The new axis of evil

The Battle with Squirrels: My Rooftop Encounter

As is my want when the weather is nice, I like to sit outside and watch the traffic go by. It's a terrific opportunity to meet people, discuss daily topics, and watch the seasons change.

This past week, I was outside reading an advance copy of my brother's book, The Wakota Incident (shameless plug), when suddenly a piece of wood fell to the ground. I looked up and saw a gray squirrel busy chewing away at the apex of my building roof. He was trying to get behind the spokes and knobs to create a winter nest. Despite the heavy-duty screening behind the woodwork, the determined squirrel wasn't slowed down in his efforts to damage the woodwork.

I had hoped to repaint the spokes, knobs, and balls with a Queen Anne painted lady effect, but if I have to deal with a determined nest of squirrels every year, I'll need to take pre-emptive measures. Forget any earlier implications I may have made about how mischievous and cute squirrels behave. The squirrels must go.