We have a big problem with ground squirrels. They eat our fruit and anything we plant in our garden. They destroy irrigation and dig expansive burrows.
Unfortunately that means we have to trap and kill them. š¢
Itās gruesome, but itās the most human and least harmful to other animals (poison, for instance, ends up in the ecosystem and kills other critters).
My hands were shaking as I tried to reload a pellet, dropping several. I gasped, āplease, please, come onāthis poor squirrel!ā
He just looked at me as if he felt betrayed.
He pawed at his mutilated face.
I could barely see the chamber through the tears. I finally got a pellet in.
I fired again, and made the shot. It was over.
I tried to keep it together as I turned the cornerā the bouncing basketball told my the neighbor kid was outside and could see me.
Aaron L. M. Goodwin