A recent essay here addressed chipmunks’ theft of fruit from my tomato plant. I called the resulting conflict over my tomatoes the “Battle of Weedy Gulch.”
Then came readers.
Emily in Louisiana emailed a link to a blog post at Evolution News & Science Today. Its alarming title: “In Terror of Chipmunks.”
Even more alarming was that the text ran to 3,715 words.
More alarming still was that I understood perhaps 100 words.
The article was a scathing retort from one evolutionary biologist to another in an academic dispute whose substance this lay reader couldn’t comprehend.
I almost pitied the chipmunks.
Then came a text message from Neil in Wisconsin with, I learned, dark thoughts about chipmunks.
“Cute rats,” he wrote. “Chipmunks are the devil acting like your friend.”
Neil recommended a brand and model of lethal trap called “Mr. Snappy.” He then detailed his 2019 tally in the Battle of Wisconsin. The chipmunks lost that one. Epically.
I pitied the chipmunks.
Clarification: When I initially wrote “battle,” I meant “negotiation.” I’ll settle for chipmunk détente, even a Gauger defeat.
More tales from Weedy Gulch
Stubborn meets crazy in the garden
The Case of the Crazy Bad Gardener
I love the Chippies! We have chipmunks in our yard that come up on the front porch, climb on top of the wicker settee and watch *us* through the large front window.
We have a mutual admiration society formed. We’ve named them: Henrietta, Ethyl, Gladys, Abner and George. We have no idea who is who.
Thanks for sharing the words, and, especially, the great video!!
Ah, sweet. I never thought to name ours. I don’t even know how many they are, because of course as an clod-headed human I can’t tell them apart.