You're a good dog Sammy!

Jen and Wayne went to see Kid Rock so Sammy stayed with gramma. We had an uneventful Saturday and all he did was chase off the crows when they came in to drink. Which I'm sure ticked them off as they consider that bird bath their own. I often have four or five sitting out there sqwaking at each other.  He's gone home now and they must realize that because several are sitting in the raised bed in the back yard scratching around to their hearts' content.

Around 1 pm I happened to go out on the deck and I saw a "tail" run behind the old wood box I have out there.  Oh no!  I'm sure it was rat.  And why?  I've removed all the bird seed and there's nothing of interest in or around that box. Or is there?  I called Sammy but for whatever reason, he wouldn't come to me. In fact, he took off in the opposite direction.  I knew, however, he'd be excited if he knew what I wanted him to chase. 

I went and got his leash and took him to box.  Sure enough. Once he got a whiff that there was a critter there, he was mighty interested.

I opened up the lid and while I had few items in there, I thought I would know for sure there wasn't a rat inside.  Well, there was!  A big ole honker!  She ran like hell under the porch and Sammy was after her.  Later, he kept coming back to that box and was giving it a lot of attention.  Digging and even biting at the rotten wood. Especially one corner.

When Wayne arrived, I had emptied the box and wanted him to up end it so I could eventually break it up (or have him break it up) and cart it off to the dump.  My dad made that box in the 70s I think. Used it for storage in his little pickup truck.
Anyhow, Wayne moved it and Sammy continued to sniff the plastic cover that was under it.

Once Wayne picked up the plastic, we discovered a nest of baby rats!  Jenni immediately took the dog inside the house as he wanted to eat them!

I ran to get my camera 'cause it's what I do in this day of Facebook and there were EIGHT of them!

Wayne bagged them up for the trash can and told me he didn't think I really needed to bother with the rat poison as once the mother discovered they were gone, she'd go elsewhere. She'd better.  Glad to know eight more rats aren't going to be calling my yard home.