This is the Squirrel Hunters...

I just discovered that my local squirrels have just discovered that chewing up my hammock is a fun new game. I'm not pleased about this.

I was always impressed watching the pair of them run helical squirrels up and down the trunks of my blue spruces from which the hammock is suspended. Impressed that they would ignore the hammock and continue about their business. I was always afraid this day would come, and it has.

I just watched one of them get down onto the hammock, take it in its mouth, and jump up and down on the hammock whilst biting the hammock.

Also, two or three of the main cords that attach to the hammock have been chewed through, and are no longer serving to keep the hammock suspended. They may be repairable.

But upon googling squirrel repellent and the like, I came across one website that says that while many sites may sell things to repel squirrels, nothing really works.

So I'm in trouble. I don't want to have to take my hammock inside and out whenever I want to use it - I want it to be able to just be out there. But now that the squirrels have discovered it, I don't think that there's any way to stop them.

How're the insects after the weekend?

Anyway. Title of the post (I'd originally given it a different title, but this is more appropriate). There's a classic fiddle tune by John Hartford which he'd kick off by droning 'This is the squirrel hunters...' in that gravelly voice of his. Recently learned that that line was so poignant that some new bluegrass band has named itself This Is the Squirrel Hunters. Good name. Anyway, upon learning that that band (not very good, but oh well) had named itself after the song, I went to look up what squirrel hunters are. Pretty interesting.

My friend J suggested I get a pellet gun to scare the squirrels. I don't think that's a good idea. I enjoy them spending time in the yard. Except for the hammock.

But then I could become a squirrel hunter.