The Story of Claude, the Pumpkin-Pillaging Squirrel
In mid October of 2019, our front door pumpkins began disappearing. Initially, we believed this to be the work of wayward teens. I replaced the pumpkins with a new set, in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.
All but the biggest went missing again. The next door neighbor reported that their pumpkins had been stolen too.
The back house neighbor heard us talking about “kids these days” and interjected that earlier in the day he saw a squirrel carrying a pumpkin over the rooftops to the top of a palm tree.
I quickly invited myself to the back neighbor’s porch to see the tree, likely neglecting my children in the process (this was VERY important). Claude—as we named him—had a stash!
Instead of shooting or poisoning Claude, as suggested by friends in need of therapy, we decided to make his squirrel day! I posted an ISO pumpkins to a local mom board and the moms delivered (despite drowning in their own mental load, because moms are fucking amazing).
We set the bait and waited…
Claude snagged every single small pumpkin and nibbled on the big ones between trips.
Actual video footage!
We reloaded and Claude delivered yet again.