Sirchopsalot What damage do chipmunks do to a wood pile? I have noticed one running around one of my stacks outside. I am out in the country and have lots of critters around here and I ignore most of them. It doesn't bother me to find mouse nests in my wood stacks either.
As far as I can tell, no damage to a wood pile. BUT they dig holes all over the landscape. Most are not in places I can't cork, but some are places that if let go, will get in the lawn and eventually cause divots and small sink holes. Not a really big deal, but, if my wood pile is a place the little buggers do stunts in front of the neighbors, and they are checking out the neighbor's lawn, then I feel free to thin the population a little. Our houses are kinda close here, not like out in the stix where they wouldn't bother anyone else. Once the rounds are out of where they are now, and chipmunks are a little more out of sight, then I'll leave them alone. We've had them in our house (came thru the looselaid foundation) and I don't want them chewing on things like wiring. If they are viewed as pests here, I have no issue thinning the population. If I had a couple cats, that would solve the problem. Since we don't, it wouldn't be out of my doing to plant some catnip here and there around the estate.... Kinda a longer answer there. Sorry. Sca
So out and about today, mowing and enjoying a bit of fresh air, and a backwoods, it occurred to me that perhaps I should write my dear neighbors a note. It won't be a "too bad for you" or any justification, or any of what I "plan to do anyway" but more along the lines of I can't find that their complaints can be tied to my wood pile, and if there is another deeper issue, I'd be glad to be neighborly and see if a solution can be reached. I think I can do that without being sarcastic, belittling, or even cold (I'll have to write and edit heavily). These are not folks I want as friends, but don't need them as enemies either. There are a few underlying thoughts here: Love thy neighbor (which doesn't stipulate only if they're good people, it's more of a standing order) And, keep your friends close, and enemies even closer. Flame on. Sca
Chipmunks can be a real PITA. I've had them make a nest in my AC unit, in my grill, and even running up my drain spouts. I put down larger metal rat traps and killed about 3-4 one year, haven't had them be a problem since. They are still around and in my wood stacks but I keep my stacks way back away from the house except the one wood shed which is close and used during burning season. Which reminds me I prob shouldn't fill that till needed in the fall. Will only entice something to make a home in it but I just seem to get it out of the way.
Agreed, when they live that close to you best to do what you can to keep the peace. You want to be able to go out in your yard without feeling like your getting the evil eye. Your going to bump into them out back and out front so you don't want it to be awkward. A note or email can be good, sometimes your able to say more of what your thinking and make the points you want to. Sometimes in a conversation you can miss saying something you were thinking. Might make it easier for them to tell you wants truly bothering them, perhaps they are bit embarrassed by what's bugging them or something along those lines. Sometimes I can fly off the handle, my wife is the calmer and clearer thinking one and would be the one I'd have talk to them if I were in that situation. She'd kill them with kindness, complete opposite of me, well at least sometimes lol
Chipmunks I have seen here are 200 feet from the house and at the edge of the woods. We do have some feral cats in the neighborhood as well and they visit my wood shed frequently. It has been years since our last cat died and we still see very few mice. We have coyotes and red fox in the area to keep pests under control.
We have 2 cats that kill chipmunks for sport, so when I see a chipmunk I think it must be smart fast and stealthy, or just an immigrant from the neighbors yard. The jumbo black snakes probably like chipmunks too.
Same reason we don't bring wood up to the house till the very last minute. Last year that was november I think. Mice, chippys, insect life, whatever will stay at bay longer. Sca
The tell is, he denied ever smelling woodsmoke, and accused you of not burning wood! He thinks you are running a business from your home, that is the basis for his complaints.
And he asked where the wood came from...he said there's no way it all came from my place...."you already cut down all your trees" (truth). a clear violation around here....one can sell something locally harvested or harvested from their own land (farming) but not stuff brought in from elsewhere. 'Course this wood was locally harvested. Im not 100% convinced that is their hang up, as much as their angle, their ace card. I wonder if I should write a preemptive letter to town, stating that no selling is going on. Even then, I wonder what proof I need that I'm not selling. Sca
I don't doubt that your neighbor has researched all the town ordinances already, and has fixed on firewood sales as his best chance to cause you grief. Just assume that he is monitoring all truckloads entering and leaving your property. I wouldn't proactively contact the town, but be prepared for the town to contact you. Have responses ready to counter his laundry list of complaints.
I wouldn't contact the town. By doing so, it may make you look like you have a guilty conscious. If your Zoning Officer (typically the Building Inspector) has any balls, he or she will require all complaints to be in writing. Once submitted its automatically a public record. If they do complain, make a public records request on your property, and they have to provide you a copy of the complaint within 10 days of you requesting it. If the inspector tells you it's anonymous pm me. Whatever you do don't draw attention to yourself by contacting the town.
I agree, keep a low profile IMO. I am always hesitant to contact my town about stuff I feel like it puts me on their radar, I don't need any added attention or someone swinging by checking out my setup for whatever reason. But like Midwinter said I'd research your towns codes and laws just so you can counter his complain whatever the hec that complain is.
Like said above, I wouldn’t do anything to draw unnecessary attention. Given that you’re not selling wood, this neighbor will have quite a hard time proving otherwise. The town may already know this guy and not take him too seriously.
I like your current approach. Though my instinct is to tell em where to go, that solves nothing. My current few neighbors all “say” they have no issue with my farwood board, but if I was in there shoes it’d bug me. ♂️ I’ve offered, and all have accepted many times, wood for backyard pits anytime they’d like. One that I thought was bothered I’ve invited him whole family over for a cookout, and made sure to show him my stove room and explain my whole process. That seemed to help since he’s been researching acquiring his own stove now. For now, he bought a pellet stove after first talking with me about wood heat.
Im feeling ok about shutting up, and seeing what happens. I agree that trying to head off anything without knowing what the complaint is, is putting too many cards on the table where they aren't needed yet. But, they put all their cards on the table. My advantage. And I have a more experienced group of people to get wise council from. My advantage. Now they've kinda revealed themselves, I'm less interested in having them over. But coffee on a cold day next to the wood stove might be worth something at some point. Sca
