even trap him. He came into our house when our son left a door open. I found him curled up on my daughter's bed when I got home. There are 2 more tomcats in our neighborhood I'm tempted to trap and get neutered. I know who one of them belongs to. I've given him all the information about where to get low cost or even free neutering, but so far he hasn't acted on the information. But anyway, I digress. The fact that the 3 cats disappeared at the same time, and returned at the same time, makes me think that someone got them fixed. By the way, predators can live pretty much anywhere. Cities have creeks and rivers that run through them, and all kinds of critters live in these areas. There are foxes, coyotes, and bobcats that live in the heart of Dallas and the surrounding suburbs. Sally

Long-eared ... Great horned owls have a wider face disk and less cinnamon color on them. That "wide-eyed" surprised look is typical of long-eared owls. Comparison pic: