RIP Squirrel

"Pat in TX" wrote in message
...
Nice story. Excuse me, though, I have to go out and put out more poison
for the squirrels....

Don't feel sorry about getting rid of one of them. They're nothing but
rats with furry tails.

You should have seen that Attenborough show. One segment related a city in
India that worships rats. They have run of the place like pigeons in Venice.

I don't know why people prefer birds so much over squirrels vis a vis bird
feeders. I think squirrels are kinda cool - if stupid. Their manic manner
reminds me of Ellen De Generes for some reason.

On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:51:50 GMT, Stephen Harding
wrote:
On my way home from work I used the bike path old railroad
bridge to cross the Connecticut River and just before hitting
the bridge, a little blur streaked across from the far left
side of the rail trail towards me.

Suddenly I felt like a captain of a liberty ship during WWII
watching helplessly as a torpedo streaks toward the center
of my ship.

No blast, just a "bump"!

Looking back, there was the squirrel lying on its side, white
undersides showing towards me, not moving at all.

Looks like my brand new 37mm Conti Contacts handle the "bumps"
quite nicely!

Congratulations. Would you come ride around my neighborhood and kill
some of the tree rodents here, please??

Pat
Email address works as is.

Stephen Harding wrote:

Looking back, there was the squirrel lying on its side, white
undersides showing towards me, not moving at all.

Food Stamps for foxes.

After many years of riding on the American River Bike Trail, I have
nearly hit several dozen of these critters. They make some pretty
stupid choices, including running parallel to the bike and then cutting
in towards the wheels. I have seen quite a few on the side of the trail
that didn't make it. I guess we are selecting, in a Darwinian way,
those that have a road sense. However, those that choose poorrly make a
meal for some other critter, so it balances out.

Werehatrack wrote:
On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:23:05 -0400, "recycled-one"
wrote:


[Though not omnivores, Canada Geese have thrived in human created green
spaces]


Technically, they qualify as limited omnivores; they cheerfully
consume grain, fruit, and small aquatic and terrestrial animals and
insects. Their lack of teeth prevents them from eating anything
that's not already bite-sized when they find it.

I remember seeing a duck at the UMass campus pond eat a fish!

The fish and ducks have learned to all line up when they see
people on shore (people dole out bread and junk food), so there
were large numbers of them all intertwined near the surface.

One of the ducks suddenly plunged its head down and grabbed a
smaller sized Pumpkinseed (sunfish) and gulped it right down.

Wondered if this is known elsewhere or if I had just encountered
a psychopathically murderous, mentally ill mallard?


SMH

recycled-one wrote:

I don't know why people prefer birds so much over squirrels vis a vis bird
feeders. I think squirrels are kinda cool - if stupid. Their manic manner
reminds me of Ellen De Generes for some reason.

I too enjoy the squirrels at the feeders. I fill it once
a week, even though the local furry raiders often have it
emptied by the end of Sunday. Once a week...sorry birds.

Then of course there are the bears too! Same philosophy:
fill the feeders and suet cages once a week. If the bears
hit the feeder and the suet later on Saturday, birdies have
to wait until next Saturday for the next "reloading".

At least I know where the bears go with my suet cages now.
I just go across the street into the woods/pasture and
collect the emptied cages. I've reclaimed them perhaps 6
or 8 times now. Buying cages every few weeks could get
quite expensive.

They shot a bear near downtown Northanpton (MA) yesterday.
Said it was a danger to the public walking down the streets
and through yards in broad daylight with children about,
showing no fear whatsoever.

I suppose they had to, but I was sorry they did.


SMH

Patrick Lamb wrote:
On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:51:50 GMT, Stephen Harding

Looks like my brand new 37mm Conti Contacts handle the "bumps"
quite nicely!

Congratulations. Would you come ride around my neighborhood and kill
some of the tree rodents here, please??

Locally we have one business that uses bicycles to do trash
pickup and recycling in the neighborhoods. People put their
trash and recycle container out on the street, and instead of
a large trash truck coming by to haul it all off, a guy on a
bike with a long trailer with plastic containers strapped to
it does the collection and hauls it off to the local recycling
center. Great use of the bike to earn a living!

Yet somehow, riding around the neighborhood on my bike, perhaps
mounting scythes rotating off the wheels or long hay cutter
appendages in an attempt to rid the city streets of the bushy
tailed ones, would go over very well here.

Perhaps in your neighborhood though...


SMH

Werehatrack wrote:
On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:51:50 GMT, Stephen Harding
wrote:


On my way home from work I used the bike path old railroad
bridge to cross the Connecticut River and just before hitting
the bridge, a little blur streaked across from the far left
side of the rail trail towards me.

Suddenly I felt like a captain of a liberty ship during WWII
watching helplessly as a torpedo streaks toward the center
of my ship.

No blast, just a "bump"!

[snip]

At least the furpedo didn't achieve the degree of destruction
documented here a number of times. There have been several incidents
involving kamikaze arboreal rodents spiking a wheel while in motion
with major damage to the bike as a result. All successful attacks
seen have involved low-spoke-count front wheels. Bent forks, and in
at least one instance a bent frame, have resulted; none of the
attackers survived, but none of the reported targets was in ridable
condition after the attack. Since this has not been seen to occur
with 36-spoke wheels, it has been posited that the squirrels are
unable to carry out a suicide wheelbombing of those; apparently,
there's just not room for them to dive through. This theory is
supported by accounts of several failed attempts in which the
squirrels rebounded from a 36-spoke unit.

My bike indeed had 36 spoke wheels!

No rodentish organization has yet claimed responsibility for these
terror attacks, but riders of vulnerable bikes should be aware that
they may become targets when riding in any area where potential
nut-jihadists may be lurking.

I will certainly be more alert in the future for "lurking
nut-jihadists". With Al-Zarqawi now occupied with his 72
virgins, there may be competition amongst them in an attempt
to bring more attention to themselves for taking over AZ's
position.

Since squirrels can't read, they likely don't know the job
has already been filled, so attacks are likely to continue
for some time.


SMH

Stephen Harding wrote:
recycled-one wrote:

I don't know why people prefer birds so much over squirrels vis a vis
bird feeders. I think squirrels are kinda cool - if stupid. Their
manic manner reminds me of Ellen De Generes for some reason.

I too enjoy the squirrels at the feeders. I fill it once
a week, even though the local furry raiders often have it
emptied by the end of Sunday. Once a week...sorry birds.

Then of course there are the bears too! Same philosophy:
fill the feeders and suet cages once a week. If the bears
hit the feeder and the suet later on Saturday, birdies have
to wait until next Saturday for the next "reloading".

At least I know where the bears go with my suet cages now.
I just go across the street into the woods/pasture and
collect the emptied cages. I've reclaimed them perhaps 6
or 8 times now. Buying cages every few weeks could get
quite expensive.

They shot a bear near downtown Northanpton (MA) yesterday.
Said it was a danger to the public walking down the streets
and through yards in broad daylight with children about,
showing no fear whatsoever.

I suppose they had to, but I was sorry they did.


SMH
They could have tranquilized the bear but a lot of cops would rather
just kill something as long as it isn't human and they don't have to
fill out a mile of forms.
Go hunting with Cheney some day.
THAT should be interesting.
Bill Baka

"Bill" wrote in message
y.net...
Stephen Harding wrote:
recycled-one wrote:

I don't know why people prefer birds so much over squirrels vis a vis
bird feeders. I think squirrels are kinda cool - if stupid. Their manic
manner reminds me of Ellen De Generes for some reason.

I too enjoy the squirrels at the feeders. I fill it once
a week, even though the local furry raiders often have it
emptied by the end of Sunday. Once a week...sorry birds.

Then of course there are the bears too! Same philosophy:
fill the feeders and suet cages once a week. If the bears
hit the feeder and the suet later on Saturday, birdies have
to wait until next Saturday for the next "reloading".

At least I know where the bears go with my suet cages now.
I just go across the street into the woods/pasture and
collect the emptied cages. I've reclaimed them perhaps 6
or 8 times now. Buying cages every few weeks could get
quite expensive.

They shot a bear near downtown Northanpton (MA) yesterday.
Said it was a danger to the public walking down the streets
and through yards in broad daylight with children about,
showing no fear whatsoever.

I suppose they had to, but I was sorry they did.


SMH
They could have tranquilized the bear but a lot of cops would rather just
kill something as long as it isn't human and they don't have to fill out a
mile of forms.
Go hunting with Cheney some day.
THAT should be interesting.
Bill Baka

Bill, you disappoint. Now, c'mon, give us one of your cop stories. And
PLEASE make sure you go off on many, many tangents and throw in all manner
of things about YOU! See Bill, we *do* get it, on Planet Baka it really is
all about you.

R Brickston wrote:
"Bill" wrote in message
y.net...
Stephen Harding wrote:
recycled-one wrote:

I don't know why people prefer birds so much over squirrels vis a vis
bird feeders. I think squirrels are kinda cool - if stupid. Their manic
manner reminds me of Ellen De Generes for some reason.
I too enjoy the squirrels at the feeders. I fill it once
a week, even though the local furry raiders often have it
emptied by the end of Sunday. Once a week...sorry birds.

Then of course there are the bears too! Same philosophy:
fill the feeders and suet cages once a week. If the bears
hit the feeder and the suet later on Saturday, birdies have
to wait until next Saturday for the next "reloading".

At least I know where the bears go with my suet cages now.
I just go across the street into the woods/pasture and
collect the emptied cages. I've reclaimed them perhaps 6
or 8 times now. Buying cages every few weeks could get
quite expensive.

They shot a bear near downtown Northanpton (MA) yesterday.
Said it was a danger to the public walking down the streets
and through yards in broad daylight with children about,
showing no fear whatsoever.

I suppose they had to, but I was sorry they did.


SMH
They could have tranquilized the bear but a lot of cops would rather just
kill something as long as it isn't human and they don't have to fill out a
mile of forms.
Go hunting with Cheney some day.
THAT should be interesting.
Bill Baka

Bill, you disappoint. Now, c'mon, give us one of your cop stories. And
PLEASE make sure you go off on many, many tangents and throw in all manner
of things about YOU! See Bill, we *do* get it, on Planet Baka it really is
all about you.


Go ****ing ride a bike onto the railroad tracks and wait to see a train
up close, real close.
Bill