Small Critter Problem - We're Trapped

StJohnRuth · Post by **StJohnRuth** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:41 am

When we came to work this morning, there was a mother dove and a baby dove at the top of the stairs near the gate we have to unlock. We tried shooing them away, but the mother just kept sqwuaking at us and they wouldn't budge.
Ron manage to step over them and unlock the gate, but it was attacking his feet and legs the whole time. I stepped over them and we are both now in the store. Every time we try to open the door, it rushes at us. This is one crazed bird.
So now we're trapped in here waiting for someone else to come.

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:41 am

oh my!

CariBert · Post by **CariBert** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:46 am

Hold on Ruth, we'll be there next Wednesday! I've had some experience with these crazed birds......I work in a hospital. Physicians, birds...all the same. Throw them some coffeee, and they're happy enough.

Seriously, I hope you can deal with the lost critters, if not, I'll stop in when I get off the ferry and take over the critter weatching duties, while you and Ron go home and clean up and get some rest!!

See you later...

-Berrt

Jan&MikeVa · Post by **Jan&MikeVa** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:49 am

Ruth, we are armed with a 1/2 dozen water guns......we'll come rescue you on our way to Hawksnest this morning!!!!

Hope this doesn't hurt your business too bad

I can always send Judy down.......she's a great shopper!

Jan (akaCharlie)

jac w · Post by **jac w** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:42 am

I'm guessing the baby is a fledgling and not quite ready to fly. We had the same problem with a cardinal. They had built a nest in te yard and when the little one left, he wasn't quite up to it and only made it as far as the tomato plant. We wanted to grill that night and the mom kept going after Bill. I though the baby was stuck in the plant and moved aside the branches. He tumbled out and walked off - mom followed squawlking the whole way. The fluffy little thing would flap its wings but not get more than a few inches. Of course now I'm sorry I didn't leave him in the tomato plant where he was at least a bit protected.

Did you look around to see if there is a nest, perhaps with another baby in it? If so, that mom is not going to leave you alone until that second one is on its way. Otherwise the trick is to get the baby to wander off, hopefully out of harms way.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:44 am

Those rock doves are a lot like the doves we have in Virginia. They are delicious.

Cheers, RickG

StJohnRuth · Post by **StJohnRuth** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:52 am

Okay, we're safe here.
Both employees arrived for work and were rushed at by the mother dove. There was a lot of screaming. I had to escort a customer up and down the stairs armed with a large box.
We managed to get the fledling relocated to a ledge in the courtyard halfway down the stairs. A while has passed and the mother seems satisfied that it is now in a safe place. Hopefully everything will remain calm here.
Thanks for your advice and support!
-Ruth and Ron

kirk · Post by **kirk** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:56 am

Bad RickG bad. but true. anyway as other have said it's mom protecting her baby. the best thing you try to do is to move it to a safe location. dove's don't hurt when they bite/peck at you. i have a parrot and a macaw, i know what pain is. also unlike other baby birds, doves really can't be handfeed by humans. mommy dove has a milk like fluid she feeds her young.

ScubaGirl · Post by **ScubaGirl** » Thu May 31, 2007 3:54 pm

Hey Ruth,

I've been thinking about you a lot. I started using the purse I bought in your store, with the Peacock on it, and all I can think about is you and your store, because the bags smells just like the store. I'll be walking along, and get a quick wiff, and it takes me back to St. J.

As Martha would say.....It's a good thing!

Sydney

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:06 pm

ScubaGirl wrote: all I can think about is you and your store, because the bags smells just like the store. I'll be walking along, and get a quick wiff, and it takes me back to St. J.

I suggested Ruth put her spice sampler packs in fabric "pillows" to use as room sachets. You know, put them behind photo frames and such to stink up the house real good! Can you believe she LAUGHED AT ME?

(You know I'm joking Ruth!)

Maryanne · Post by **Maryanne** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:40 am

Ruth, a robin built her nest right on the iron staircase going up to Nick's office. The babies hatched last week and he felt he had to stay out of the office because the mom was freaking out.

RonUSVI · Post by **RonUSVI** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:02 am

I once put up my Christmas tree and didn't decorate it for a week or so. Well, next thing you know I had a sparrows nest in it! Couldn't decorate the tree for Christmas and had to wait until February to take it down when they all flew away! I decorate right away now!

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:42 am

This is our current critter problem: cicadas.

Multiply by about 100 of what you see and you have my yard... multiply by thousands and you have our walk to school! Hope I didn't gross anybout out...

Tracy in WI · Post by **Tracy in WI** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:30 pm

Wow - those cicadas are crazy! Just a few hours north and we have not a one. I'm sure my boys would have loved them, tortured them, but loved them!!

Tracy

sea-nile · Post by **sea-nile** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:00 pm

Tracy in WI wrote:Wow - those cicadas are crazy! Just a few hours north and we have not a one. I'm sure my boys would have loved them, tortured them, but loved them!!

Tracy

I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard that if the ground was disturbed in the last 17 years, the Cicadas won't be back in that area. The houses by me have been built in the last 17 years so it may be why we don't have any. Maybe they just don't want to cross the WI border.

usvi-on-line