Neighborhood Watch Program

  In the critter world, it is more common that one ignores the other unless one is larger and is hungry.  Then, both become quite aware of the other's presence.  Most critters are not busybodies that have to be prying in their neighbor's business.  They just go their separate ways and live life.  However, there is a network of "Neighborhood Watch" participants that keep everyone informed of the happenings of the Bayou.

  The other afternoon, a cacophony of bird calls led me to believe that something was amiss.  I eased my self out the front door and listened intently to the calls.  By now, a few squirrels had joined in on the party.  The center of interest was a tall black gum tree near the edge of the property.  A mama squirrel had made a rather large nest in the tree and had her little ones safe and secure...or so she thought.  Since this nest is far up in the tree, the intruder was one of two things...a hawk or a snake.  I was betting on the latter.  By the time I made my way to the base of the tree, neither could be found.  Only a dozen or so assorted birds were curiously eyeing the squirrel's nest.  The onlookers were still yelling at the snake but it was too late.  Mama Squirrel was frozen in fear and was not even attempting to give battle to the serpent that was performing the foul deed.

  Lately, we have a lot of rat snakes living in the area.  They are making a clean sweep of the squirrels' nests and even a few of the birds' nests, as well.  While I hate to think of the little ones becoming prey, Son reminds me that I should let "nature take its course".  I love having the rat snakes in the yard to keep the mice, rats and voles in check so I have to turn a deaf ear to the "Neighborhood Watch" team when they send out the alarm.  There is no filtering out what is fair game for the snakes.