Well, I found out what it was... a squirrel. Apparently I don't see too well in the dim light. Guess I better think twice if ever asked to be an 'eye witness' for the prosecution!

Anyway, I have a problem here. I now have a chipmunk down there. It's pretty evident the parrot food I'm putting outside has caused several (growing) families to set up camp here.

I plan to keep the live traps readied and stop feeding the wildlife. I am really worried that if they can get into what appears to me to be a secure basement, then they may be able to get upstairs!

Oh yeah - now that will be annoying.

Best to do an inspection of your roof line & any vents as well. Arty's suggestion to get wire screens was a good one.
My Dad was very concerned about having trees too close to his new house - we had had to deal with lots of wild life at the old house.

A squirrel & a chipmunk - cute but annoying little fellows- at least in your home.

And need to be kept OUTSIDE!

You aren't alone Karen! 3 weeks ago Dh and I were in the garage..I sent him in to put the hormone-overloaded male YNA away. I heard screaming and thought the bird had turned on dh...Ran into the living room to find a squirrel running amok! It had climbed the side of the house and chewed through a screen. Dh said he walked in, put Pacino in his cage, turned around and saw the squirrel hanging off the front of the triple stack my quakers are in. He thought
"Well, THAT doesn't look right!" LOL Thankfully I was running late and none of the birds except the yna were out. Dh walked over and pulled the screen off the window...the squirrel started running around like crazy..I walked in and it took off towards the window. Dh grabbed the stick I use for removing the blood thirsty yna from his cage and chased the squirrel out the window.

I've not opened my windows since - I'm terrified the bushy tailed rat will chew thru another screen and get in when dh isn't home.

We've also always tossed leftovers (bird and people) out for the possum, raccoons and squirrels. Never had a problem before.

wendy

Well, You won't believe this ...BUT....last night I was heading for the bedroom and something caught my eye, there was a squirrel ontop Tanks cage, I had to look again to be sure I was seeing right, I hollered for the wife and she about lost it....sure enough, a hole chewed through the Screen, we have Fiber mesh screen, so I took the screen out and the wife is taking it to the hardware store as I type...

I had Ken check the downstairs again when he got home. This time he found a small hole in a front window screen. Arty same as you, we have the fiber mesh screens. He went out and got the metal type screening and got one window screen replaced tonight. The other windows will remain closed until they can also be replaced. I hope this metal screening deters them.

I love these squirrels and chipmunks to pieces. I was sitting out on the deck this afternoon and a little squirrel came up on the deck, walked over to the dogs water dish, took a long cool drink (it was so hot here today) then laid in the shade on the deck right next to me for quite a while. I just hate the idea of not feeding them, but I can't have them in my house and I have to say they are really accumulating here.

Tanks had pecked a small hole in the screen to begin with, the squirrel saw oppurtunity and the rest is history....LOL
We also have a tree right there next to the birds room window, and they couldn't put wire screen back into the frame, so we are keeping an eye on things.
The squirrels are getting out of hand hear, they fight and many are without tails, Rose Ann asked me to live trap most of them and relocate them down along the river, I don't know if I can do this, I enjoy them so...
Even my little PP hasn't been around much lately, they all beat him up and take his food, even though we feed all of them as much as we can...
I am torn concerning this issue, heck....most make there baby's due to there's plenty of food here and water...
Even the Doves fight to get fed.....I guess 17 or more squirrels is to much...
What to do?
BW

What NOT to do is live trap them and drop them in Plymouth! I've got enough of the little buggers in my yard thank you very much! (Arty lives a few towns away from me)
Have you had trouble with chipmunks this year? We are overrun with them this year...we normally have one nest (under our front steps) but only a pair...this year it seems like we have hundreds of chip and dips running around...More chipmunks than squirrels.

wendy

WoooooHooooo Wendy needs some more little ones...will be right over...have about 10 for you

I took a picture of the little culprit that visited my cellar. I don't get any grey squirrels visiting, just the red ones.