 |
| Squirrel and Citrus |
First, we've had these three citrus trees for over two years now and we certainly have had ground squirrels in the area the entire time we've lived here. We've also had skunks, opossums, pack rats and other small varmints in the area, both inside and outside the fence. So the squirrels have had plenty of opportunity to dine on citrus leaves for several years now and have shown no inclination to do so before this.
Nothing ever bothered the citrus trees until we moved two of them outside the fence a few months ago. That would seem to indicate a larger critter that either can't get inside the fence or is reluctant to come too near the house. That would not be the squirrels, because they easily hop through the hedge and they're bold enough to come right up and steal the blueberries off the bushes right by the patio.
The third citrus inside the fence so far hasn't been touched, and as this picture shows, the ground squirrels are around it pretty much all the time as they continue to stuff themselves on our birdseed. They've gotten so fat on the bird seed that I'm starting to think they're going to blow up like Harry Potter's Aunt Marge someday and float off into the wild blue yonder. Fantasy aside, that's actually another point in their favor; I'm not sure the thin citrus branches would support the weight of these increasingly rotund varmints and none of the branches has been broken off, they've all be sliced right through, not broken, chewed or gnawed.
If you see a small, furry blimp floating across your horizon someday, it might be one of our ground squirrels, but I'm starting to think they're probably not the mysterious citrus leaf eaters.
No comments:
Post a Comment