Nature's Taxes

Last night, some obliging critter took it upon him or her self to dig up the wasp nest under one of our apple trees and eat most of it. The wasps have been getting aggressive as fall comes on, so this was welcome work.

Our industrious varmint claimed payment in the form of all but about 10 apples from our young Spartan apple tree though. I've been watching those apples ripen all summer from my office.

I've spent the afternoon mulling over whether I would have willingly accepted the trade. Probably yes? But I would have preferred to feed our contractor some store bought apples and save the home grown for myself.

Roberta Wilkinson wrote:
I've spent the afternoon mulling over whether I would have willingly accepted the trade. Probably yes? But I would have preferred to feed our contractor some store bought apples and save the home grown for myself.

That's probably why they didn't ask.

Skunks love bees. I don't know about wasps...?

Racoons love apples and peaches and plums, etc. I don't about bees and wasps.


If it's coons, you may have your work cut out for you. If they liked your apple tree and the general neighborhood this year, next year they will bring their kids and their cousins and their brother-in-laws too.


Good electric fencing will often work. I'd try that first.

Destructive little buggers.

Personally betting skunk myself. It would take badger toughness to put up with the pain that came with the return.

We're thinking opossum. We know we have a fair number of them out here, and the internet tells me they'll dig up a wasp's nest to eat it.

Raccoon's not a bad bet, but we haven't seen a single one since we moved out here 4 years ago.