Good Morning! Spring is coming back after another week of yech [30s 40sF and cloudy]. I think I am winning the battle with the badger[?]. Friday, I plugged the outside entrance of the tunnel, going under the chicken coop, with chicken wire and stones and packed it with soil. Saturday Morning, I discovered the creature had pulled out all the stones, pushed the chicken wire aside and there was evidence it emerged in the coop.
Well, I didn't have any cement, so I repacked the hole and we bought a sack of mixed gravel and cement ; one needs to add water. The chicken coop is over a hundred years old. At some point, a concrete floor was added. Over the years, the crack around the perimeter has enlarged and in some places, the concrete floor has crumpled, allowing access to an exploring animal. Whether by instinct, luck, or an intelligent nose, this animal burrowed under the one spot where the concrete crumbled enough to allow him into the chicken coop. There wasn't enough time for a concrete patch to set up, when we got home Saturday.
Sunday Morning, the invading creature dug out the tunnel, scattering stones the size of baseballs. I could tell that some creature was in the coop, but no chickens were harmed. I mixed up the gravel and cement and poured it into the hole from the inside of the coop. I then plugged the tunnel from the outside with stones and soil and placed two heavy cement blocks over the area.
This morning, there was evidence that an animal was searching for a place to get in. They found a way under the floor, but not into the coop. I found a heavy stone that fit neatly into the new spot. I doubt if there will be more trouble from Mr. Badger or whoever it is.
I don't like being at war with my fellow creatures. We used to have great deal of trouble with pocket gophers, making mounds in the lawn and the garden. They would, also, feed on garden plants. We watched plants disappear as they were pulled down from below. I was quite good at trapping them. I found the only successful traps were the leg hold variety. The gopher would suffer until you whacked him on the head. I tried to use the kill traps but they didn't work very well.
One day I decided to talk to the gophers. I told them that they were free to dig up the pastures and woods, all they want. Stay out of the lawn and garden and we both will be happy. That was, at least fifteen years ago, and they haven't invaded our yard since. I know, I can't believe it either. There must be another explanation. Or can we talk to animals? I tried to talk to the mosquitoes, they wouldn't listen.
Man has been on this planet for, what? A million years or so? We still find ourselves victimized by all kinds of crawling and flying things. Are there indigenous peoples on this Earth who are in complete harmony with all? Minnesota evenings and nights are beautiful and many times we have been able to stay out late and enjoy it. Many times, however, we have been driven, to the shelter of the house, by mosquitoes.
There has to be a loving solution to these problems. There has to be a way to live on this Earth in complete harmony with nature. Perhaps, we need to give up our battles with nature before we can see the solutions. We are one with Nature, we are one with the Earth, everything is Love. I know we can do it. I know we can experience this Earth as Paradise.
Love and Peace, Gregg
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