Does anyone remember that silly movie; actually there were a bunch of sequels, Chuckie. A puppet, Chuckie, comes to life and he turns out to be a maniacal killer. He can't be killed because he's a puppet. As the movie progresses he becomes increasingly more gruesome and sadistic.

Earlier this year I noticed I had a new "neighbor". I didn't actually see him right away, but found signs of his presence. He has become an unstoppable nemesis not unlike that crazed puppet.

You see I have a small vegetable garden with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers, squash and this year my girls planted carrots. They were very excited about eating carrots they grew. It turns out our new neighbor has a liking for carrots.  And he's rude and impatient.

I went out to the garden one day to find all the carrot tops munched down to stubs. My girls were not happy. We had an idea of who this masticating marauder might be, but as yet had not laid eyes on him.

Then one early evening there he was brazenly grazing in the middle of our back yard, Chuckie! A fat little woodchuck. He heard us and bolted right under our deck!

Turns out he not only was dining on our vegetables, but he was squatting under our deck.

Talk about an uninvited guest. This was like having that sloppy, over eating old college friend show up at your door unannounced and spending the summer with you sleeping on your couch.

We or more like I mounted an attacked against this interloper. First a fence, but I could not block off the deck (the garden is right against the deck. Front porch dining for Chuckie).

Chuckie then expand his culinary curiosities. He started chowing cucumbers and next on to tasty tomatoes. He was taking out my low hanging veggies with methodical precision.

The next weapon in my arsenal on advice from some family members and the internet is moth balls. I salted them all around and under the deck where Chuckie resides quite comfortably.

The next day I saw my nemesis again grazing in the yard and snapped this picture. It seems the moth balls are not making Chuckie's life unpleasant enough for him to pack up and leave.

I am contemplating my next move and believe I have a solution that would end the problem once and for all. I'm a little reluctant to carry out the plan because I believe my neighbors might get alarmed if they hear gun fire.

I have enhanced the picture of Chuckie the way I would enjoy seeing him on our next meeting.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below: