Santa in August?

So a few nights ago, I heard something scurrying along our ceiling. It sounded as if it was trying to dig itself through to escape. Not sure what it was, I assumed it was a rodent of some sort, probably a rat. It was farily loud, so I would hit the ceiling area where I heard it scratching. When I did that, it would scurry along to another part of the house and start doing that digging stuff again.

Yesterday morning, it got itself stuck in the fireplace! We had covered the fireplace with painters plastic to keep water and bugs out. We don’t have a way to close the flue, so we had to find other ways. This plastic seemed to be the best way (so we thought). That and I had some already, so it was easy to just tape up.

So Maceo is listening and looking as well as I am with no luck. The plastic is layered and difficult to see through yet I still heard this thing (thinking its a rat) trying to get out! Not sure it would have been such a good idea with our trusty cat at guard.

While at work later that day, I got an email from Halimah;

“Danny, I am writing to you right now and Maceo didnt get the rat, babe, its by the books … in the art room, babe! gotta meet Marge, ummm … call me when you can so we can figure out a plan.  !!! Dude!”

I’m at work and Halimah is emailing me and we have the occasional phone call. She confirmed that it was not a rat and indeed a squirrel. Not sure what Maceo did to it, but it was bleeding.

Trying to escape, it wrecked a bunch of things, the blinds being one. Drops of blood from the squirrel were also found on the window sill, floor, window pane, chess board and around the floor.

We also found part of the squirrels tail! After researching defenses of squirrels, we found this online;

“A squirrel will flick its tail from side to side to distract a predator. When caught by a predator, the tail will actually break off, allowing the squirrel a chance to escape. This defense mechanism is also seen in lizards.” [source]

Worried that some of the blood was Maceo’s and she might have gotten bitten, I was fairly stressed out at work. Halimah called my sister whom of which is a veterinarian. She told us not to worry since Maceo is caught up in her shots, but to be aware of any bites that may need antibiotics. She also told us to get Adams Flea and Tick spray for the areas of the house that the squirrel was in or around. Maceo is on Advantage.

When I came home, this is how Maceo was taking the whole situation at hand …

Like it was just another day! She’s fine and we’re closing the fireplace. I found no bites on her and the fur was removed and everything is cleaned. The worker that assists our landlord is adding a cap to the flue and checking any spaces where the squirrel could have gotten into the foundation of the house. All is well in Maceo’s house!

Tags: Adam's Fea Spray, cat, Defense Mechanism, fireplace, flue, intruder, squirrel