Is a Bat in a Can Worth Two Snakes in the Garden?

"What is that in the can with him?" The animal control officer asked as I handed her a coffee can containing a bat, one each, captured from my back yard and from under the nose of my nosy Golden Retriever.  This was nearly 20 years ago when I lived in Las Vegas.  By the way, I didn't even drink coffee back then ... probably because I was surrounded by people who scooped it from a can and made it in big, stained pots every day at work.  I had no idea how a fresh bean grinder  and the words "French Roast" and "Espresso" would change my life. 

Back to the bat...

"A prune," I told her.  "I didn't want him to starve to death.  Figured I'd hook him up with a snack so to keep him occupied.  Do bats eat prunes?"

She shot a double sideways glance my way before asking, "These holes in the lid - did he do this?"

"No, I poked holes in the lid so he wouldn't suffocate before you got here."

This time she looked directly at me as if I was just that crazy.  "You don't know want to know what we are going to do with him then.  You know they carry rabies?"

"I do know that, which is why I called you to remove him before my dog mistook him for a chew toy.  Whatever you do with him, I don't want to know.  But I wasn't going to be responsible for killing him - that's all you," I told her, making the circular "talk to the hand" motion toward her truck.

I'm sure the animal control folks had a field day with that story.

So you see, I don't want these critters dead or dying on my property - I just want them to go elsewhere.  I fed a bat a prune for Pete's sake!

We also now have a Bobcat trotting occasionally past our back fence.  I'm OK with that. It also explains the bunny head we found on our front porch a few weeks back.  I know.  Well, I don't want to know, but you know what I mean.

Thus continues the summer saga of our back garden infestation ... by rabbits, ground squirrels, birds, and chipmunks. Caught this guy digging next to our garlic a few weeks back:

Apparently it's a Ground Squirrel.  I thought it was a Gopher.  How did we ever live without Google and Wiki?

You'll also notice our strategic deployment of rubber snakes, however, was not effective. Although, my neighbor did send me a text saying she was showing her mother-in-law our garden and the snakes nearly gave them both heart attacks.  I also have to warn the lawn people ... who often give me the same "Yep. You crazy." look the animal control officer did years ago.

Bunny napping next to his rubber snake buddies.

Let's take a closer look:

I wonder if I can distract them with a coffee can and a prune?

Peace, love, and garden bliss ... I hope everyone is having a lovely summer!