While heading into the basement to get a sheet to hang over
a curtained window (another story), I heard a scuffling and squeaking on the
boxes to my right. I quickly thought, “Squirrel!”, then even more quickly thought
“RAT!” I couldn’t see much, but I thought I saw something on the boxes. I
didn’t want to try to find out what it was for fear that IT would come after me
and bite me. Rabies?! I slammed the door and screamed. Actually, I don’t
remember screaming, but according to others in the house, I did.
My husband and two of my boys tried to take a look again.
With pellet gun and b.b. guns in hand, they went back into the room that leads
to the basement. My husband went ahead and carefully opened the door and turned
on the light. No sight or sound from any critter. But, look! Up in the corner.
A ventilation tube leading to the first room has been destroyed. We began to
guess that a rodent of some sort was looking for a warm place to sleep on this
cold November evening.
Is it a groundhog? There are plenty of holes in the property
to tell of their existence. Is it a squirrel? Very likely. There are only a
bazillion in our neighborhood. Is it…..a….rat?
My dad has been catching rats this past month in Oregon.
Over there it gets cold a lot sooner, so the rodents have been already trying
to find warmth in attics. Dad has posted pics of dead rats he’s caught – still
in the traps. Pretty gross stuff. So, I couldn’t help but think that the
mysterious critter in our basement was a nasty old rat. And worse, it could be
a whole family of nasties. In OUR basement.
It gives me the willies. {shudder}
This morning we received a phone call from the landlord. The pest control guy should be on his way. It's 2 p.m. now. I just hope the thing hasn't destroyed too much stuff down there....
