BS: Varmints

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 29 Aug 20 - 08:34 PM

Was much entertained, just now, by a post
about two young energetic dogs
almost taking down a squirrel in someone's backyard.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 31 Aug 20 - 01:25 PM

I've just come indoors after sitting on The Bench chatting to a neighbour (socially distanced of course). While we were talking, a large group of teenage children went past on their bikes. Running along beside them was Bambam the tame red deer. He looked so happy, as if he were one of a 'herd'.
He really is getting big.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 31 Aug 20 - 04:30 PM

Probably because he's eating all your begonias....

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 31 Aug 20 - 04:45 PM

You're right Steve. People give him treats and snacks, plus he helps himself to any plants in any gardens. He has quite a large tum in my opinion. Not natural at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 31 Aug 20 - 05:11 PM

If you google bambam & buddies and click on the Instagram link you can see several photos of the blooming deer, including one of him going into The Fox through the front door.
There's also a lovely song composed by a lady in the village. Her link is Glow-worms ohdeerbambam.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Sep 20 - 10:34 AM

Sorry to keep posting, but the latest news from this Mad Norfolk Village is that the lady who 'owns' Bambam has got herself a few goats. They followed the deer out of the Old Rectory grounds and have been spotted roaming around in a large group, having yet more floral snacks from gardens.
Sounds like a Seventies pop group - 'Bambam and The Goats'!

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 02 Sep 20 - 11:15 AM

One goat from the adjoining farm trashed our garden one afternoon last summer when everything was at its peak. I am not amused by any non-native mammal at large in this country, finding them neither charming nor cuddly.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Sep 20 - 12:48 PM

I agree entirely Steve. My friend across the road has rung the Police (on the non-emergency number of course)and they say it's a hazard on the roads and should not be entering gardens etc. They said the next time it's seen, they'll contact the RSPCA who will sort it out with the lady.
As my friend said, if it were a horse, cow or pig etc people would be reporting it immediately.
It actually isn't 'sweet' - it kicked a little girl in the stomach last week when she tried to stroke it. It's blooming huge.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Oct 20 - 01:41 PM

What is this I hear about
a raccoon at the White House ?

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 09 Oct 20 - 07:44 PM

Here's what I mean about
raccoons going viral.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Oct 20 - 01:20 PM

... and driving the highway this morning
to get the emissions inspection for my car,
there was a very dead, plump young raccoon in the road,
right in the travel lane.
Could not go round, so
drove with my wheels to either side
and the car body over the raccoon's body,
and BUMP --
too fat to be flattened,
the raccoon and the undercarriage nudged each other.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Oct 20 - 08:14 AM

I don't know, at this point, if
Bam-Bam is a mere varmint,
or a public nuisance and a menace to society?

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Oct 20 - 03:00 PM

Just yesterday morning keberoxu we walked down to the village shop and there was a right fracas going on. The thing had tried to mount and mate with the shopkeeper-lady and had weed all over the entrance to the shop. She was furious and chucked a bucket of water all over it. But it wouldn't go away. It's getting aggressive, and several people think it's 'rutting' in spite of having been castrated.
Husband was very brave. He confronted it and swore loudly in Malinke ("Eh boh da!") right in its face. It stared at him (never seen a black person before!) then it shuffled off.
Something will have to be done to contain the creature, or there will be an 'incident' (road accident or someone injured)

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 03:44 PM

Eliza/Senoufou,
your husband only needs a suit of shining armor
in order to be a gallant and chivalrous knight,
coming to the rescue of the hapless damsels.


Earlier today, from a parking-lot vantage looking down a street,
my attention was caught by four or five crows
high overhead near the rainclouds, flying in a slow circle.
Must have been something very dead nearby ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 04:46 PM

Wonder what had died keberoxu? A bit sinister!
Husband is indeed very brave (not scared of spiders either)
The latest about Bambam this evening is he was found standing right on top of a large picnic table just outside the village shop. (This is where people can have a coffee and a cooked snack during the daytime) Cars were swerving as motorists did a double-take and stared at a deer on a table! I suppose it was a look-out point for him. But he then weed all over it (disgusting!)
He's getting to be a right nuisance!

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 09:40 AM

This all sounds highly territorial,
what the castrated deer is doing,
trying to mark everything and everybody.

I wonder how one trains a deer to do this sort of thing differently.
I suppose the training, if there be such,
would have had to happen during the juvenile stages anyhow.
So the little fellow, when he was really little,
was handled very permissively,
and this is the lamentable result ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 10:41 AM

You're quite right keberoxu, the deer should have been trained when younger. He's been thoroughly spoiled all his life (nine months now) by all the children, visitors and tourists coming up to him, stroking, offering sweets and even swimming with him in our river.
Now of course summer is over, the children are back at school and no more tourists are coming here. He's lonely and confused.
He's actually the size of a horse, meaty and weighs a lot. If he pushes against you he knocks you over.
Also, he's often prancing down the middle of the road or the winding lanes. So many vehicles have nearly hit him, or swerved to avoid him.
He's not yet fully grown (!!) so heaven help us when he's full-size.
We all think he should me moved to some sort of deer park, enclosed and safe.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 21 Oct 20 - 12:43 PM

The squirrels are acting, I don't know, desperate of late.
Much bolder about begging for handouts.
One of the funniest things I saw this month,
was looking through the window, where I'm staying, outside
to the patio with outdoor tables and chairs,
some close to the window and the door outside.

A fat furry grey squirrel hopped up from ground to chair to table,
hunting every inch of the surface, sniffing all over.
Then the squirrel hopped to the chair nearest the window,
balanced on the top of the chair back,
and turned its head to one side so that one eye was facing the window.
And I swear
that squirrel was paying attention to our moving forms behind the windowpane glass,
hoping we would saunter out the door and hand-feed it or something.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 21 Oct 20 - 02:44 PM

Ah, what a sweetie! I'd have popped out with a few treats for it. Here the squirrels are collecting up all the acorns (bumper crop this year - our numerous oak trees in Norfolk have been busy!) and storing them in secret caches for winter. They wake up periodically from hibernation and have a bite to eat.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Oct 20 - 08:20 PM

We're still getting beetles that creep indoors
to get away from the cold.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 28 Oct 20 - 05:09 PM

For the first time in months,
I spotted both a black squirrel and a grey squirrel,
at the same time and place,
each hurrying up the trunk of a different tree.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Nov 20 - 11:12 PM

We need a pesky varmint update.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 18 Nov 20 - 12:51 PM

Well I'm afraid that BamBam the tame deer was hit by a 4X4 Land Rover about an hour ago. The driver is very shaken, although not injured. His car is damaged of course.
The deer has a bruised back leg, but my lovely neighbour, the veterinary nurse, ran down to attend to him and she reckons he'll be alright. With the help of another village resident she lifted him into her vehicle and they took him home to his owner.
This is a serious warning to his owner that his meanderings must stop. He should be in a secure environment, preferably with other deer. He isn't a 'pet', he's a wild creature.
The whole village is buzzing and everyone here is very very concerned.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Nov 20 - 08:49 PM

I wonder if there is a way for the village, collectively,
to, I don't know, do something besides
wait for something worse to happen ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 21 Nov 20 - 01:06 PM

I think the Police may be involved keberoxu. It was after all a 'road accident' and the outcome could so easily have been much worse.
The latest update is that the deer is 'alright and being looked after at home by his owner'.
It's interesting that this animal has divided the village into two vociferous groups. The "We love BamBam!" set and the "This blooming thing is a danger and a nuisance!" group.
Not many people have asked after the unfortunate, shaken-up driver of the 4X4!!

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Dec 20 - 09:04 AM

The trees are bare, the wind is blowing, the sky is overcast,
and two large grey squirrels
are chasing each other up and down a treetrunk.

Hey, you guys, it isn't even spring yet ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Dec 20 - 08:33 PM

Haven't seen any animal tracks in the newly-fallen snow yet.
But it was, after all, some twelve to eighteen inches of snow,
and all at once, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 28 Dec 20 - 08:21 PM

Any chance of a BamBam update?

Hoping nobody else has collided with the creature ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 11:54 AM

Hello there keberoxu! No,luckily Bambam is still in one piece, but rather lonely. Our village has had severe flooding. The river Wensum burst its banks two days ago and water filled up the cellars of the people who live nearer the river than us. All roads out of the village centre were impassable, and the weather has been very cold. The poor deer can't figure out where all the children are (we're now in Tier 4 for Lockdown) and can only play with his goat mates on his watery owner's land. The Old Vicarage where she lives has been completely flooded out, poor lady.
My neighbour saw Bambam up by the riding stables, wearing a natty high-viz coat. Very sensible.
At least our road is dry and our house too!

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Dec 20 - 08:51 PM

Well, Senoufou,
that darned flooding of the roads
might keep Bambam alive that much longer,
if it keeps vehicle traffic limited ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Jan 21 - 09:15 PM

Happy New Year, everybody, and
goodness gracious,

varmints have invaded
the Declutter During A Pandemic Thread!

So, too, I note the invasion on that thread of
an exploding tin of apricot halves,
but I guess the Varmints thread
is no place for tinned fruit fermenting in someone's kitchen pantry.

What a way to inaugurate the New Year ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Jan 21 - 07:50 PM

The gray squirrels still show up hereabouts.

It's been months since I last saw
a black squirrel or a red squirrel,
and both of these were out and about
when the weather was warm and the trees leafed out.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 02:39 PM

An acquaintance recently moved out of the residence
where I have spent most of the past year.
Left their room in this residence,
in order to rent a studio apartment upstairs from
a village-square neighborhood that has mostly
shops, restaurants, and other commercial small-business ventures.
Library, post office, bank branches, suchlike.

This person's studio apartment has three restaurants within walking distance, or even stepping distance,
it's that sort of block -- a big-sized street block for a village.

Now it's winter and the restaurants are shut due to COVID-19
And guess what has come to chew their collective way
through the studio apartment walls?
Some hungry rats that are restaurant-dumpster habitués . . .
the exterminator had to be called,
and some closing up of places done
where the restaurant rats could get up to the upstairs . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 28 Jan 21 - 10:26 AM

Half the village now seems to have taken to jogging around the various lakes and pools, or along the many little lanes. BamBam the deer has found some solace in accompanying them at a fair trot for miles, in his hi-viz outfit. There are several photos of him with accompanying runners, some who put a hand on his back while they run.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Feb 21 - 07:40 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 05:48 PM

BamBam has been a bit naughty again. A chap in our village does a bit of building work around the area, and has a huge pile of sand in his yard. The deer spent a happy time climbing up and down it, and rubbing his head in the sand (goodness knows why!) The man's wife filmed this caper on her mobile phone and posted the video on our Village Facebook.
The man was a bit cross because the sand was spread far and wide, so he had to sweep it all up again.
Another lady said she ran for seven miles around our area with BamBam at her side!
He's still in his hi-viz jacket, so hopefully motorists will spot him.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 08:45 PM

Who dresses deer? I know, any competent hunter, but what?

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Feb 21 - 09:24 AM

I dress cheep. Never pay more than eight quid for a shirt.

I'll get me bargain-basement coat...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Feb 21 - 09:09 PM

Mrrzy, see Senoufou's post dated
26 August 2020
about the source of the tame deer's hi-viz jacket.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 06:06 AM

We had a pair of interesting looking rats during the snow and a little bit after. As well as resolving not to put more feed on the ground, I watched them busily seem to collect food and deposit it as a store. That and scuttle in and out of the tunnel they made at the base of the back bed. They've gone now.

I'm wondering what they were as they didn't quite look like the usual rats to me. I wonder about water voles but are a way from running streams, etc. And I realise my ability to identify things is not that good, perhaps they were brown rats after all...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 06:22 AM

They were rats, mate!

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 28 Feb 21 - 08:31 PM

Driving down a limited-access highway,
I saw three deer feeding carefully
on the grass on a verge near the shoulder.
They must have been hungry,
they were under the trees
but still awfully close to the cars and the traffic.

And further down the highway,
an extremely dead deer right on the shoulder.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Mar 21 - 07:45 PM

For some reason or other,
the grey squirrels are out there getting their exercise
in the bare trees;
but the black squirrels,
which are very busy during the warmest weather,
are not showing up where I can see them.
Haven't seen a black squirrel in months.
But I reckon they will be back.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Mar 21 - 07:23 AM

Oooh I wish we had black squirrels keberoxu! They sound rather attractive (we only have reds and greys)
A lady in the village got her husband to move their wooden shed along a bit so they could tidy things up. Underneath they found a strange little nest with some tiny sausage-shaped babies inside it. She posted a photo on our village Facebook and dozens of people replied. They're BABY RATS!! She was horrified and had to get a real 'Norfolk' chap in to 'dispose' of them. Then the Pest Control Officer to put down poison for the rat mother. Bit of a shame really, I don't mind rats!
BamBam is now getting dangerous, attacking children and dogs with his hooves and shoving them about. He knocked over a three year-old little boy and his mother was terrified. There are moves afoot now to have him contained (Police/RSPCA involvement)

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 04 Mar 21 - 07:58 PM

... yes, life will be tidier without a nest of rats ...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 09:59 AM

I was reading this morning about an albatross called Wisdom. She's the oldest known wild bird in the world. She was ringed in the '50s and has long-outlived the person who ringed her. The amazing thing is that, at seventy years old, she's just produced another chick, something like her 30th...

That's the same age as Mrs Steve (don't tell her I've told you). I've warned her that if anything similar happens...

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 11:41 PM

We had a small hare in the yard during the snow (visible via footprints) and some kind of small rat or vole I saw run across a path from one brushy area and into another.

The excitement at my daughter's yard, where they have a bird feeding setup (and some small rodents), was during the snow when a hawk swooped in and nailed a mourning dove not as quick as the rest to exit the yard swiftly. (Pun intended)

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Mar 21 - 10:17 PM

The acquaintance i mentioned in the 26 January post
finally had the exterminators at the building
with their studio apartment,
in a tightly crowded city block with three restaurants ...

with the rats scratching in the walls at night.

The rats aren't scratching any more.
They're dead, and stinking up the building.
If I were my acquaintance, I'd get outta there.

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: Senoufou
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 04:09 AM

Bleurgh! The stench of rotting rats is ghastly and unforgettable! My neighbour in our last village had the Rat Man in, poisoned the lot of 'em and they died and stank. Her husband crawled through the roof space collecting as many corpses as he could (poor chap!) But there must have been one or two dead 'uns hidden away because that stink hung around for weeks.
We had FIVE cats then (all at once!) and they were superb as rat/mouse controllers and deterrents, until they started bringing in live ones as'toys'. But the poor things were easily removed. I shooshed them out through the open door (having shut all the cats in another room).
It helps if one has no fear of rats/mice (I think they're quite sweet) But if large spiders infested our bungalow I'd be on the next plane to the North Pole!

Subject: RE: BS: Varmints
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 Mar 21 - 10:14 PM

Hare's tracks in the snow are magical.
I'll even settle for a common cottontail rabbit's tracks in the snow.