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My bright idea to use a leaf blower on a squirrel nest went about as well as you'd think | Arborists - Rigidtalk

My bright idea to use a leaf blower on a squirrel nest went about as well as you'd think

I was up in a big oak in Seattle last week, dealing with a squirrel nest that was causing some real branch damage. The homeowner wanted it gone, but the little guys were not moving. I had this brand new Stihl backpack blower with me and thought, hey, maybe a little gentle air will encourage them to find a new home without any fuss. I got about ten feet away, gave it a short blast on the low setting, and let me tell you, it was not gentle encouragement. About six very angry squirrels exploded out of that nest like furry fireworks, one of them landing right on my hardhat before scrambling down my back. The nest material, mostly leaves and trash, went everywhere, including straight into my face. I learned that squirrels do not appreciate modern landscaping tools and that a simple pole is probably a better choice for that job. Has anyone found a good, safe way to encourage wildlife to move along without causing a scene?

3 comments

3 Comments

jake_chen6mo ago

Oh man, that mental image is priceless! You basically turned their home into a surprise tornado. I guess the good news is they definitely moved along, just maybe not in the direction you hoped. My bright ideas usually end with me covered in something too, so I feel you. Maybe next time try a really long stick and just accept the angry chattering from a safe distance.

dylan_rodriguez6mo ago

Yeah the long stick idea is smart, but knowing my luck I'd probably just end up poking myself in the face with it. I mean the whole thing was a mess, I had like three of them dive bombing my head while I was slipping on wet leaves. Next time I'm just calling someone, anyone else.

leoyoung3mo ago

Calling someone is definitely the safer play, but you learn more from the close calls than the smooth jobs. Three of them dive bombing you while you're slipping sounds like a scene from a bad nature documentary. At least you walked away with a story to tell, most people just have a boring "I called a guy" story. Next time you'll be the expert who can warn others about the wet leaves and the angry birds. Is it really a DIY job if you don't end up questioning your life choices halfway through?