| Ground Squirrels |
April 11, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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It seems this year that the pasture has a bumper crop of ground squirrels! They're running everywhere, under the trailers, into the barn, sitting on the fence posts. (The other day there was 14 of 'em each sitting on the top of a fence post -- all in row. They did look sort of cute up there!!) They even sit on the trail and just dare a horse to step on 'em.
Ground squirrels are different than tree squirrels. Ground squirrels live in holes in the ground which they dig just about anywhere. Not just at the base of a tree or fence post. Tree squirrels like to live in trees but since we've only got walnut trees in the pasture, tree squirrels only pass through on their way to the neighborhood park and the big oaks.
This is the first year we've had squirrels in herds or flocks or bunches or whatever you call a pasture of squirrels in such numbers. They're even getting into the tack room and they aren't happy chewing a corner on ONE sack of feed, they have to chew a corner on EVERY sack of feed.
So, I decided to start herding them around -- using my dog, Holly. She likes to chase things: Balls, birds, other dogs. So I figured she'd like to chase squirrels too. Plus she gets the added pleasure of digging which she can't do in the backyard at home.
The first day at the barn went pretty good. She herded squirrels out of the barn and back into the pasture to the point she 'retired' to her blanket at about 6 p.m. That was one tired dog that night!
The next day she took up her duties again. Chasing squirrels. This went on for about a week and then suddenly, the squirrels must have held a squirrel meeting because they began to organize their retreats.
Two or three squirrels would wander into the barn and Holly would take after 'em. Just as she got into the pasture (she can't run fast enough to catch one and if she did, I doubt she'd know what to do with it!) they'd split up and each ran a different way. Before, they sort of followed each other down the same ground squirrel hole. So Holly would have to decide which squirrel to chase. But then their organizational skills began to show.
If she took off after squirrel one, two and three would chirp, distract Holly and she'd turn to run after them. They'd part and then squirrel one would chirp so she'd slide to a stop, turn, look at squirrel one and take after him again. Squirrel two would suddenly cut across in front of her and she's peel off after that squirrel. Pretty soon she'd be running in a triangle pattern trying to get each squirrel but never quite making it.
This went on for four or five days then suddenly Holly didn't want to chase squirrels anymore. She'd lay under the truck and look the other way when one would skip across the barnyard. She's also gone deaf. She can't hear 'em chirp anymore but the hum of a can opener taking the lid off a dog food can 100 feet away seems to manage to filter through her hearing problems.
She's given up chasing 'em. Hasn't caught one yet so guess she just figures leave 'em alone -- it's too much work.
I'm seriously thinking about taking my cat over to the barn. Beau is a GREAT mouse catcher. Ground squirrels are bigger than mice but Beau's up to the challenge. He can make Holly get out of 'his' chair by just standing there and staring at her until she moves. Maybe he can use his evil eye on the ground squirrels!
If not, was wondering if anyone has had success training horses to herd squirrels? Let me know if you have.
Bonnie
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