Klepto-Rats!

   I am still battling the rats and raccoons that have invaded the greenhouse.  It appears that they have taken a liking to the place and are not going to give it up easily.  Of course, I am slow as I do not wish to stick my hands where one might take a snap at me.  Plus, given the easy access to an entire colony of rats, it would not be unreasonable to come across a lovely snake under some of this mess.  I am not sure which took up residence first but the raccoons are most likely the ones to have rummaged through everything and made perfect hiding spots for rats.  Whatever the case, they seem to be coexisting right well.   So, in the meantime, I am emptying the entire greenhouse...of EVERYTHING...rats and raccoons included. It is amazing how the critters took over the place in the three months that I was incapacitated.

  I will say this about those rats.  They are not stupid.  They have created many exits by gnawing through window casings and have tunneled from nest to nest.  Each nest (I have found 6 so far) has a stockpile of food, toys (?) and bedding.  Spanish moss is the lining, unopened seed packets are the food and, well, the toys are the odd part.  I am calling them toys because I have no clue what else the critters could be doing with their "collectibles".  Also, it is quite evident that these are true "Bayou Rats"!  The toys are mainly seashells that I had stored in large baskets. These were ones that were used in craft projects but were too bulky to keep inside the house.  Each nest had an assortment of the shells (and one toy bird!). 

  Also stored in the greenhouse was the leftover clue hunt props.  Most were leftovers still in place from when the place was reinvented as a Swamp Witch hut for the pirate themed hunt last year.  Any good Swamp Witch has to have an odd assemblage of concoctions.  Jars and jars of things like swamp water, lizard toes and jellied wasp nests lined the shelves. Mostly, these were not tampered with by the rats.  In fact, only one jar has been found in a nest.  A jar labeled "Sea Nettle Tentacles" and containing hot glue drippings in water was found uncapped in the nest.  The "sea nettle tentacle" glue strings were neatly packed in with the Spanish moss.  Why?  How?  I have "Klepto-Rats"!

  So, tomorrow will find me back in the greenhouse again.  Since the place is now completely void of contents, it is time to do some repair work and figure out how to keep this from happening again.  Then, only important stuff will be returned to its place.  Flower pots, gardening tools and fertilizers seem ok.  Seeds?  NO SEEDS!  Nope, not happening!  All seeds will be placed in the old metal toolbox that can be locked!  Sorry, Critters, the buffet is closed.