Busy Squirrels

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Have you noticed how busy the squirrels are?

Ground-dwelling squirrels are busy creatures. During the four to five months of spring and summer, they are feverishly raising a family of four to 14 kits, while at the same time trying to put on layers of fat. They will need that fat to get them through the next eight months of true hibernation where body temperature, heart rate and breathing all drop significantly.

The good news, like beavers, ground squirrels  are ecosystem engineers. As squirrels create extensive tunnels underground, they move and aerate tons of soil. This in turn improves water infiltration, reduces soil compaction, improves soil fertility and increases plant production. Their digging also brings buried seeds to the surface, improving plant diversity.  So looks like they could be good for our course

PREVENTING AND ADDRESSING CONFLICTS

Here are a few suggestions that make living with squirrels easier.

  • Per previous articles on this site – Don’t Feed Squirrels

Squirrels that are fed by humans can lose their fear of people and become aggressive when they don’t get food as expected.  Many of you might remember the squirrel down by the putting green who was very aggressive with trying to find food in golf bags

  • Remove bird feeders if squirrels are a problem. (Remember to use the right bird seed if you have a bird feeder)
  • Eliminate Access to Buildings

Squirrels without young can be encouraged to leave attic spaces by introducing light and noise, such as a radio. Human presence is often enough to cause the squirrel to leave.

There is a rumor in Charbonneau that a fire was caused by a squirrel getting into an attic and chewing through wiring.  This is just a rumor, but we still need to do our part in  home protection, so that there are no easy openings for squirrels to access

  • Repair or replace loose or rotting siding, boards and shingles.
  • Close openings to buildings with heavy 1/4 to 1/2 inch wire mesh.
  • Cover the dryer vent with a commercial vent screen designed to exclude animals without clogging lint.
  • Install approved roof-vent caps that are designed to exclude squirrels.
  • Trim limbs and trees to 6 to 8 feet away from buildings to prevent squirrels from jumping onto roofs.
  • Remove vines or other plants that provide a squirrel a way to climb structures.

 

It’s fun to watch the wild life in our neighborhood, but remember they are wild and designed to find their own food, so please enjoy them but don’t feed them and protect your home.

  • Disclaimer: I used the joke of a squirrel asking for food to get your attention, but it was just that, a joke not an endorsement to feed them

Happy Spring

 

 

January Board Meeting canceled

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January 11 2017 Board Meeting was canceled because of snow.

Next meeting

February 8th at 10:00 AM – Rec Hall C on Lafeyette St

Check your insurance = Make sure you are appropriately covered

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Back in October of 2016 a post was sent to warn all homeowners of the danger of burst pipes and the precaution of shutting off your water when you are not in residence.

With the recent cold spells, we did have a house where the water pipes burst.  Unfortunately for the home owner, they had not obtained the correct dual homeowner insurance coverage.

Your HOA has a policy (Condominium/Association Policy) for all of our homeowners as part of the requirement to live in an HOA.   This coverage is through State Farm and covers your home and garage structures, but not your personal property.  The State Farm policy has a deductible of “In case of loss for All Peril of $10,000.  Water damage would come under “All Peril”

All homeowners should purchase a separate policy covering contents and other items not physically attached to the structure.  Please check with your insurance agent to make sure that you are appropriately covered, and that your Separate policy will cover what is not covered by the Association policy. Specifically, consider a rider to your contents coverage for structural damage up to $10,000 that will cover your deductible on the CHOA insurance policy.

Help with your New Year’s resolutions? – Exercise classes at Rec Hall C

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Rec Hall C on Lafyette has 2 exercise classes available – all CHOA residents welcome:

Class taught by Jules Moody (Contact Jules Moody jules.moody@comcast.net)

When:

Mondays: 10:30-11:30 Body sculpt/ball/weights

Fridays: 10:30-11:30 pilates sculpt

 Bring Mat, water, towel

Jan 2-March 24th  12 weeks (minus week of feb 20th ill be out of town) so 11 weeks!

Cost: 1st Class free as trial,

$130 for twice a week

$75 for once a week

CO-Op Class – DVD’s and big screen TV Instructor (Contact Jan Landis 503-550-7264 or Janl4479@gmail.com)

Using the TV and DVD player, we will use an assortment of Workouts and follow along together.

Mondays: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Wednesdays:  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 Bring Mat, water, towel

Cost: Free