By 1860, this "new engine" had established a reputation for use by juveniles in vandalism. We're talking about problematic thinking.Slingshots depend on strong elastic materials, typically vulcanized natural rubber or the equivalent such as silicone rubber tubing, and thus date no earlier than the invention of vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear in 1839 (patented in 1844). So ultimately we're not really talking about a squirrel problem. If you can rationalize that sort of thought process with squirrels then it's a very short step to bring it into the human realm. Formally, it's the same sort of thinking. And when we translate that sort of thinking into the human realm, well, we get all the fun and games we see around us in our society. Eg: catapulting squirrels is justified because they eat wires in people's homes. Rationalization and justification." First comes the behaviour/attitude and then the manufacture of the rationalization and justification in defense so you can maintain the behaviour and attitude. I tried really really hard to stay outta this thread but finally fell for it.Īnd catapulting them shows indifference does it? Interesting way to demonstrate neutrality, no?Īnd the opposite (and far more reasonable attitude) of fetishizing animals is to view them as objects provided for your personal pleasure and entertainment?Īs Telemnenomics has adroitly stated: " Humans are interesting. Or the charity table staffer`` collecting money for their favorite causes.įorcing values on others is unattractive. Much like the little old lady with a ratty snapping dog in a handbag. I can relate to being annoyed by folks who fetishize wildlife. Hoping he or she got them all as last summers yellowjackets up my pants was worse than anything coons and skunks ever did to me! I was pretty durn pleased when a raccoon dug up the yellowjacket nest in my garden this fall. I don't blame the doves for pooping or the hawks for eating the doves. I interact with the uglies in my community just the same as the pretties. OK I used to shoot squirrels for sport but no longer.įor the record, I'm not sure everybody who enjoys visits from wildlife does so because of a cute factor.
Guess I killed one raccoon and one woodchuck. Keeping critters out of the chicken pen took a lotta schoolin' in my youth! So I try to remember them and just not mention visits from any wildlife they disapprove of. I feel bad for these folks who get upset if I mention feeding a raccoon or a skunk. The more outta staters move to Maine the more towns get bans on chickens and other family livestock. I know quite a few Mainers who feel that once they own some land they can ban wildlife from entering the property. I got some tricks for you.Īnd my wife has some inside secrets. Whether my response be stealthy airsoft assault, squirrel catapult or "inhumane" trap and release method, the bottom line is that I didnt propagate those tomatoes for the squirrels, and may the better fighter prevail.īring it on squirrel. Literally.įeed my bird population = a squirrel population explosion. I personally hope it scares a few to death. (Yes, they love pvc insulation)Īnd after seeing the way they leap, fall and jump, I doubt launching the tree rats across the yard does more damage than the jack in the box clown. Then have the car develop a no start condition that turns out to be caused by 2 thousand dollars of wiring damage with obvious signs of bite marks. I feed the birds and put an effort into keeping track, and count of the various visitors.īut in the same vein, I also trim the trees to keep critters off my roof and out of my attic, and tire of the critters dumping my bird feed all over the yard.Īnybody defending the tree rats has not likely spent hours and thousands$ on planting tomatoes only to have BOTH of your mega priced heirlooms cut down and chomped on just as they blush. I love critters as much as the next tree hugger.
Now, as proud as my wife may be about her long and talented line of squirrel lineage, we both get a chuckle when a youngster misses a jump and takes a long and noisy tumble.