I've Been Feeding What?
As some of you know, if you've been reading my posts on being here in Davis, I love to get to know the local wildlife. To this end, I put up a birdfeeder in the backyard, hoping that some of the local birds would drop by and indulge my hospitality.
I was glad to see that almost right away the bird-seed was disappearing. I wasn't seeing any birds eating at the feeder, but I figured that it was because they were eating the feed early in the morning, and me being a late riser, I simply never saw the birds enjoying their breakfast.
Well, in the middle of the night the last week, Karen and I were awakened by a something hitting our window. We did not find out what hit the window, but we did see a large creature eating out of the birdfeeder. It wasn't a bird. It was maybe 15 inches long, oval shaped, with a white belly. The next day I took the birdfeeder down, as I did not want to feed this non-avian, whatever it was.
Fast-forward to this afternoon. I was invited to a parish get-together, and I asked some long-time Davis residents what this creature might have been.
It was a rat.
I was feeding a big-ass rat, a rat larger than either of my cats, including the fat one.
I am tempted to send them both out one night, hunting that beast, but I think the rat might kill the cats.
I was glad to see that almost right away the bird-seed was disappearing. I wasn't seeing any birds eating at the feeder, but I figured that it was because they were eating the feed early in the morning, and me being a late riser, I simply never saw the birds enjoying their breakfast.
Well, in the middle of the night the last week, Karen and I were awakened by a something hitting our window. We did not find out what hit the window, but we did see a large creature eating out of the birdfeeder. It wasn't a bird. It was maybe 15 inches long, oval shaped, with a white belly. The next day I took the birdfeeder down, as I did not want to feed this non-avian, whatever it was.
Fast-forward to this afternoon. I was invited to a parish get-together, and I asked some long-time Davis residents what this creature might have been.
It was a rat.
I was feeding a big-ass rat, a rat larger than either of my cats, including the fat one.
I am tempted to send them both out one night, hunting that beast, but I think the rat might kill the cats.
Labels: Autobiography, Family
posted by Preston at 5:02 PM
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4 Comments:
Preston,
That is so disgusting. I guess that is one good thing about living in Alberta, it is rat free.
And here I was upset because all the birds at my feeder are little piggies and I have to fill it every day now. Who knew sparrows and chickadess ate so much??
Andrea
Preston, Yikes!! It doesn't sound like a "tree rat" either. I'd keep my cats indoors, away from harm, and call Animal Control to see if they had any recommended strategies.
Karen tells me I'm exagerating, and that the rat was nowhere near that big.
I still think it could beat up the cats.
Where is Tom's invisible gun when you need it?
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