We have trapped 8 so far in the garden. I've stopped giving treats to the chicken. I've raked a wheel barrow load of trash out from under the chicken house, where I'm sure they were/are nesting. They are rather attractive and do not carry any disease, so I was told by the Dept of Ag, but they cannot be left to devour the garden or terrorize the chicken. Someone suggested they are coming for the water--it has been very dry here, but no drier than other years and we did not have this invasion. I go out in the morning to find my lettuce, kale and beets with only a stem and no leaves. I have replanted twice. Also, it is time for rattlesnakes to migrate to their dens and we don't want rodents attracting them. We've lived here over 20 years and have seen maybe 2 in all that time. Why is there an invasion now?
